Moderns welcomed Oakham to Main Road with both teams full of confidence from impressive wins against higher opposition the week before. With both teams supported well and dry conditions the exchange referee from Yorkshire stated the game with both teams eager to make the good start.
With Moderns fielding the same team on successive weeks for the first time this season it was hoped the familiarity would promote a good start but it was the visitors that found their feet first and begin to pin the red and whites deep into their own half. A scramble defence and indifferent hands form the visitors let Moderns off early but the game remained scoreless as the home side got by on luck and ignorance in the early exchanges.
To their credit, on a dull grey day both teams were here to play rugby and the ball was passed around frantically with little reward from both sides as they searched for that vital opening. As the game began to settle it was clear that Oakham's play came through their number 10 and his influence was one that ultimately produced the opening score. From a simple, yet effective move in midfield from a scrum and Moderns defenders chasing shadows a 3 on 1 soon emerged down the left flank allowing Oakham to open the scoring. The try was converted.
From the restart the game once again went into a frantically paced encounter with both sides making errors and failing in the basics to go forward and secure possession. It was the visitors who once again had the better of the exchanges and their ability to not throw the stupid pass which Moderns specialised in saw them extend their lead when once again indifferent tackling saw the try scorer cross unchallenged. The conversion was missed.
To their credit Moderns came back into the game and started to finally control the ball and territory. A series of lineouts and scrums saw Moderns work their way into Oakham's 22 when a penalty was awarded for a ruck offence. Hughes converted putting 3 points on the board for Moderns. Quite predictably these 3 points were soon returned to the visitors when moments later they scored through their own penalty!
Moderns were just starting to fall foul of the referee's interpretation as he quite rightly refereed the ruck – a note to local refs, you must stay on your feet!! With the threat of a yellow card hanging over them the home side finally began to show evidence of work done in training and a series of quick (legal) rucks saw the ball released to winger Rob Pease who fought his way through two tackles to race under the posts from 40 yards out. The conversion was successful and all of a sudden Moderns were back in contention at 10-15 down.
Half time soon followed and the chat in the Moderns huddle was simple – stop the silly passes, make tackles and increase the effort and the rewards were almost instant when moments into the second half a great passage of possession saw a cheeky drop goal from Nick Carroll fly over bringing the score to 13-15. The fight back was on!
Guess what though? Yeah that's right, the restart wasn't controlled and from the resulting play Oakham were awarded a penalty which was successfully converted. Credit where it’s due though as almost immediately Moderns were on the front foot pinning Oakham deep into their half and building the pressure. With the scrum and lineouts going well Moderns elected to kick for the corner rather than go for points and their adventure was rewarded when a smartly taken lineout from Holmes was secured and the forwards muscle power saw prop Sam Burkey force his way over for his first Moderns try! The conversion was missed but at 18 all the game was now anyone's.
Unfortunately for Moderns it wasn't their day and more unforced errors, indecision and poor execution allowed Oakham back into the game and it was clear that the visitors had too much class for Moderns in the execution department and a couple of smartly taken tries saw them race into a 30-18, a margin Moderns couldn't reduce late in he game.
The neutral would have probably awarded Moderns some points for their efforts but too many missed tackles and poor decisions under pressure cost Moderns. Oakham wee there for the taking at one point and once they were allowed back into the game they didn't waste the opportunities they were given.
With the return fixture in March it’s hoped that the conditions allow both sides the chance to play open rugby in what should be a cracker of a game.
Moderns Man of the Match – Sam Burkey – caused their tight head all sorts of problems, hit his rucks and turned up well in attack. |