League Match-Midlands 5 West North
27 Oct 2007
Aldridge vs Handsworth
It was a game of three halves. With our usual slow start and a lack of awareness at the conclusion we virtually conceded the game to the visitors. We had much the better of the mid-period though, in which we had more of the territory but failed to press home our advantages and in the end we were made to suffer for missed opportunities. Handsworth scored twice early in the game - both tries looking ominously easy. No 8 Bottomley picked up off the back of a scrum and, following some slick interpassing with the winger and meeting little resistance, crossed mid-way out. Two minutes later a pitiful response by our defence allowed Handsworth fly-half Morris a free run to the line unchallenged. Full-back Weale added the extra points. We seemed well out of it at this stage but rallied strongly and became more competitive. Handsworth further increased their lead with a couple of Weale penalties either side of half time but we began to compete more and show more enterprise in the backs so that we had much the better of the second half, territorially and possession wise. No8 Lennie Jaep’s try off a short penalty move, converted by Mark Large, made the break through and a belief that we might just squeeze a result began to realise. We failed to take full advantage of this dominance though and as we ran out of steam, let them off the hook, conceding territory for the first time late in the half. The referee awarded a penalty for dissent. Scrum-half Padmore took it quickly and was over in the corner while we were still debating the decision. With the clock running down, Handsworth came again with a drive over off a five metre line-out which gave Bottomley his second score of the afternoon.
Final score:- Aldridge 7 pts - Handsworth 28 pts
Aldridge : - Tries - Lennie Jaep, Conversion:- Mark Large
Handsworth :-Tries - Bottomley (2), Morris, Padmore. 1 Conversion and 2 Penalties :- Weale.
3,2,1
3 pts - Barney Balmforth
2 pts - Dave Foster
1 pts -Dan Hall
Second Team Result:-
Handsworth 27 points - Aldridge 17 points
2nd XV Scoreres - Tries: Mark Robertson, Trevor Lowe, A.N.Other. Conversions:- Barry-John Jaep
Third Team Result:-
Aldridge 40 points - Handsworth 0 points
3rd XV Scoreres - Tries: Ben Vaughan (4), Dave Howard, Paul Hubbard, Mike Porter, Kenny Carter. Conversions:- 0
Next week Aldridge have a TBA Kick Off 2.15 pm
