Mens Own Back to Winning Ways

Five dads and George Briddon (Tee Boy) travelled over to Thorney to stand in the bright winter sun watching the Own in this weeks league encounter.

An early penalty after 2 minutes by Matt Brace paved the way for a solid win for the Own.

Mens Own started well and took control of the game with some good driving forward play keeping Thorney on the defensive in their 22. After 9 minutes a Thorney lineout in their 22 saw Chris Gould steal the throw resulting in another good forward drive finishing off with a try for Craig Wilson to make it 0-8.

A good supply of ball to the backs allowed them to keep Thorney pegged in their own half and after 23 minutes a quick ball through several pairs of hands and a slick final pass by Craig Wilson to Gary Haynes saw the latter finish well for the 2nd try of the match converted by Matt Brace 0-15.

On 33 minutes a good run by Gareth Hughes from more than 22 metres out ended with him scoring Owns 3rd try to make it 0-20.

At this stage it looked as if the Own were going to run away with the game but some odd refereeing decisions led to the game becoming very disjointed with a lot of stoppages, this combined with some good tackles being put in by Thorney kept the score at 0-20 until the 59th min when Thorney kicked a penalty to close the gap to 3-20 this to be followed 2 minutes later with a 2nd try for Gareth Hughes for the final points of the game.

Had Mens Own stuck to the game of tight forward driving play followed quick ball to the speedy wings then I doubt if Thorney would have been able to stop the Own getting more points on the board, as it was they all too often opted to cut back in allowing Thorney to make their tackles. The "odd" refereeing decisions didn't help the game but at the end of the day Thorney never looked like scoring a try and Mens Own came away with a 3-25 win with 4 tries giving them a bonus point.

Report by John Wilson.

1st XV: Gareth Hughes, Danny Golden, James Reynolds, Mark Newton, Gary Haynes, Matt Brace, John Wootton, Nick Briddon, Craig Wilson, Ian Evans (Capt), Chris Gould, Barry Watts, Ben Briddon, Rob Huckle, Steve Ennew

Replacements Used: Matt Fowler, Rob Bloye & Tom Frost

Tries: Gareth Hughes 2, Gary Haynes & Craig Wilson

Conversion: Matt Brace

Penalty: Matt Brace

Men of the Match: Matt Brace & Craig Wilson