Oadby Wyygestonians 25 Nuns 56

The Nuns continued their good run of form with a 9 try win at Oadby Wyggestonians on the weekend which also saw them move clear second after the top sides didn’t pick up bonus points in their wins. Try scorers where Rudi Reid, Todd Bullions, Harry Beverley, Joe Wilson, Ben Holmes, James Lloyd and a Martin Wood hat trick. Lucas Brindley was successful with 4 conversions and a penalty kick to finish with a final score of 56-25.

There was one change in the pack with Augy Clarke starting at hooker and then changes in the backline saw Travis Bennett-Allcock starting at centre, Tak Chawadya coming in on the wing and having returned to the club in the New Year, Joe Wilson started at full back. George Wallis and Ryan Preston joined James Redman on the bench.

The hosts started on the front foot and after a spell of pressure knocked over penalties on the 3rd and 7th minute to take a 6-0 lead but it didn’t take the Nuns too long to get into their stride and Reid crossed for the first try on 9mins picking a hard line after a front foot scrum. Brindley converted to take the score to 6-7.

Bullions was next to score. The Nuns turned over a line out on half way and broke clear. When the ball was recycled a small lift from scrum half Tom Smitham allowed him to dot down, 6-12 after 12mins.

The hosts came back and showed why they have picked up the majority of their wins at home. Recycling the ball after a midfield break they scored their first converted try to retake the lead 13-12 after 17mins.

The Nuns hit straight back though. The kick off was spilled by Oadby and from the scrum they got on the front foot and Beverley finished off for the try after the ball had been moved wide, 13-17 on 20mins.

After the busy start the game settled down but again the host were next to score on 27mins when from a lineout maul they broke clear and then with a pick a go crossed the line. With a conversion added the score was now 20-17.

The last points of the half came to the Nuns. After a period of pressure a penalty was awarded and the ball was sent to the corner. Lineout secured and as the pack rumbled forwards Wood got the ball down for his 1st of the day. After 37 minutes the score was 20-22 and it was a lead the Nuns would carry through to half time and beyond.

The Nuns got the perfect start to the second half when Wood crossed for his second after good phase play up the pitch and then a 20m burst. Brindley added the extras with the lead stretched to 20-29 after 42mins.

On 52mins the Nuns scored a carbon copy try of Woods first. A penalty was sent to the corner and with secured ball Holmes was the beneficiary to dot down with Brindley converting to extend the lead to 20-36.

Things then got better for the Nuns when two minutes later having worked up the pitch a perfectly timed inside pop from Smitham allowed Wilson to stride under the posts from 20m. Brindley’s upgrade took the score to 20-43.

Brindley struck a penalty on 60 minutes after a tackle off the ball resulted in a yellow card for the hosts, 20-46.

Wood completed his hat trick on 66mins. The hosts had a defensive 5m scrum and when the Nuns turned it over he picked from a meter out to score. Brindley’s conversion went wide but the score was now 20-51.

The hosts finally got on the score sheet in the second half on 78 minutes. After a sustained period of pressure and some valiant defending from the Nuns, Oadby wriggled over for an unconverted try.

The Nuns had the final say though and on the final whistle after turning the ball over Lloyd scored in the corner taking the final score to 25-56.

After the game Huw Thomas’s added “That was a good 80 minute performance. Credit to Oadby, they threw plenty at us first half but we came through that and really stepped it up second half. The squad is performing well and allowing us to rotate through the game keeps us fresh and the pressure on the opposition.”

1 Ben Holmes 2 Augy Clarke 3 Ben Dawes 4 Rudi Reid 5 Tom Aherne 6 James Lloyd 7 Todd Bullions 8 Martin Wood 9 Tom Smitham 10 Lucas Brindley 11 Tak Chawadya 12 Tom Eales 13 Travis Bennett-Allcock 14 Harry Beverley 15 Joe Wilson; 16 James Redman 17 George Wallis 18 Ryan Preston