25th September 2021 – Leamington v Nuneaton Old Ed’s

League rugby returned to “Moorefields” following the COVID-19 enforced sabbatical, with Leamington introducing a number of new players to the 1st Team squad. The debutants included Louis Dunbavin, Jacob Sanneh and Jack Hughes in the pack and Louis Harvey, Tom Clayton and Ian Cameron in the backline. To complete this new look group, Matt Homan and Dan Sanneh, joined Phil Evans on the bench.

Bathed in autumn sunshine and with “Poynter’s perfect pitch” to play on, rugby football had finally returned to the local sporting calendar.

With seven minutes on the clock, Leamington’s Gareth Shuttleworth, made a smart pick-up in midfield and darted through four tackles, before being held, just short of the try line. Scrum-half, Sam Nunn, was quickly on hand to get the ball swiftly to his right, to Tom Clayton, who, with his first chance, raced in for a debut try. James Dunne, was just off target, with the touchline conversion attempt.

The “Moorefield” faithful had barely the chance to catch breath, before the scoreboard once again needed adjusting in their favour. From the restart, Leamington moved the ball towards the nearside flank, before Connor Chamberlain and Louis Harvey linked to make a darting run into the Nuneaton half. Shuttleworth was once again on hand to provide the vital link to winger, Ian Cameron, who needed no second invitation to sprint through the opponents defence and score. Dunne coolly added the extras.

The Leamington opening soon got even better when Dunne curtailed Nuneaton Old Ed’s first major attack, with a solid boot down the middle of the park. Under pressure from Leamington, the visitors conceded a lineout, which Ed Gray secured for his side. The ensuing attack led to a penalty, which Dunne gratefully accepted, giving his side a 15 point lead.

The opening quarter had certainly belonged to the home side, who had played with plenty of flair. Matters, however, were about to change, with the robust Old Ed’s pack, finally finding some cohesion. They set about putting Leamington under pressure, which led to them scoring two converted scores, before the half-time break.

Half-Time: 15 – 14

The second period saw Nuneaton Old Ed’s continue to test and probe the home defence with some direct running. One of their early attacks was thwarted by the alert Harvey, who was able to clear the ball from his 22 metre zone. However, soon after the home defence did crack, under pressure once again from the visitors pack, giving up another converted score.

The momentum of the game was certainly in the visitors favour at this stage and it was therefore a jolt for them when Leamington hit back with a well-worked score. Nunn cleared his defence by setting up a drive on the nearside touchline. Tom Lane took the ball at the lineout that followed and the home pack drove forward, at pace, with debutant, Jack Hughes getting the all important touch down. Dunne once again added the conversion to give his side a narrow, one point lead.

Leamington continued to live dangerously and had certainly logged a number of penalties against. They soon came under more pressure, via the visiting pack and gave way to another converted score.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes a Leamington attack through Ed Gray and Louis Harvey, saw the home side switch play to the right and as Hughes crashed through, a head-high challenge was swiftly followed by the Referee awarding a “Penalty-try”.

Sadly for the home side and their support, the visitors had enough gas left in their tank (unlike some Petrol Stations nationwide), to summon up a series of attacks which led to a final, converted score.

Disappointment at the scoreline, however, it was good to see rugby football being played again in the Leamington colours.

Full-time: 29 - 35