I

It couldn’t have been closer - after a ding dong battle, it was won and lost won all within the last seconds.  We were quickly out of the blocks and defying the stiff breeze and winning plenty of possession soon had our visitors in disarray.  Sam Vaughan opened the score sheet after 10 minutes, just making the line after following up and grasping a kick ahead from Anthony Jaep.  Alex Yates added the extra points and in similar circumstances, shortly after,  Jake Randall was unlucky when he crossed but was adjudged not to have grounded.  Rugeley upped their pace a bit and, using the wind to good effect, began forcing play increasingly into our half of the field.  We were finding it difficult to clear our lines which kept the defence stretched which Rugeley centre Nick Lyons eventually cracked, crossing close to the posts.  Winger Cei Griffin converted and it was all-square with 20 minutes of the half remaining.  An exchange of penalties, Alex and Griffin respectively, maintained the status quo until just on the stroke of half time, after a fine solo run, Rugeley flanker Matt Willowscraft crossed out wide making it 10 –15 to the visitors.

 We were still winning plenty of first phase possession and had enough opportunities to control proceedings but struggled with decision-making and execution so we ended up on the back foot for the much of the second half.  Slowly though we began to re-gather our early momentum and as the half ran out, had the Rugeley line under a period of prolonged siege.  Right on full-time a penalty 5 metres out was quickly taken and Eddie O’Neill skittled the defence to cross mid-way out.  It was 15 apiece and Alex added the extra points that should have given us the result. It was not to be. There was time for the restart. We gathered the kick-off, were penalised and then marched back a further ten metres for dissent.  This now brought the goal posts just within the range of Griffin who grabbed the opportunity to close out the match for the visitors.  What a choker!

Final score: - Aldridge 17 points – Rugeley 18 points

Scorers:- Aldridge - i>Tries :Sam Vaughan, Eddie O'Neill  Conversions: Alex Yates (2). Penalties: Alex Yates

Rugeley- Tries:  Nick Lyons, Mat Willowscaft. Conversions; Cei Griffin . Penalties: Cei Griffin (2)

3,2,1

 

3 points -  Ben Drinkwater

2 points - Dave Wright

11 points - Anthony Jaep

Next week:-  League Match versus Market Drayton at Home (Sutton)

KO  2.15 pm

 

 

2 nd Team Result/p>

Cancelled

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