Barton Hill 2nds Match Report

Previously unbeaten and top of the league, Frampton 2nds made the very short trip to BS15 to take on Barton Hill 2nds. Valuable league points were at stake, but Frampton were also looking to win back the Ray Rigg Cup which had been in Barton Hill’s hands for far too long. Frampton were expecting a tough, physical encounter. They were not disappointed.

On a dry and sunny afternoon, Frampton won the toss and decided to play up the hill into the stiff easterly breeze. Barts used their big forwards to pick and drive, but were met with stern resistance by the younger Frampton pack. Barts were enjoying the majority of possession and territory but they couldn’t manage a score. Despite this, Frampton fought their way up the field, and went through a number of phases before Tim child finished with the opening try out wide. Kobie McGlashan kicked an excellent conversion from near the left hand touchline.

Barts pressed again from the restart, but still couldn’t score. Just before half time, and following more pressure from the hosts, Zak Smith turned the ball over at a ruck on Frampton’s line. The ball was moved quickly to Kobie McGlashan who then ran the length of the field to score under the posts. Kobie converted his own try. Half time: Barts 0 Frampton 14.

Now playing with both the slope and the breeze, Frampton would have been confident of taking the game away from Barts. However, the game followed the same pattern as the first half with Barts enjoying lots of possession and territory, but they not able to find a way through the Frampton defence. The next score went to Frampton, who won the ball on the halfway line. The ball was passed to Kobie McGlashan who then beat a number of defenders to score near the posts. Kobie converted his own try. Barts 0 Frampton 21.

Barts came back again, and following a missed tackle near halfway, they went through a number of phases to score a good unconverted try. Only a one-eyed farmer from Frampton End would think that this was probably no more than they deserved.

The remainder of the game was uneventful, but Frampton had the final word when Doug Colwill scored in the left hand corner following a series of good phased play and passing. Kobie McGlashan couldn’t convert from out wide. The referee then blew for full time. Final score: Barts 5 Frampton 26.

This was a very satisfying victory on the road for Frampton 2nds. The young team was put under intense pressure at times by a very physical Barts team. They stood up to this very well. There were some very good individual performances, but it was the collective team effort which shone through. The Ray Rigg Cup is now safely back in the clubhouse at Crossbow.