Aldridge continue their good start to 2014

Aldridge were made to fight hard for their victory in this fill-in friendly fixture versus Sutton 3rds. The teams were evenly matched but the difference lay in the forwards where the home side’s pack always had the shove to get them out of trouble when it mattered. It was appropriate then, that after five minutes, it was their efforts that led directly to the first score. An attacking line-out some 20 metres out from the Sutton line became a maul which relentlessly ground its way forward putting the opposition pack in reverse. It was halted just short but lock Eddie O’Neill grabbed possession and barrelled over the last couple of metres to claim the touch down. Within ten minutes Sutton had made inroads into the deficit with an Alex Shaw penalty but mid-way through, with a penalty off flanker Ben Drinkwater and a try from winger Jacob Holding - cannoning off a couple of defenders to finish off a slick three-quarter move into the corner, it was beginning to look like being a decent afternoon out for the home side. However late in the half, the visitors came back strongly and with five minutes of the half remaining eventually got within striking distance of the Aldridge line. The home side conceded a penalty, quickly taken by No 10 Ian Evans who scampered over between the posts unchallenged. Fullback Shaw added the extras to reduce the Aldridge lead to 13 - 10. The play became attritional throughout the second half as both sides slugged it out to gain the upper hand. There were opportunities but no further scores as Aldridge maintained their unbeaten record for 2014.