Milton Keynes RUFC 1XV
Matches
Sat 06 Apr 2013  ·  Southern Counties North
Milton Keynes RUFC
Milton Keynes RUFC 1XV
Tries: D Pearson (3), G Whitehead (2), D Rolfe, A TrevinoConversions: P Powell (3)
41
24
Wallingford
Milton Keynes make hard work against Wallingford

Milton Keynes make hard work against Wallingford

Ray Bray7 Apr 2013 - 22:01
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Milton Keynes stay top of the league in a hard fought contest made harder by their chosen style of play.

On a beautiful dry sunny day the perfect conditions for rugby City took to the field and kicked off against Wallingford and with them receiving the kick and possession they attacked up pitch with a strong display of rucking, mauling and recycling of the ball and so they maintained possession for the best part of 8 minutes putting City on the back foot and having to defend relentlessly showing that despite City being top of the league Wallingford were not going to make this easy for the City team, after a penalty to City, a kick to touch, a line out and some fast hands, the resulting set piece saw Dan Pearson score after only nine minutes in the left hand corner, the try being converted by Phil Powell, putting City 7 points ahead and calming the City nerves.

City settled into the game showing their dominance in tackling and running, although Wallingford were dominant in the pack as tight head prop Richard Hill could not show his strength having received a back injury during the warm up and so after only five minutes he was substituted by Carl Cappellano who played his best game of the season for 75 minutes, Wallingford’s backs still not being able to break the City line and with a turnover ball it was another backs move that saw City Winger Gavin Whitehead ran in for his first try of the game and second for City in the right hand corner, this one going unconverted.

Following the re-start, receiving the kick and a strong and confident move that saw City’s number eight Dan Rolfe dodge and weave through Wallingford’s backs with some sharp handoffs and crossing the line for City’s third try in 17 minutes and Dan Rolfe’s 13th try of the season, this too was too far in the corner to be converted but City were 17 points to nil ahead.

With City in the ascendancy and their tales finally up, there followed a brace of tries by Dan Pearson with a quintessentially excellent display of speed and agility which left Wallingford looking down the pitch in awe and so with four tries unconverted City broke for half time at 27 points to nil with a bonus point secured, but the win still in the offing.

Wallingford were not to be outdone and their Coach’s half time talk clearly being taken to heart and so it was that taking to the pitch for the second half Wallingford scored twice with one conversion in a display of rugby not shown in the first half. Although City were not finished and following an up field kick, collect and some fierce running again with speed and agility, saw Gavin Whitehead cross the line for City’s 6th try this one being converted by Philip Powell.

Once again, Wallingford showed their mettle with some very physical rugby once again scoring two tries and a conversion, although this was to be their last scores of the game and seeing them at a deserved 24 points.

Although City closed the game with a very strong drive up the field, some excellent planned moves and a number of phases, recycling the ball within the pack and finally releasing the ball to Alex Trivino and a devastating run through form 20 metres out crossing the line on the 79th minute and with Philip Powell converting and the referee blowing for ‘no side’ City winning the game 41 points to a well-deserved 24 from Wallingford.

City now face two challenging and physical games to close the season, with everything in the balance based on the results of not only these two games, but that of Grove and Buckingham’s to see who is 1st and 2nd in the league at the seasons close.

So with the style of rugby shown against Wallingford displaying the individual abilities, physicality and experience of the City players they will need to go back to playing as a team with one voice, back to the way that has put them “top of the league”.

Match details

Match date

Sat 06 Apr 2013

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Southern Counties North
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - TXM Recruit Ltd
Pitch Sponsors - PJ Care Ltd
Pitch Sponsors - Keyne Developments
Club Sponsor - Line One Sales Ltd
Club Sponsor - NHBC