The Nuns hosted early league leaders Syston on Saturday but came away with just a 7th try bonus point when losing 28-36, conceding 5 tries to 4. The Nuns points came through Mike Volaikisuva, Ben Dawes, Ben Kirby and Martin Wood with Joe Wilson adding four conversions.
The game started poorly for the hosts when a pass was intercepted 40m out and run in for a converted try after just 2 minutes, 0-7.
However, the Nuns got themselves back in the game on 10 minutes. From a scrum, number 8 Martin Wood picked and went down the short side. With an offload to scrum half Kirby he burst through the line to draw the last man and find Volaikisuva who went in from 15m out. Wilson added a good conversion from wide to tie the score at 7 a-piece.
Syston re-took the lead in the 14th minute when the added a penalty from a ruck infringement to go 7-10 ahead.
The Nuns then had a couple of opportunities in the Syston 22m to come away with points but inaccuracies and errors allow the visitors to clear and this was an underlying theme of the half.
Syston extended their lead further on 30 minutes. With a penalty sent to the corner, line out ball secured and then a number of tight phases in field they carried across the line for a second converted try to take the score to 7-17.
In a case of déjà vu, the Nuns then couldn’t capitalise on some more territory and possession in the visitors 22m and then Syston closed off the half with a try on 38 minutes when their backs cut through from a set piece attack from a scrum to take their lead to 7-24 at half time.
The Nuns needed to start the second half well to get themselves back into the game and they did just that. After finally keeping the ball through a number of phases and with a few half breaks they got themselves deep into the visitors 22m. Then, after a number of tight thrusts Dawes crossed under the posts with Wilson converting to bring the score to 14-24 on 43 minutes.
The game remained scoreless for the next 20 minutes and the Nuns again worked themselves into positions but then execution let them down when within striking distance. Syston had some half chances but the defence had a patch of withstanding them well too.
Syston then got a crucial fourth try to take their lead to 14-31. When attacking 35m out a defensive misread allowed their centre through to score on 62 minutes.
Syston then grabbed their final points of the afternoon on 73 minutes. From a scrum 5m out they picked and attacked centrally then moved the ball wide to score in the corner which was unconverted. The lead was now 14-36 and the Nuns were staring down a large defeat.
On 78 minutes the Nuns rallied from deep. Wilson fielded a clearance kick and then ran it back to feed Brindley up the touch line. He carried the ball another 30m before dummying one defender and then popping it to Kirby to finish off from 20m. Wilson added the extras to take the score to 21-36 and give the hosts a sniff at a try bonus point with two minutes remaining.
The home side finally took the initiative with the try of the game. From receiving the kick off on their 22m line, they went forward before spreading the ball from one side to the other. A couple of phases later and Chawadya broke into the 22m and popped the ball to Wood off the ground for him to get the try. Wilson got another well struck conversion bringing the score to 28-36. There was no time left though as the referee blew the final whistle.
The Nuns again secured a 7th try bonus point but missed out on a losing bonus by one point.
Huw Thomas’s added after the game “We finished on a real positive with the two late tries but we cannot let that cover up the mistakes we made through the game. We need to look after the ball a lot better to pose the threats we know we have to the opposition. We now have a week without a game but two weeks to prepare for a block of games up to Christmas where we need to look at performances and pick up some wins again.”
1 James Redman 2 Louis Addleton 3 Ben Dawes 4 Ben Haywood 5 Tom Aherne 6 Ben Cornwall 7 Arron Skyrme 8 Martin Wood 9 Ben Kirby 10 Joe Wilson 11 Arron Esiri 12 Ryan Preston 13 Harry Beverley 14 Tak Chawadya 15 Mike Volaikisuva; 16 Ryan Marsh 17 James Moreton 18 Lucas Brindley