For most looking at the results on Saturday they will have considered this an upset but for those that have watched us play this year the result was not unexpected and should be the norm and not the exception. Belgrave have certainly been a bit of a bogey team in recent years so it made the victory sweeter especially as once again the starting team wasn't confirmed untuil an hour before kick off with players dropping out as late as 1.30!!
Mods won the toss and decided to play up the hill in the first half, supported by the wind which numerous old boys told me blows that way once every ten years. Well it was certainly an inspiring breeze as the red and whites produced a half of rugby that totally blew away their opponents. Wearing white with flashes of blue due a suspect colour blind ref Mods found the start a tricky affair and were reduced to 14 men when lock O'Kelly was sent to the bin for persistent offending - hold on a minute ref, that was only the third penalty of the match and the 14th minute...hardly enough time to be persistent!!
The dismissal clearly inspired the visitors who used the penalty to take a 3 nil lead. To their credit the home side weren't phased by the reduced numbers and knew that playing keep ball was key for the 10 minutes. Infact the response was even better as after several quick phases centre Jackson finished smartly bursting through the middle to score under the posts. Hughes converted. O'Kelly rejoined the game making it 15 aside again and his impact was immediate....they scored! Never one to let you down Belgrave produced a trademark maul to go ovver in the corner from a lineout. The conversion was missed and those proved to be the visitors last points of the half as the home side cut loose in style.
Scrum half Petchey was at his poaching best at the back of the scrum stealing the ball from his rotund opposite number and racing in from 40 yards. Hughes converted. With the crowd still catching its breath we scored again with openside Alexander dominating the ruck and turning over Belgrave ball at will. Two quick passes saw the ball in prop Burkeys hands who amazed the expectant watchers by actually releasing winger Woodward who showed a clean pair of heels to score from his own half. Once again Hughes converted, 21-8.
Fed up with being the supporting act by nailing the conversions Hughes now came to the party, and in style! A smart move down the left saw Hughes receive the ball just inside the visitors half with lots still to do but an aggressive burst of pace saw him break through two defenders with ease and race in to make his own conversion easy by scoring under the posts. A bonus point secured and a 28-8 lead.
The now breathless crowd (age related not due to the rugby!!!!!) were demanding more and the now rampant red and whites didn't disapoint. The message going into the match was to be greedier in the red zone and learn from mistakes made in previous weeks, however, the collective sigh when winger Woodard chose to take contact rather than release the 2 man overlap added to the uphill wind but it was quickly forgotten when the ball was recycled to allow Jackson to cross for his second try of the day. Again Hughes converted making it a half time lead of 35-8.
The half time chat was simple for once - more of the same pleae lads! With the wind now behind them expect a lot of ball to be kicked by Belgrave and deal with the maul. A youthful Nick Carroll urged for a big effort and off we went again.
The early effort came from the visitors but with the defence in no mood to concede tries Mods increased the score further when a quick tap penalty from Petchey saw him race past the defence and canter in from well inside his own half. The conversion was missed.
With the wind now against us and the game won ensuring damage limitation from the visitors the game began to drift into nothing and Belgrave were finally rewarded for their efforts when a lazy defence allowed them to creep over for a converted try.
This sparked the red and whites back into life and the end of the game saw an increased effort and two further tries. Winger Woodward crossed for his econd which was converted by Gaunt and with the game nearly at its end a moment of brilliance from several players saw Alexander cross out wide after being involved in the move 3 times. A tricky conversion crept wide but the referee's whistle soon blew to round off a comprehensive 52-15 win.
In total 8 tries, 6 conversions and over half of the ties scored from within our own half. A very encouraging performance and something to build on over the next few weeks.
Man of the Match - A close call but Jonny Stillwell. |