Regional 2 Midlands North – September 23
This weekend Pavs travelled the short distance over to Newark RFC to renew contacts after a five year break. In the intervening period both clubs have had their ups and downs and now find themselves battling it out in Midlands 2 North.
On another fine afternoon and in front of a large and highly engaged home crowd, it was Pavs who immediately took the initiative. The opening quarter was all Pavs with Newark finding it difficult to get hold of the ball. On seven minutes fit again Will Taylor finished off a strong series of plays to give Pavs a 5-0 lead.
Pavs had a number of opportunities to extend this lead, but were unable to convert this pressure into the points that their possession deserved. Moving into the second quarter, Pavs seemed to get under the official’s skin and a series of penalties followed. As these things go, this diluted Pavs efforts and handed the initiative to Newark who now had long periods of pressure of their own. The equalising score came on twenty one minutes with Pavs seemingly being penalised any time they got near the ball. Having said this, on twenty nine minutes, fly half George Billam ghosted in under the posts and added the conversion to take Pavs 12-5 in front. As the penalties continued to flow Matt Molyneux was sent to the bin just before the break. Half time 12-5 to Pavs.
With the luckless Molyneux still taking a ten minute rest after the break, Newark used the man advantage to draw level on forty one minutes. The home side then had a period of possession with Pavs still finding it difficult to work with the official. They took the lead on sixty minutes at 17-12, before Kieran Wells drove over following a powerful driving lineout, and with the Billam extras give Pavs the lead back at 19-17 on sixty two minutes. With seventy minutes on the clock, Pavs were pressing to extend their lead when a Newark counter attack from inside their twenty two saw them retake the lead at 24-17 with ten minutes left.
Pavs then camped in the Newark twenty two and made several forays to, but not quite over the Newark line. One might observe that at least one Newark player should have seen a yellow at this time for repeated penalty infringements at the ruck. On eighty minutes Pavs were going for the line, but annoyingly lost possession and the Newark centre raced full length of the pitch to touch down and bring the score to 31-19 in their favour.
So a somewhat fraught afternoon for the squad. Most certainly there was no lack of effort. The opening fifteen was as good and controlled as anyone could want. Arguably Pavs should have made more of the ascendancy they had assumed at this time. They will look at the number of penalties that they conceded as an area for reflection and seek to remedy this aspect of their game before taking on Long Eaton RFC at home this coming weekend 30th September.
Squad – Dan Hyams, Kieran Wells (1 try), Jake Baldry, Aaron Langan, Theo Collier (C), Owen Taylor, Tom Gladwin, Phil Eggleshaw, Ben Taylor, George Billam (1 try, 2 conv), Alex Rimmington,Harry Kerr, Will Taylor (1 try), Zac Walker, Matt Molyneux
Rep – Steve Allen (52), Josh Hall (25/70), Richard Hatton (60)
NB The entire squad has to be mentioned in dispatches for maintaining their composure in rather trying circumstances !!
Paviors Rugby Club play at Burntstump Hill, Arnold, NG5 8PQ and the club runs over twenty teams.
New players are always welcome – girls, boys, men & women, there is a team for all.
Further information about the club including contact details can be found on http://www.paviorsrfc.co.uk/ .
