South v Ashby

Match report

South v Ashby RFC 13/3/16

The sun was beaming for our long awaited home match against one of this seasons county cup finalists Ashby.

Having lost 24-5 to Ashby at their ground it was time to try and turn the tables on them. South started strongly with George making a nice drive forward, Ashby defended well and put in a big tackle on James leading to the first lineout on the 10 yard line.

Ashby showed they were a well drilled side and spun the ball wide but some stout defence and good rucking for the south pack stemmed the Ashby attack.

Ashby attacked our line but Joe managed to ground the ball and some excellent tackling from Sam stopped the next ashby attack from the scrum. The ball was recycled through the backs leading to Jack hammering through the centre on a great break, supported brilliantly by George, just spilling the ball forward. South had the bit between their teeth through and won more ball, spinning wide to Sam who made an electric break down the left wing to totally out pace the Ashby defence and score a great try in the corner.

5-0 to South. Conversion missed but great effort from Jude.

Ashby restarted and attacked strongly, however the ball was bouncing about and Charlie bravely secured the loose ball, the pack recycled quickly and fed Jack on the charge who stormed through the defence off loading to Will who showed good strength up the right wing. Ashby though can tackle and stopped our attack and some messy handling allowed them a scrum.

The next phases were a series of mauls and rucks with both packs hammering against each other. It was great to see how out forwards have really developed this year and can take on any set of forwards they come up against. Joe, Ollie, Flynn, Cam driving forward, with Cam smashing some huge tackles in.

This really hard work paid off and the forwards won some more good ball, fed beautifully by Reece, to Flynn, then George and Charlie and then unleashing Sam agin who showed real pace down the left wing again to totally outrun the Ashby backs to score !!

10-0 to South. Conversion missed.

Ashby took play down the right wing from the restart and a massive tackle from Ben stopped the attack and forced a south scrum. George made a lovely pick up from the base and drove towards the Ashby half backs but Ashby defended well and held out until half time.

Half time 10-0 to South

Ashby started the second half strongly bringing on some very large units in the second row. They started a big kicking game hammering the ball down the park towards Jono who was covering at full back. Ashby poured forward towards our line and forced a series of penalties five yards out, Constant pressure bought a questionable try but the ref allowed it and Ashby notched their first score.

10-5. A good kick followed

10-7 to south

Ashby soon followed this up with a second when South went to sleep defensively and with the successful kick made the score 10-14

From the restart Ashby were piling on the pressure but Luke made a storming break from our 22", thundering down the pitch, off loading to Jack who hammered down the left wing, but just lacking some support to recycle the ball. Play continued in the 22" and Ashby were awarded a scrum just inside the 22".

Mitch and Reece combined brilliantly from the backrow and half back to charge down a clearance kick and really turn up the heat on the Ashby three quarters. Ashby won the resulting scrum and cleared their lines for a south lineout. South secure their own ball from a good throw in by Ollie and some excellent work by Joe driving through, Reece spun it out and Jack ran a lovely line back across the pack down the left wing and crossed the line for a lovely score only to be denied when the ref deemed it a George north foot in touch moment and ruled it out.

Ashby regrouped, won possession and cleared their lines, again smashing the ball down the paddock. Play worked itself into the south 22" and south were awarded a scrum from which Reece made a powerful break through their defence, Ashby again defended well and stopped the attack forcing the play down the right wing.

Ashby won the resulting mauls and went wide down the opposite wing some great defence from Mitch halted play but South penalised and Ashby seiner the chance to take the lead with a strong try from their big winger.

10-19 to Ashby

Ashby were really going for it now and kicks the ball deep into out half and a good drop by Jude secured the loose ball and won a penalty. We cleared but Ashby showed their quality and their defence caused us to lose our way and we made some loose passes which allowed Ashby to snatch another easy try, running around behind the stick. The kick was good making the final score -

10-26 to Ashby.

Lads definitely a game of two halves ! We were phenomenal in places and really showed a good side that we can play against the best and score. You never dropped your heads and showed some real grit and determination and we can't ask more than that. You can feel proud that although we let them back in the match we really stuck to the task and Ashby I'm sure we know they've been in a match and will always know they are in for a torrid time against the South. Ashby are in the County final and although they won't be a match for Market Harborough, they are a good side and we are capable of beating them, so the Bulls better watch out the South are on the March !!!

Well done fellas - Proud of you all

Well done to man of the match - Jack Burge (JB) your tackling and winning of loose ball was exceptional and narrowly missed a great try in the corner. Well done !

Huge thank you to Gary and Jane Cramp who sponsored the match. Your support as always means a lot to the squad and is much appreciated !