Southam 17 - 10 Nuneaton Old Edwardians

Southam looked to build on the win before Xmas, but needed a big game to overcome fourth place Nuneaton Old Edwardians.

Southam had the better of the initial stages and capitalised on overthrown lineout ball on the Southam 10m, taken by prop Charlie Gilkes and fed to No8 Will Grindal, Grindal kicked into space into the Old Eds 22. The clearance miskick was fielded by prop Will Bostock and he drove onto the the 5m line, Old Eds gave away the penalty and scrum half Tom Boag used the free ball for a cross kick along the 5m, centre Tom Grimes got up and knocked the ball back and centre Pete Burnell collected, drew the defence and fed wing Will Clarke, who out gassed the last defender to go over for the try, converted by Grindal. Old Eds came back hard in the Southam 22, Southam defended well and won the ball back 3 times, but mistakes and penalties on the exit, gave the initiative back to Old Eds, who got the converted try from lineout drive from 10m out. From the restart, Southam indiscipline let Old Eds back in, but were unlucky to go down to another penalty from 20m for offside. Southam got back on the front foot up to half time, with Grindal narrowly missing a 50m penalty and got to half time just down.
HT 7 -10

Southam continued to be held back by mistakes and penalties, but the defence was solid across the pitch and Old Eds could not get any 'go forward'. 12 minutes in wing forward Joe Bagshaw was fastest through on tapped ball from a lineout on the Old Eds 10m and fought all the way to the Eds 5m, on a penalty for holding on, Boag again went for the cross kick, with Clarke just missing out on a try. The ref blew and Grindal took the penalty in front of posts to equal the score. Southam struggled to retain the ball, but the sterling defence across the field from the whole team kept Old Eds out, Grindal narrowly missed a 50m attempt and when Southam did get into the Old Eds 22, the could not secure their own linout. As the game due to close, it was looked as though the game was heading for a draw and and in yet another set of phase play by Old Eds on the Southam 22, the ball came loose, Bagshaw picked up and with two strong fends got away from the initial tacklers and up to the halfway, the last defender was the hooker and Bagshaw looped round him and easily and won the foot race to the line for an incredible 75m metre try, Grindal converting.
FT 17 - 10

This was an excellent start in 2019 for Southam with a lot to build on, a solid scrum and a strong defence gave the Old Eds a tough day and in the end it all came down to the Southam boys wanting it more than Old Eds.

MOTM Joe Bagshaw

Next weeks games Jan 12th KO 2.15pm :-
1sts away v Earlsdon
2nds home v Earlsdon II