Battersea Ironsides

Trojans were unlucky to come away from this game with nothing have matched Battersea with three tries apiece. But Battersea won the kicking game with three conversions and three penalties to two conversions.

Trojans started well with a couple of chances to score in the first five minutes including Mark Greenhalgh popping the ball over the line but was deemed to have bumped into the referee on the way. However, from the ensuing scrum the ball was swept wide for Joby Kochanowski to run into the far corner with Toogi Long kicking the long range conversion. Battersea then made some ground and gained a penalty on the Trojans 22 which was converted. Play was contained to the centre of the pitch until, on 35 minutes, Trojans kicked a long penalty to the Battersea line, won the line-out and mauled the ball over the line for Chris Boyd to claim the touch-down. As the half closed out, Battersea gained good ground by some clever kicking and were rewarded with a penalty and a goal to give them a half time lead 13 – 12

The second half started badly for Trojans. Battersea kicked off, Trojans mishandled and Battersea gained a penalty followed soon afterwards by a goal. Trojans soon recovered and put in some sharp attacks resulting, on 25 minutes, in another strong rolling maul with debutant hooker Joe Milton this time claiming the touch down and with Long kicking the conversion. Just four points behind, all was to play for and Trojans went for it but their attacks were repulsed by excellent kicking from the Battersea no10 which ultimately resulted in a final goal for Battersea right on time to rob Trojans of the losing bonus point.