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Sunshine Rugby by the Seconds in 72-5 Win
Paul Dando28 Mar 2017 - 11:41
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Seconds shrug off a couple of disappointing displays with a cracking win against Old Pats
With the firsts just beating the seconds to kick off time, they may have just got the first score of the day at the Rec but Tom Martin made sure the seconds were not far behind with a great 20 metre run through the opposition pack, yes you read correctly (mixture of pace, brawn and agility) and a further 40 metres to the line to get a try under the posts. Tom Devries converted.
This score seemed to set the tone of the match with some great running from the Newent team. Seb Venn made a neat break to keep the opposition guessing before the ball found its way through a couple of pairs of hands to Callum Cullen who looked to have beaten the cover defence before appearing to be tripped. Despite falling heavily he managed to ship the ball to Martin but the cover defence just managed to get back to prevent the score. Unfortunately, Cullen was forced to leave the field and took no further part in the match which was a shame given the conditions which promised to suit his running style. After a quick re-organisation his place was taken by the evergreen Colin Mitchel who played a stormer from the back row.
Shortly after, Martin got on the end of a flowing passing move to scorch through for his second try. Sam Jackson was next to show his pace to outstrip the defence for a good solo effort to get his first try of the day.
Ollie Ford was next on the scoresheet after a typically determined effort through the middle and under the posts. Despite some superb kicking out of hand Tom Devries was having an off day from the tee, probably due to the more physically demanding role of playing out of position at hooker.
Newent kept the pressure on Old Pats and yet another flowing passing movement featuring Richard Merrett and Ollie Mansfield ended with Martin outpacing the defence with a scything run to get his hat trick of tries. Venn stepped up to slot the conversion.
Newent were taking full advantage of a strong wind and the slope and finished the half with a flourish with Ford made a strong jinking run right through the middle of the defence to score another try under the posts. Venn converted to conclude the first half scoring.
HT Score: Newent 36 pts – Old Pats 0 pts
With wind and slope in their favour Old Pats took little time to take advantage with long kicks into the home 22. This was the visitors best period of the game and a good passing move resulted in a try and conversion for the visitors.
One wondered whether the momentum might swing toward Pats as they tried to pin the home side in their own 22. However, the Green Army had other ideas and, keeping ball in hand, they kept pushing the visitors back. One such counter from inside their own 22 saw the ball spun from Martin to Merritt to Jackson who found Alex Gray in space outside him. Gray, making his first appearance for the club since playing at the U16 level, outpaced the defence to run in a try under the posts from 35 metres. Venn converted.
Newent watched the flight of the balls coming at them and judged to good effect whether to field or let the ball run over the dead ball line for the scrum back up-field. This frustrated Old Pats efforts to use the wind to their advantage.
Jack Devries, on for the injured Arron Boon, went on a storming run from 50 metres, shrugging off a couple of tackles and feigning inside before powering past the cover to score under the posts. Venn converted.
Despite plenty of effort Old Pats struggled to come to terms with the home sides pace and inspired running. None exhibited this spirit more than Ford who took a ball well inside his own half fully sixty metres whilst continually handing of at least six attempted tackles to score his third try of the day.
This game was about more than fleet of foot running though. The pack, well served by Luke and Kyle Williams, Tom Devries, Alex Timney, Jack Royle, Luke Uzzell, Mitchel, Ford and Boon ensured a steady supply of good ball throughout. Indeed, it was a great rolling maul by the pack that set up a penalty for Tom Devries to take Newent from well inside their own half, against the wind, into touch inside the visitors 22 and set up the next score. Following an excellent passing move along the threequarters and a line break and long looping pass by Martin to Jackson the winger sold an outrageous dummy to beat the remaining defender before touching down wide out.
Merrett, like Venn at scrum half and Mansfield and Martin at centre, was having a quietly influential effect on proceedings with straight running, timely passing and solid tackling. This control, particularly in the second half into the wind, was instrumental in keeping the side on the front foot and able to play from deep inside their own territory. There were also some effective 20-30 metre runs from Jack Royle who was often able to find supporting runners either side of him. Luke Uzzell was seen doing much of the grafting and tidying up loose ball that is essential in every match.
Next score was by Gray who took the ball from inside his own half all the way to the line with the defence unable to lay a hand on him. Then, with the last play of the match, Jack Devries took a catch well inside his own half and went on an arcing run, shrugging off a few tackles along the way and taking play toward the Pats 22. Just as the defence seemed to be closing in, who should pop up outside him? why none-other than brother Tom who finished the move with aplomb to score a neat “family” try. Venn knocked over the conversion and Referee Will Maund blew for time.
Full Time Score: Newent 72 – Old Patesians 7
Team: Luke Williams, Tom Devries, Kyle Williams, Alex Timney, Arron Boon, Ollie Ford, Jack Royle, Luke Uzzell, Seb Venn, Richard Merrett, Callum Cullen, Ollie Mansfield, Tom Martin, Sam Jackson, Alex Gray.
Subs: Colin Mitchel, Jack Devries
Tries: Tom Martin 3, Ollie Ford 3, Sam Jackson 2, Alex Gray 2, Jack Devries 1, Tom Devries 1.
