This Week 110% Effort

After last week’s disastrous last quarter, the Hurries were in the mood to put things right and provided 110% throughout the game. Hurries welcomed back Joe Rees, who flew back into the UK on Friday, after some months playing Rugby in Canada.

The hosts opened strongly forcing the Hurries back into their 22 for long periods. One passage of play went through 21 phases before Hurries went offside at a ruck, penalty kicked 3-0. This pressure continued and Hurries had a player sin binned for the interpretation of ruck offences. From this penalty the hosts went for a lineout, then a catch & drive for an unconverted try, 8-0.

Hurries hit straight back, on the half way line, Ben Allman slipped a superb pass to James Keyworth who handed off and outrun three defenders to score an unconverted try, 8-5.

Hurries always looked the stronger in the backs with support running from Joe Rees & Tommy Booth. Then ZETA PDM man-of-the-match Seb Corby, playing out of position at stand-off, made a strong break through the defence but being stopped a foot from the line. Keyworth again in superb support play in clearing the ruck, but the hosts killed the ball. Danny Thomas provided the penalty, 8-8.

The hosts added a half way line penalty 11-8. Then WIGHTLINK man-of-the-match, Tommy Booth, stepped inside the flat defence, sprinted to the line only to be brought down a metre out, he slipped the ball to Corby to score a brilliant support play try, converted by Thomas, Half Time 11-15 to the Hurries.

The hosts knocked on from the kick-off and from the scrum the ball was slipped to Joe Rees who outpaced all the defence to score an unconverted try 11-20. Again as in last weeks game, the Hurries were in control of most aspects of the game at this point.

The hosts upped their game and forced the Hurries into their 22 with a multi-phase rucking game. A chip and chase to the corner and the hosts won the race for a converted try, 18-20.

Again the Hurries hit back immediately from a lineout on the hosts 22 metre line, Hurries caught and drove all the way to the line for an unconverted try, Booth coming up with the ball, 18-25.

Then in a nasty incident, young Thomas had to leave the field with a head injury, a Winchester player was given a red card for using his boot illegally. This however seemed to galvanise the hosts further, a penalty followed, 21-25, and in the dying minutes a kick & chase resulted in a converted try in the corner, Final Score 28-25.

Hurries came away with two bonus points but have a great deal of work to do to stop this unfortunate change in form.

Hurries from; Eldridge, Allman, Skelley, Hunter, Joe & Sam Rees, Thomas, Booth, Dove, Corby, Jones, Keyworth, Jackson, Muir, Wales, Priddle, Carey.

Report by Geoff Giles