Scunthorpe 38 Nuns 25

Nuns lose out to league leaders but push them all the way.

Scunthorpe 38 Nuns 25

The Nuns made the longest journey of the season to Lincolnshire to face league leaders Scunthorpe on the back of a bonus point win over Sandbach. Changes to the squad included Sam Greening (suspended) and Ben Holmes (unavailable) replaced at tight and loose head prop by Ed Taplin and James Redman, Adie Hall (unavailable) was replaced by the returning Scott Makepeace at lock and with Ben Kirby unavailable Sion Cowdy came in to the back 3. Debutants for the 1st team on the bench were prop Jack Godden and back 3 cover Jamie Nicolson.

Over the last two season the Nuns have had entertaining and close games and this one was no different. The hosts opened the scoring with a 5th minute unconverted try from a charged down clearance kick inside the Nuns 22m. After some pressure though the Nuns got themselves on the score board with a Ben Cooper penalty on 8 minutes with the score 5-3 to the hosts.

From the re-start the Nuns gained possession and after a couple of phases were awarded a penalty which was sent deep into the hosts 22m. The line out was won, and maul set. It worked infield and then scrum half Tom Smitham pulled the ball out and fed a wide pass to the on rushing Elliott Brown for a try next to the posts which Cooper converted. 5-10 after 11 minutes.

5 minutes later and the hosts got themselves back in front through a break from their fly half on the 22m who fed the hooker in support to cross for a converted try, 12-10 to the hosts.

In a seesaw first half the Nuns then got themselves back into the lead when Elliott Brown crossed for his second try after charging down a clearance kick and winning the footrace. It went unconverted but the score was 12-15 after 18 minutes.

Both teams battled hard for the rest of the half, but it was the hosts that scored next on 26 and 35 minutes with tries coming from their large tight head prop. One was converted and the other not giving them a half time lead of 24-15.

Two changes were made by the Nuns at half time with Jack Godden coming on for Taplin and Leigh Thompson being replaced by Wills Messum after picking up a head knock.

The Nuns started the second half brightly and were rewarded for their efforts with a Jackson Hughes try after some controlled phase play took them into the home 22m. It went unconverted but brought the score to 24-20 on 45 minutes.

The next score was now crucial, the Nuns had plenty of possession and territory to get this, but they couldn’t find a way across the try line. As it was Scunthorpe got the next score on 68 minutes through their Captain and flyhalf. The conversion went over and stretched the lead to 31-20.

The Nuns were still in the game and again had possession, territory and opportunities to score but the host were in no mind set to give anything away. They crossed for another converted try on 74 minutes to stretch the lead to 38-24.

The Nuns came back once more than and from the kick off they camped themselves in the Scunthorpe 22m. They battered away and from a penalty that was kicked to the corner Captain Brown found himself in the maul and on the ball to get his hattrick and a bonus point try for the team. His conversion didn’t match his all-round showing though and the referee blew up for full time leaving the score 38-25 to the hosts.

At times the Nuns had the league leaders under pressure and could have had the score closer than what it was but plenty of credit and endeavour to the side for their work rate and determination.

Nuns: James Redman, Dale Bowyer, Ed Taplin, Thomas Aherne, Scott Makepeace, Callum Grant-Smith, Danny Southall, Leigh Thompson; Tom Smitham, Ben Cooper, Sion Cowdy, Dylan Bale, Elliott Brown, Nemani Rayabo, Jackson Hughes

Jack Godden, Wills Messum, Jamie Nicolson

Tries: Brown 3, Hughes
Cons: Cooper 1
Pens: Cooper 1