Towcestrians 26 Nuneaton 39

On the road for the second week to Northamptonshire the Nuns were able to come away with a 39-26 victory over Towcestrians on the weekend. Notching up 6 tries it was a performance that showed at times what the side is capable of doing and good fitness levels to be able to pull away in the final quarter.

The hosts were the first to get points on the board after the Nuns were penalised in midfield. A straight forward penalty kick was put through the uprights after 5mins, 3-0.

It didn’t take the Nuns long to get back into the game though and after some strong surges forward across the pitch, Todd Bullions picked a neat running line for Tom Smitham to lift the ball and he ran from 20m out to score which Lucas Brindley converted. 3-7 after 9mins.

From the kick off the Nuns came on the attack again and after working their way down the pitch with a couple of penalties sent to touch they were pressurising the hosts try line. However, the home fly half intercepted a pass and they were able to clear their lines. The Nuns kept coming back and were starting to dominate possession and territory but some little in accuracies were thwarting momentum.

As they second quarter began, Towcestrians had gotten themselves up to the Nuns 22m. From a line out and then a couple of phases they squeezed over in the corner for an unconverted try. 8-7 after 25mins.

A few minutes later, and after the Nuns had conceded a penalty on the attack 10m from the home try line, Towcestrians had extended their lead after some good handling down the short side allowed them to score in the opposite corner. The try was unconverted, but now leading 13-7 after 30mins.

Nuns came back again though. The hosts were putting some play together in their own half after the kick off and when trying to work it wide Ryan Southall leapt and intercepted before running it in from 40m with Brindley adding the extras to retake the lead 13-14 after 35mins.

The hosts finished on the front foot though. After conceding a couple of penalties and then finding themselves defending their line, the Nuns conceded another penalty in front of the posts which was converted to give Tows a 16-13 halftime lead.

The second half started well for the Nuns. After a couple of kicks back and too from the kick off the Nuns forced a penalty 40m out but Brindley unluckily hit the up right with his strike. The Nuns then had a sustained period of pressure but couldn’t capitalise before the hosts came back with their own pressure.

The second half deadlock was finally broken when the hosts won a penalty on the 22m in front of the posts. When the ball dissected the posts it took the score to 19-14 after 58mins.

The Nuns came storming back though and just a couple of minutes later Augy Clarke charged down a clearance kick before gathering and touching down to bring the score to 19 all after the conversion just missed.

Showing no sign of either side really controlling the score board, Towcestrians came back themselves again and after their centre found a gap in the defence he went through and rounded the last defender for another converted try taking the lead back to 26-19 after 63mins.

The Nuns then hit a purple patch for the last 15minutes. After recycling the ball through numerous phases in the host 22m Stewart Davies finally crashed through for try under the posts. Converted by Brindley the scores were tied again 26 all on 68mins.

After a Tom Aherne 30m burst play was again deep into the home 22m and with the ball worked wide Davies crossed for another try which was unconverted taking the score to 26-31 on 71mins.

On the front foot again, a penalty was awarded to the Nuns which Brindley stepped up to put between the posts to extend the lead to 26-34 on 75mins.

The Nuns then rounded off the game with their 6th try of the day and a hat trick for Davies. From a lineout 40m out, Dearden hit Bullions at full stretch. The Ball was moved to the on rushing George Wallis who found energy to break the line and carry deep before off loading the ball. Davies was on the end of the move to cross in the corner. The conversion was missed but the final whistle blown with a 26-39 score.

Plenty of positives to take forward into the next game at home to Oadby Wygs next. The lineout platform provided plenty of ball, some strong carries from backs and forwards put the Nuns on the front foot and there was also a pleasing contribution from the bench which shows some depth developing in the squad.

1 James Redman 2 Toby Dearden 3 Fin Aherne 4 Tom Aherne 5 James Lloyd 6 Todd Bullions 7 Dan Southall 8 George Wallis 9 Tom Smitham 10 Max Carter 11 Tom Sumner 12 Tom Eales 13 Travis Bennett 14 Ryan Southall 15 Lucas Brindley; 16 Ben Holmes 17 Augy Clarke 18 Stewart Davies