It’s fair to say that we didn’t sustain this early promise. The whole match was a bit lack lustre from both sides with the home side gradually increasing momentum as it progressed. They reduced the deficit after seven minutes with a penalty from fly-half Dave Potter but we increased the lead further just before the break with another opportunists try from Mark Large, who swiftly following up a speculative kick, dispossessed the receiver and re-enacted the earlier try by galloping over between the posts. Yates converted.
Five Ways came back at us in the second half moving the ball wide which produced a determined defensive display from the backs. A try from scrum-half Richard Hobbs mid way through brought them right back in contention but also galvanised us into raising the pace a bit to produce our best period of the game. With 10 minutes remaining, some impressive forward driving play put us in sight of the line and a swift ball blind squeezed Shingler over in the corner. A superb conversion from Yates added the extra points which were to prove decisive.
The home side rallied strongly. Centre Reynolds crossed in the corner and during the final play, despite desperate defence, winger Joe Lindley got the ball down in the opposite corner. It was now 20 – 21 to us and the result hung on the conversion. Loud cheers from us and groans from the home side as the ball failed to make the distance.
Scorers:- Aldridge - Tries : Lee Stokes, Mark Large, Ashley Shingler. Conversions: Alex Yates (3)
FWOE - Tries: Richard Hobbs, Oscar Reynolds. Joe Lindley. Penalties; Dave Potter. Conversions; Dave Potter
3,2,1
3 points - Lee Stokes Lee Stokes
2 points - Mat Burgess
1 points - Alex Yates
2 nd Team Result
FWOE 2nd's 0 pts Vs Aldridge 2nd's 62 pts
