Moderns returned to winning ways with an impressive victory at Bosworth who in their last two league games beat Rasen and Melton, two high fliers in Mids 2 East. Maybe this lead to some complacency on the home side’s part but Moderns would have challenged anyone with the rugby they produced on a day with perfect playing conditions.
With consistency in selection finally helping the red and whites the coaching team and senior players demanded a repeat performance of the effort and commitment shown at Newark the week before.
For the second week running Moderns started positively with their lively backs soon looking to exploit gaps in the home sides defence. The early exchanges looked positive and with a well functioning lineout and speed across the back line Moderns were soon making in roads into Bosworth territory. The back 3 of Pease, Hughes and Woodward were looking to run from everywhere and play at every opportunity but in typical Moderns fashion their over enthusiasm lead to Bosworth opening the scoring when too much adventure saw the home side regain possession and score in the corner. The conversion was missed.
Rather than affect the confidence of the visiting team Moderns were soon on the front foot again and a series of quick rucks and sharp hands saw Hughes racing for the corner only to have the ball knocked from his hands whilst attempting to ground the ball. Bosworth were stretched defensively every time Moderns attacked and in an attempt to prevent Moderns from playing at the tempo they wanted to generate the home side became guilty of conceding several penalties. Hughes missed a tricky attempt to reduce the deficit but Moderns were soon on the scoreboard when smart play from Number 8 Monaghan put scrum half Petchey in the corner for the visitors opening score. Hughes landed a fantastic conversion to put Moderns ahead.
Buoyed on by their opening score Moderns soon went back to their open running rugby, testing the Bosworth defence at every opportunity. McIntyre, Holmes and Collis all carried well upfront and with the combination of Monaghan and Petchey linking up again Moderns crossed for their second try with the scrum half doubling his tally. The conversion was missed.
In recent weeks Moderns have been guilty of relaxing when in front but the appetite for work and the work rate of the whole team was impressive and with Hughes adding a further 3 points from a penalty Moderns soon found themselves 15-5 up. With Holmes held up and the referee adjudging that Woodward passed forward when releasing Gubb (the only thing the impressive ref got wrong all day!) the game could have been out of sight at half time but Moderns came into half time full of belief and ambition for the second half.
It was clear that the home sides coaching staff were not happy with their charges and with Moderns backs causing chaos every time they touched it Bosworth changed their style to make the second half one big maul. An early penalty when failing to defend the maul saw the home side pull 3 points back but they were cancelled out almost immediately when once again Bosworth panicked in defence with Hughes making huge inroads down the right wing. He calmly slotted the penalty to restore the 10 point advantage.
To their credit back Bosworth came and with their 11 to 15 not needed in the second half the 10 and forwards tried to produce a power based game sending big runners into the visitors defence and constant mauls to tire out the Moderns pack. Moderns upped the defensive intensity and began to fight fire with fire and when the Bosworth centres and wingers came back from the bar their attempts to actually be involved in the game were wasted when a big searching pass in midfield found safe hands Pease who left the home defenders in his wake racing in from 70 metres out to score under the posts. Hughes converted putting the visitors in command at 25-8.
These were the last points Moderns scored as Bosworth's brute force and ignorance brought them back into the game. Their forwards worked hard to produce a smart try out wide and the tension rose for the visitors when they brought the score back to within 5 points with a try late in injury time.
Moderns never panicked and with the game being controlled nicely by Carroll and Gubb the visitors were happy to let the clock run out and take the points. The lack of chat in the post match huddle demonstrated the effort the visitors had shown. To a man they all put their bodies on the line and all 18 involved can be proud of their contribution.
Man of the Match was a close call to the extent I'll award it to two players.
Nick Carroll rolled back the years to show a level of control and maturity which troubled the Bosworth defence all day and winger Pease, often in for his pace and try scoring ability defended magnificently to prevent 3 tries when stepping off his wing not only did he prevent the opportunity but he also managed to turn ball over. |