Southam 10 - 12 Berkswell & Balsall

The was a day when nothing went right for Southam and in the end missed touches cost them the points, Southam could not control the ball, coughed it up to easily and struggled to get it back, leading to at least a 75% - 25% possession ratio.

Southam's defence started well and held out B & B for 15 minutes, but they continued to put themselves under pressure, with three clearances that did not make touch allowing B & B straight back into the Southam 22 and after 15 minutes of B & B crashing tight, they got over for the try. Straight from the kick off Southam secured the ball on the B & B 22 and went blind, recycled and a popped pass from hooker Sam Deeming, put captain Will Grindal through for the try, which he duly converted. Southam did have some clear chances in the first half, but the ball was dropped in the final move and the points went begging. Southam finished the half with a 32m penalty from Grindal for not releasing.
HT 10 - 5

The second half was all B & B's, with Southam hardly touching the ball, Southam's line speed was slow and the first up tackles not effective, forcing Southam back into their 22. Southam's defence on the line was bullish, forcing numerous scrums and with scrum dominance they managed to get the ball away. Southam continued to let B & B break through and it was only some enveloping tackles from full back John Lowden and some crashing tackles from wing Sam Bench that between stopped at least six B & B scoring chances. As in the first half a missed touch cost them dear, with 15 minutes to go, Southam got a penalty on their own 22m and failed to find touch, B & B ran it back again and put Southam under pressure on their own line for multiple phases and eventually got over for the converted try. As the game ended Southam twice more got back into B & B half, looking for a penalty but lost possesion on both occasions.
FT 10 -12

A miserable day for Southam, with none of the tackle dominance that was shown pre Xmas.
It could have been a lot worse, but for some standout tackles and some determined try line defence. But B & B got up to the Southam line far to easily and far to often, Southam will hope turn this trend around in future games.

MOTM Sam Bench

Next League Match Jan 27th - away v Malvern