Old Halesonians 27 v Whitchurch 12
This was the first game Whitchurch had played rugby since December 3rd. due to the severe weather. This and probably the excesses at Christmas certainly showed with our team in the first half hour as league leaders Old Halesonians ran riot scoring 4 unanswered tries in the first 30 minutes. The first in the 3rd. minute following a knock on and a scrum to the Old Halesonain forwards who won the ball comfortably and ran through our defence to scire under the posts which was then converted. They then scored again in the 25th. minute from a driving scrum to touch down and the conversion was missed. Three minutes later they won a line out on the halfway line and played the ball inside where their winger ran 50 meters passed 2 tackles to score in the corner, again the conversion was missed. They then scored again in quick succession showing why they are top of the table with some lovely passing moves in the backs to score again to make the score 22:0
In the last 10 minutes of the first half Whitchurch managed to get into the opposition half and maintain some pressure on the opposition. They defended well making it hard for Whitchurch to get over the gain line but on the stroke of half time under the relentless pressure a penalty was awarded for high tackle. Danny Nicholas kicked for the corner and after a good lineout the forwards drove forward for Jake Rees to score a try, the conversion for the extra points was missed.
The rain started in the second half and almost immediately the Old Halesonian centre broke a tackle and their backs finished off a nice move with a try. The rest of the game was spent in the Old Halonians half and 4 minutes later Jack Rowley went on a charging run to score by the posts and Danny Nicholas converted to make the score 27:12. As the light faded with the rain and muddy conditions Whitchurch fought hard and James Marvell thought he was through to score again but the last pass was deemed by the referee to be forward. The forwards kept battling hard to get another score but the well drilled defence kept them at bay.
Next week the 1st. team are at home to Stratford with a 2:15 kick for anyone who wants to see local lads representing their town.
