Grovians lose to table toppers Roundhegians

Grovians came out second best to table toppers Roundhegians but put a good showing only losing the game in the final quarter.

Roundhegians took an early lead after 5 minutes when they kicked a penalty from 25 metres in front of the posts having missed an effort from 35 metres in the second minutes.

Grovians scored the first try of the game when countering out of their own 22 winger George Butler was sent away and his kick ahead bounced nicely and he scored his first try for the Grovians.

Grovians lost fly half Alex Masterson to what looked like a hamstring pull after only 10 minutes and he was replaced by Ryan Lister at scrum half, Ben Brown moving to fly half.

Brown increased the lead to 8-3 with a penalty but Roundheagians struck back when their right winger crossed after they won their own scrum on the edge of the Grovians 22.

The table leaders took the lead on 32 minutes when they drove the ball through a ruck and scored on the right.

Grovians replied with pressure up until half time and with a scrum five metres out appeared to be awarded a penalty advantage by the referee but as they spread it wide it was knocked on and the referee inexplicitly blew for half time. Roundhegians led at half time 8-15 with the game in the balance.

The second half ebbed and flowed after 49 minutes Roundhegians right winger was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on and Brown added a penalty to reduce the arrears to 11-15. Both sides suffered yellow cards before Roundhegians took control in the final quarter. The prevented Grovians from gaining much possession and scored two tries to give them a bonus point win. Grovians drop one place to fourth.

Coach Andy Hinchliffe commented after the game that he was “Happy with the performance and effort yesterday against a big, strong and well drilled Roundhegians.
The final score did not reflect the closeness of the game or the high intensity shown by both sets of players.
I think our visitors benefited from some odd officiating around the scrum but fully deserved the win.
We need to learn to adapt and hold our discipline in such frustrating circumstances. Instead we allowed it to knock us off our game plan and let the game drift away in the last quarter.”

Team: Kennedy, Butler, Griffin, Phillips, Mitchell, Masterson, Brown, Secker, Dodd, Johnstone, Harrison, Elcock, Garforth, Worrall, Crookes Replacements – Lister, Dakin, Robinson