Conversions: Tom Devries 1, Seb Venn 5
Comment: This was a good all round performance against a strong and committed Old Patesians side. We need to take this form on to our remaining fixtures including the upcoming FOD Combination Cup encounters. Well done to all concerned.
This score seemed to set the tone of the match with some great running from the Newent team. Seb Venn made a neat break to keep the opposition guessing before the ball found its way through a couple of pairs of hands to Callum Cullen who looked to have beaten the cover defence before appearing to be tripped. Despite falling heavily he managed to ship the ball to Martin but the cover defence just managed to get back to prevent the score. Unfortunately, Cullen was forced to leave the field and took no further part in the match which was a shame given the conditions which promised to suit his running style. After a quick re-organisation his place was taken by the evergreen Colin Mitchel who played a stormer from the back row.
Shortly after, Martin got on the end of a flowing passing move to scorch through for his second try. Sam Jackson was next to show his pace to outstrip the defence for a good solo effort to get his first try of the day.
Ollie Ford was next on the scoresheet after a typically determined effort through the middle and under the posts. Despite some superb kicking out of hand Tom Devries was having an off day from the tee, probably due to the more physically demanding role of playing out of position at hooker.
Newent kept the pressure on Old Pats and yet another flowing passing movement featuring Richard Merrett and Ollie Mansfield ended with Martin outpacing the defence with a scything run to get his hat trick of tries. Venn stepped up to slot the conversion.
Newent were taking full advantage of a strong wind and the slope and finished the half with a flourish with Ford made a strong jinking run right through the middle of the defence to score another try under the posts. Venn converted to conclude the first half scoring.
HT Score: Newent 36 pts – Old Pats 0 pts
With wind and slope in their favour Old Pats took little time to take advantage with long kicks into the home 22. This was the visitors best period of the game and a good passing move resulted in a try and conversion for the visitors.
One wondered whether the momentum might swing toward Pats as they tried to pin the home side in their own 22. However, the Green Army had other ideas and, keeping ball in hand, they kept pushing the visitors back. One such counter from inside their own 22 saw the ball spun from Martin to Merritt to Jackson who found Alex Gray in space outside him. Gray, making his first appearance for the club since playing at the U16 level, outpaced the defence to run in a try under the posts from 35 metres. Venn converted.
Newent watched the flight of the balls coming at them and judged to good effect whether to field or let the ball run over the dead ball line for the scrum back up-field. This frustrated Old Pats efforts to use the wind to their advantage.
Jack Devries, on for the injured Arron Boon, went on a storming run from 50 metres, shrugging off a couple of tackles and feigning inside before powering past the cover to score under the posts. Venn converted.
Despite plenty of effort Old Pats struggled to come to terms with the home sides pace and inspired running. None exhibited this spirit more than Ford who took a ball well inside his own half fully sixty metres whilst continually handing of at least six attempted tackles to score his third try of the day.
This game was about more than fleet of foot running though. The pack, well served by Luke and Kyle Williams, Tom Devries, Alex Timney, Jack Royle, Luke Uzzell, Mitchel, Ford and Boon ensured a steady supply of good ball throughout. Indeed, it was a great rolling maul by the pack that set up a penalty for Tom Devries to take Newent from well inside their own half, against the wind, into touch inside the visitors 22 and set up the next score. Following an excellent passing move along the threequarters and a line break and long looping pass by Martin to Jackson the winger sold an outrageous dummy to beat the remaining defender before touching down wide out.
Merrett, like Venn at scrum half and Mansfield and Martin at centre, was having a quietly influential effect on proceedings with straight running, timely passing and solid tackling. This control, particularly in the second half into the wind, was instrumental in keeping the side on the front foot and able to play from deep inside their own territory. There were also some effective 20-30 metre runs from Jack Royle who was often able to find supporting runners either side of him. Luke Uzzell was seen doing much of the grafting and tidying up loose ball that is essential in every match.
Next score was by Gray who took the ball from inside his own half all the way to the line with the defence unable to lay a hand on him. Then, with the last play of the match, Jack Devries took a catch well inside his own half and went on an arcing run, shrugging off a few tackles along the way and taking play toward the Pats 22. Just as the defence seemed to be closing in, who should pop up outside him? why none-other than brother Tom who finished the move with aplomb to score a neat “family” try. Venn knocked over the conversion and Referee Will Maund blew for time.
Full Time Score: Newent 72 – Old Patesians 7
Team: Luke Williams, Tom Devries, Kyle Williams, Alex Timney, Arron Boon, Ollie Ford, Jack Royle, Luke Uzzell, Seb Venn, Richard Merrett, Callum Cullen, Ollie Mansfield, Tom Martin, Sam Jackson, Alex Gray.
Subs: Colin Mitchel, Jack Devries
Tries: Tom Martin 3, Ollie Ford 3, Sam Jackson 2, Alex Gray 2, Jack Devries 1, Tom Devries 1.
Conversions: Tom Devries 1, Seb Venn 5
Comment: This was a good all round performance against a strong and committed Old Patesians side. We need to take this form on to our remaining fixtures including the upcoming FOD Combination Cup encounters. Well done to all concerned.
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