Edwardians 29 v Whitchurch 33
This was always going to be a tough game for the Whitchurch side already relegated at the foot of the table against a high-flying Edwardians team in 3rd. place. The reds took the decision to introduce 3 more debutants from the successful Colts side to transition them into senior rugby.
The first half with a strong wind advantage the home side took the with 2 tries in the first 20 minutes to score 3 tries and a lead of 19 points to 0. Whitchurch battled well with debutant and man of the match doing a try scoring save saving tackle spurred the Shropshire men on. Just before the half time break Max Clarke found Elliott Horton on a good running line to power through and score by the corner to leave a half time score of 19:5
After the break and with the wind behind them Whitchurch started the stronger with debutant Harvey Leonard broke through 3 tackles to score under the posts. This was converted by the other new first team player George Owen. This left the reds just one score behind and kept the pressure on the home side with a new belief that we haven’t seen for some time. Edwardians managed to break away from their own half and the winger ran 50 metres to score and then the forwards drove over to go into a 29:12 lead. Whitchurch then made a couple of tactical changes with a lot to do in the last 20 minutes and a well worked try with George Owen passing to Max Clarke who ran in by the posts for Owen to add the extras from the conversion. Whitchurch then kept the pressure on and good work by the backs led to Matt Jackson powering in for a try under the posts again converted by Owen. With 5 minutes to go and just 3 points behind the Shropshire men regained possession in their own half with Matt Cliffe stealing the ball and giving it out to Tom Tilley who sidestepped 2 players before passing perfectly to Max Clarke to run in under the posts for his second try of the game and converted by Owen again. With a 4 point lead Whitchurch held out from some strong running from the home side but held on to the final whistle for their first win of the year.
Coach Andy Powell said the whole team dug in today and with the youth of the colts driving the team forward. Six colts players played today, Josh Williams, Max Clarke, Harvey Leonard, Tom Tilley, George Owen and Sean O Donnell which is all very positive for Whitchurch to get promoted again next season.
Next week the 2nd. team have an away game at Newcastle in the cup competition whilst the 1st. team are now free until the 26th. April when they travel to local rivals Crewe and Nantwich in the 2nd. round of the Papa Johns Cup.
