 |
Results for 06 February 2010
(A) NOERFC 1st XV 10 Stoke-On-Trent 1st XV 19
01. Adam Wilson, 02. Stuart Gibson, 03. Rob Lapsley, 04. Sam Garnham, 05. John Wayte, 06. Ady Nightingale, 07. Simon Hall, 08. Matt Collins, 09. Scott Pittam, 10. Adam Jones, 11. Sam Brennan, 12. Alex Cape, 13. Ashley Kalnins, 14. Jake Woodcock, 15. Ben Gilbert, 16. Craig Court, 17. Sam Wilson, 18. James Wilson
Tries: Ben Gilbert(2)
DEPLETED Old Eds tumbled to another depressing defeat as Stoke made hay in the unseasonal Staffordshire sunshine.
Back in September Eds had handed out a 33-7 thumping to their fellow Midlands 1 West league strugglers but on Saturday it was Stoke's turn to grab the welcome points.
Ski-ing holidays and the alternative attraction of Twickenham had robbed Eds of a number of influential players and they were made to pay dearly in an unconvincing performance punctuated by some woeful passing, especially among the backs.
On numerous occasions they saw promising moves come to grief as passes hit the ground or flew out of reach of waiting hands.
In wingers Jake Woodcock, debutant Sam Brennan and later replacement James Wilson, Eds had all the pace needed but seemed incapable of spreading the ball wide to give them the opportunities they craved.
One bright spot on a sad day was the performance of another new man, full-back Ben Gilbert, who scored both Eds tries in an assured display.
With coach Paul Vowles unavailable to supervise his charges, second team supremo Pete Banwell stepped up in his place and was in no doubt that Eds could have done so much better.
He said: "The first half was OK but we just needed quick ball and a number of individual errors let us down. The platform was there for us to win but chances early in the second half were wasted.
"On the positive side, we had a lot of young players out there today and the future is looking good."
After early exchanges among the forwards, with neither side able to gain dominance, Eds broke away and Brennan showed his paces and raced towards the home line only to be brought down short.
It was a hint that Eds unfortunately failed to appreciate as neither he nor fellow winger Woodcock were to see much ball throughout.
Stoke's big but ponderous pack were giving Eds plenty of problems but on the half-hour the visitors went ahead with the first of Gilbert's brace. He joined the line and dived over for a try which he was unable to improve himself and the sparse away support sat back expecting more.
However, two minutes later Stoke hit back with a converted try after some hesitant Eds defence let them through.
Before the break Stoke were 10-5 up with a penalty from some distance.
It was all Eds as the second half began and the Stoke line was under siege for some time. Gilbert missed a penalty attempt from distance before a melee among the forwards saw the home hooker and Eds forward Matt Collins get a stern lecture from the referee and the former a yellow card.
On 13 minutes Craig Court took over at prop from Adam Wilson and soon after Stoke went 13-5 up with another penalty.
Sam Wilson now replaced hooker from Stuart Gibson and another penalty saw Stoke widen the gap to 16-5 and on 20 minutes they were cruising at 19-5 with another penalty.
Eds were not out of contention, however, and Gilbert made the overlap to score his second try and although he missed the conversion the visitors were now back in it at 19-10.
Gibson rejoined the fray on 27 minutes by taking over at prop from Adam Wilson but there were no more opportunities for Eds to snatch a belated victory and Stoke held out for a victory they must have thought unlikely after their earlier defeat.
On Saturday league leaders Burton are the visitors at Weddington. Eds will need to be at their very best to take something from this one.
Paul Webb
CLICK HERE FOR MATCH PHOTOS
M1W League Results
Saturday, 06 February 2010
Bournville 31 - 6 Camp Hill
Old Halesonians 0 - 15 Sutton Coldfield
Stoke on Trent 19 - 10 Nuneaton Old Edwardians
Stratford Upon Avon 8 - 11 Leamington
Walsall 48 - 8 Cheltenham North
Whitchurch 22 - 23 Burton
M1W League Table
(H) NOERFC 2nd XV 40 Bedworth 2nd XV 7
01. Lee Banwell, 02. Martin Perry, 03. Tony George, 04. Tom Cotterill, 05. Craig Fielding, 06. Jez Hastings, 07. Stuart Holes, 08. Jon Cox, 09. Jon Price, 10. Duncan Carter, 11. Adrian 'AJ' Giddins, 12. Matt Steele, 13. Chris Alcott, 14. Sean Krauth, 15. Pete Walton, 16. Tom Short, 17. Adam Ross, 18. Pete Howley
Tries: Stuart Holes(2), Jon Price, Sean Krauth(2), Tom Short
Cons: Duncan Carter(5)
|
|
 |
|
Top
of page
Sunday 07 February 2010