Thirds Rally Too Late

It took going four tries behind for the Third team to get going on Saturday, and despite several periods of sustained pressure, they were unable to claw back the deficit.

Daventry were forced to work the ball wide for their tries, all of which came from quick breaks. A lot of credit has to go to Daventry's defence, who kept the Blues out again and again while they were camped inside their 5 metre line.

The second half saw stand in 10 Shane Ling twice left bemused (not difficult, I grant you) by the referee - first after Daventry being awarded a try despite Ling quite clearly keeping the ball at least a foot off the ground, and second after he went over at the other end only to be called back for a penalty against the opposition. Again credit to the opposition, who tried in vein to convince Sir that Ling had scored a perfectly good try.

Eventually though, the tries did come, first when David Parkinson smashed through from five metres with 10 minutes left, and again after Jack Brown jinked his way through the line to score 3 minutes later. Ling converted both tries.

The thirds dominated play for most of the second half, but were unable to link phases together and get the backs involved wide. The scrum was constantly spoiled by early pushing and early striking, which stopped either team from getting in to any kind of rhythm.

Man of the Match: Ben Dawson
Team: Long, Stead (McLundie), Bannister, Payne, Thomatos, Ling, Dawson; Parkinson, Edwards, Collins, Audley (Marchbank), Brown, Grannon, Gadget, Lundy