League Match-Midlands 5 West North
8 Mar 2008
Aldridge vs Griffinians
It’s like waiting for a bus. You wait
for ages then two come along together. Another good solid performance that
very much followed last week’s pattern although in the end we had
to work a lot harder to hang on to the result. We once again held authority
throughout in the forwards and although a couple of late changes appeared
to affect the fluency of the backs; the defence was well up to its dogged
best.
We had the slope and wind in the first half and took full advantage, keeping
the opposition penned in their territory for long periods. Both sides missed
early penalty attempts but as our forwards took control, the periods of
encampments on the opposition line got longer. We drove on from a 5-metre
lineout and were awarded a penalty. The scrum option was taken and after
a couple of resets, a concerted shove got Jim Arnold over the line for the
first score. Mark Large added the extra points. Almost immediately from
the re-start the ball was returned back to Griffs territory. A brief flurry
of forward exchanges and some slick inter-passing between Messrs Ross and
Stokes down the far touch wrong footed the defence and a well timed offload
presented the fast following up “Forest” with a short range
scamper to the try line. We looked well in command at this stage and should
have gone to give ourselves far more of a breathing space but some sloppy
indiscretions presented Griffs with the opportunity to breakout and in turn
apply pressure to our goal line. We hung on grimly but finally the visitors
No 8, Andy Tams, breached the line close to the posts. Tom Ellis added the
conversion. The territorial status quo returned from the restart and a 5-metre
lineout from a penalty was converted into a driving maul which bulldozed
the visitors back over their try line for Neil Parr to be credited with
the touchdown. It was 17 - 7 at the interval but with the territorial advantages
being reversed in the second half it was only stubborn defence that kept
the line intact. Our composure was being severely stretched as the game
went on and in a desperate attempt to clear our lines some imprudent passing
set up an interception for Griffs centre Tom Ellis to cross-unopposed between
the posts. He added the extra points to set up a hectic last ten minutes
but we hung in there to secure a hard earned and well deserved victory.
Final score:- Aldridge 17pts - Griffinians 14pts
Aldridge : - Tries: - Ben Vaughan, Neil Parr, Jim Arnold. Conversions:- Mark Large
Griffinians:- Tries: - Andy Tams, Tom Ellis. Conversions:- Tom Ellis (2)
3,2,1
3 pts Jim Arnold
2 pts - Ben Vaughan
1 pts -Neil Parr
Second Team Result:-
Dudley 43 pts v Aldridge 0 pts
Third Team Result:-
No fixture
Next week Aldridge have a club fixture away vesus AOE 2nds.
KO 3pm
