Another good team performance earned us a comfortable victory over Cannock in last Saturday’s friendly and added to the impressive line-up of “W’s” growing in the results column.  Cannock, who play in the league above us, were in arrears right from the start when “Forrest”, receiving the ball from the kick-off, to groans from the crowd, kicked-ahead, but then caught it and waltzed through a surprisingly inert defence to dab down between the posts. He also added the conversion which put us firmly in the driving seat and the visitors squarely on the back foot.  Playing with the slope, the forwards got a grip and using the three quarters intelligently continuously created chances and kept the visitors penned in their territory for much of the half.  By half time we’d enhanced the scoreboard further with another couple of converted tries and a penalty and had a lead, which, with the benefit of hindsight, we never looked like relinquishing.  Sam Vaughan crossed latching onto a defensive blunder and Eddie O’Neill took on a short penalty move and crashed over in the corner.  Jim Arnold added the conversions and Mark Large slotted the penalty. 

Cannock came back strongly in the second half and could certainly claim the territorial tally but our defence, although stretched at times, held firm and it wasn’t until mid way through that the line was eventually breached with what turned out to be a consolation score - centre Jamie Hancox squeezing over in the corner and full back Martin Harley adding the conversion.  Right at the end, we finally broke out and from a 5m attacking lineout used the ensuing maul to make space for “Little” Jeff Large to cruise over unopposed between the posts.  Jim once more added the extras.

Cannock - Tries: Jammie Hancox. Conversion: Martin Harley

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