Bird swoops in for five tries in big win over Guernsey

Right from the start both teams went on the attack but simple mistakes nullified their efforts. However, after quarter of an hour, it was Reds who were first on the board. After a flowing move following a great backrow drive up the middle, some good hands made space for Henry Bird to scorch to the corner. The conversion missed, Reds caught the restart and returned to halfway, an overthrown Guernsey lineout was picked off and Scott Closter made inroads into the visitors midfield defence. Some neat hands at pace worked wing Ed Boxall over in the opposite corner and from the touchline Hill added the extras.

The visitors were looking strong in the tight and at close quarters but it was Redcliffians who were on the board again as Bird finished a move from halfway, to cross the white wash wide out and Reds were in charge on the scoreboard if not in possession and territory.

Guernsey at 17-0 mounted a comeback down the slope and were rewarded with a penalty from Henry Greenhalgh, when Reds strayed offside. Buoyed by their first points of the afternoon, they scored their first try finished by prop Sam Steventon near the posts, Reds unable to stop a series of forward drives; the straightforward conversion added by Greenhalgh.

As half time beckoned Reds were penalised for a late tackle after following a clearance kick and the visitors kicked the resultant penalty to the corner. A well-controlled lineout catch and drive gave hooker Tom Ceillam the chance to score a try, Greenhalgh converted with the last action of the first period and Guernsey were right back in it, the score 17-17 at the half time whistle. Reds seventeen point lead had been wiped out with some indiscipline and lack of concentration just before the turn around.

It looked like it was going to be a second half of contrasts; the Old Redcliffians backs looking threatening and the Guernsey pack strong in the tight and at close quarters. The home side needed to win first phase ball to get their backs going and knew the importance of a good start to re-establish their lead. The half started excellently and with just a couple of minutes played a well worked lineout allowed hooker Kieran Ward to dart over on the right for an unconverted score that gave his side confidence and a try-scoring bonus point.

The second half saw Reds attacking flair go on to achieve 34 points in all without reply. With the home pack winning more ball the team began to get on the front foot and establish a platform. The forwards were laying the foundation creating time and space for the backs to excel. Bird completed his hat-trick, after another pacey attack, Ed Boxall timing the last pass to perfection. Reds then took the game to the visitors close to the breakdown on the goal line, committing defenders. He ball was worked right again and this time captain Dan Fry stretched out to touch down, with men over, Kieran Hill adding the extras and Old Redcliffians were in control with twenty minutes to play.

Guernsey were still winning plenty of ball but could not cope when Reds attacked at pace in the wide channels. Some more good play in the centre created room for the wingers and Boxall found Bird again and he swooped in for his fourth try with ten minutes to play and make the game safe.

The visitors threw caution to the wind and looked to salvage something from the match. They ran the ball back at every opportunity but a now confident Old Redcliffians tackled well and stopped the attacks. In the final minutes it was Bird at it again, reading the play, intercepting, and winging his way over under the posts for his fifth. Hill added the straightforward conversion and finished the scoring with a late penalty to take his side past the half century mark.

Old Redcliffians were well worth their win but there are still things to work on before the visit of Dings Crusaders for a local derby at Scotland Lane next weekend.

[i]Scorers:

Old Redcliffians:
Tries: Henry Bird (15, 23, 52, 66, 78). Ed Boxall (18). Kieran Ward (42). Dan Fry (56).
Conversions: Hill (18, 56, 66, 78)
Penalty: Hill (80)

Guernsey:
Tries: Sam Steventon (33), Tom Ceillam (40)
Conversions: Henry Greenhalgh (34, 40)
Penalty: Henry Greenhalgh (26)

Old Redcliffians:
Craig Owen, Henry Bird, Jermaine Jones, Christian Gervais, Ed Boxhall, Kieran Hill, Ash Groves, Alex Harvey, Kieran Ward, Jake Caulfield, Chris Pursall, Corey Talbot, Dan Fry, Scott Coster, Ethan Doyle
Replacements: Ellis Joseph, George Kloska, Pat Zindi, Dom Sprague, James Clements[/i]