Paviors Rugby Club

Two Paviors RFC 1st XV players have been selected in the Notts, Lincs & Derbys (NLD) U20’s squad. Teenagers Doug Billam and Jordan Cleaver were both capped in this season’s national county championship opening fixture. Doug had the additional honour of being named as squad captain. Both players are students at South Notts College studying Sports Coaching and are also members of Nottingham Rugby Academy.

The NLD U20’s squad made the lengthy trip to the home of Championship Club, Moseley, to play North Midlands. ‘Mose’ hosted a wonderful evening for this lively opening match in Midlands Group B of the National Under-20 Championship in frosty conditions. The game was played on the Championship pitch, in front of the stands, and a hardy group of about 100 supporters came to cheer both sides on.

North Midlands were unbeaten in their three warm-up matches of the current campaign, whereas NLD brought a 21-man squad containing 7 players who had never worn the NLD jersey at any previous age group level.
The game kicked off 10 minutes early, to try and reduce the effects of the free-falling thermometer. Even so frost was appearing on the grass and metalwork in the stand as the whistle blew. NLD played up the slight slope in the first half but were on the defensive for much of the time. A number of penalties for offside against NLD meant they were kept pinned in their own half for long periods. The pressure eventually told and North Midlands appeared to have laid the foundations for victory when they opened up a 13-0 lead by the interval.

However, NLD, losing Midlands finalists last season, were a transformed side after the break and harnessed the Billesley Common slope to their advantage to run in three unanswered tries and clinch victory.

NLD stunned the home side with a well-taken try from fly-half Jim Wigglesworth (Hull) on 49 minutes. He latched onto a superbly paced chip from centre Doug Billam (Paviors) that bounced kindly on a crispy pitch and Wigglesworth maintained his balance to touch down and then added the conversion. Midway through the second half recent history repeated itself. A deep kick to touch from a penalty on halfway gave the visitors a lineout 20m from the North Midlands try line. The NLD pack secured the ball and drove forward with power and discipline. Lock Jake Thompson (Derby) driving over for the try. Wigglesworth provided the conversion. The NLD fly-half was back in the action again on 62 minutes to give NLD the lead after capitalising on some weakening North Midlands defence by spinning out of two tackles to score his second try under the posts. His conversion left the home side two scores adrift.

North Mids reduced the deficit with a penalty six minutes from time but NLD were not to be denied. Wigglesworth capped off a wonderful evening for the squad and travelling supporters by wrapping up the scoring with a penalty of his own with the last kick of the match.

The final score:

North Midlands U20’s 16 Notts, Lincs & Derbys U20’s 24

The next game for the NLD U20’s in the National U20’s Championship is on 29th February against Staffordshire U20’s at Mansfield RFC. Kick off – 7.30pm