Nuns can't stop Broadstreet's winning run...Nuns 12 Broadstreet 17.

The Nuns lost their unbeaten home record to a Broadstreet team who came to Liberty Way with an iron curtain defence and a bucket load of good luck. This top of the table encounter was a close, hard fought affair played in ideal conditions.

After the Nuns had wasted an early attacking position “Street” counter attacked and scrum half Nick Thatcher made a mazy run that put the visitors into Nuns territory. With a penalty kick to the corner Street consolidated their position but the Nuns were able to keep them out. Early signs were that the Nuns pack was under pressure at the set scrum and on 15 minutes the scoreboard attendant went into action. From a scrum close to the Nuns line, Streets pack drove forward and Jack Gibbons was credited with a try which Lee Chapman converted. Chapman had a chance to extend the visitors lead but his penalty attempt drifted wide. Nuns came more into the game and after some good work they won a penalty in front of the posts and Rob Cook made no mistake. On 32 minutes the games pivotal moment occurred. A high cross field kick appeared to be well covered by the Nuns defence but a cruel bounce allowed winger Edmund Boxall to gather the ball and run in under the posts. With Chapman’s conversion Street led by 11 points. Cook did get his second penalty of the afternoon to send the Nuns into the interval trailing 14-6.

The Nuns started the second half well - breaking up a Street attack at the line out before launching a counter attack that was only stopped by a forward pass. With the Nuns pack looking more stable in the set scrum the game was more even. On 46 minutes only desperate defence by Street kept the Nuns out but they did concede a penalty which Cook converted – his third. Streets lead was now just 5 points. More pressure by the Nuns continued, but they could not find a way through a well organised defence who tackled in uncompromising fashion. A penalty kick to the corner gave the Nuns another promising platform but again Street “closed the curtains” with some outstanding defence. On 64 minutes Street turned to attack and from a penalty Chapman extended their lead to 8 points. As we entered the last quarter Theo Knight for the Nuns got in the clear on two occasions only to be snuffed out by Streets defence. Cook kicked his fourth penalty to bring the Nuns to within 5 points. In the closing minutes the Nuns gambled with some adventurous play but Street continued to withstand the pressure to see out time and an important win.

A much changed Nuns side fought hard but in the end Street had all the answers and continued their winning run. Nuns slip to third place in National 3 Midlands and must now only have an outside chance of achieving promotion.

Team.
James Redman, Dan Oselton, Ben Holmes, James Moreton, Llyr Griffiths, Rudi Reid, Todd Bullions, Umraan Jadwat.
Huw Thomas, Rob Cook (capt), Ollie Kitto, Tim Douglas. Theo Knight, Jackson Hughes, Kane Nixon.
Replacements.
Nick Smith, Scott Makepeace, Moses Liwaliwa.

Bob Hansford
@nker radio 1386am & Online