School of Engineers vs Medics 2nd XV

The first game in the season is always a big one. With two full teams and a large group of freshers, the BUMMERS turned up to the Metchley pitches in pouring rain ready to get the season off to a good start. A long warm up with run-through got everyone suitably fired up.

With the BUMMERS kicking off downhill, the first try was scored before the first tweet went out. Oscar Sugden managed to get on the end of a solid chip and finished with some players sliding into the nearby bushes. The conversion was taken well by our resident front row kicker Josh Knight.

With the awful conditions continuing and the ball being greasy, scrappy forward play was the only way up the pitch. The medics got themselves together and put some extended pressure inside the BUMMERS half. A sudden counterattack from the BUMMERS looked like a second try but an excellent cover tackle into touch saved the medics.

With the ball edging towards the medic’s try line, a penalty was awarded on the 5m line and a scrum was taken. A beautifully worked dragon ball put Harry Bayston in to score. Josh Knight maximised the points with the conversion. Soon after, an excellent interception and quick play led to a Will Johnson try. Once again, the try was converted by Josh Knight.

The game had to be paused briefly as a medic got blue-lighted to the hospital and the pitch moved. This gave both teams some time to recover. Everyone was straight out of the blocks when the game resumed. The newly refreshed medics put on some serious pressure inside the BUMMERS 22 but a strong defence led to a turnover and half time was called.

The teams switched, and the new back line suddenly decided that kicking was the best thing to do. This meant there was plenty of action from both sides in both halves. This eventually reached its peak when our Capitan Nick Finnegan dribbled the ball from 40m out eventually scoring under the post. However with Josh Knight substituted, Finnegan couldn’t finish off the points. The game drawing to a close a thundering run by Alex Dickens was stopped just before the Medics line leaving an easy try for Matt Oxborrow. Once again Nick Finnegan could not find the posts.

Final score: 31-0

Tries: Oscar Sugden, Harry Bayston, Will Johnson, Nick Finnegan, Matt Oxborrow
Conversions: Josh Knight (x3)