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Sat 07 Nov 2015 · National League 3
Eton Manor
1st XV
10
12
Eton Manor 10 - Wimbledon 12
James Boatman11 Nov 2015 - 17:54
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A day of high winds, heavy rain and a soft pitch...
Eton Manor 10 – Wimbledon 12
A day of high winds, heavy rain and a soft pitch were never going to give either team a chance to show running rugby. But even so both teams did their best to produce an entertaining match with a close margin between the teams throughout. Wimbledon struggled at the beginning in the scrums where a shorter Eton Manor front row managed to get an ascendency but as the match continued Wimbledon’s superior fitness told and throughout the match the accurate line outs of hooker Jesse Muir throwing to Campbell Tait at the front and later to Gary Crowe at the back gave Wimbledon security in that area. The fact that in the second half Wimbledon were four times over the home team’s line without grounding the ball to referee Mr Martyn Wood’s satisfaction was good in itself. For his part Mr Wood gave a good display of hands-off refereeing, no yellow cards, less than ten penalties awarded in the whole match says a lot for his handling of the match.
It took to right before half-time before there was any score when hooker Muir was bundled over the line, captain and full back this week, Neil Hallett was unable to convert with the strong wind in his favour but with a lead of 5 – 0 but with the wind to face in the second half the match was in the balance. Eton Manor were given a kickable penalty for Wimbledon being offside in front of the posts, their scrumhalf Mick Horton made no mistake. But as so often happens the home conceded almost immediately after side entry to a maul, the penalty was taken to the corner and scrum half Rhys Morgan who had by now moved to the right wing was able to sprint in and score. This time Hallett’s conversion attempt was from near the touchline but judging the wind well, he made it and Wimbledon had a nine point lead.
By the fourth quarter of the match Wimbledon were on top and a succession of penalties led to them three times crossing the line, with driving mauls but with no reward. One clearing kick near the end from Eton Manor took play to the Wimbledon 22 metre area, the ball was moved rapidly across the field and winger Luigi Martelletti was able to cross the line and run round under the posts. The conversion was simple for Horton but although it was too late it did secure a bonus point for Eton Manor. However Wimbledon took away the four points for the victory.
After the match Wimbledon’s Head Coach Nick Easter was happy to take the win away from home and the two tries scored. Another positive was the return from the bench of scrum half Charlie Morgan for the first time this season.
Back at Beverley Meads the 2nd team secured a good victory and the 3rd team playing away similarly.
Next Saturday Wimbledon will be at home to Gravesend with a 2.30pm kick-off.
A day of high winds, heavy rain and a soft pitch were never going to give either team a chance to show running rugby. But even so both teams did their best to produce an entertaining match with a close margin between the teams throughout. Wimbledon struggled at the beginning in the scrums where a shorter Eton Manor front row managed to get an ascendency but as the match continued Wimbledon’s superior fitness told and throughout the match the accurate line outs of hooker Jesse Muir throwing to Campbell Tait at the front and later to Gary Crowe at the back gave Wimbledon security in that area. The fact that in the second half Wimbledon were four times over the home team’s line without grounding the ball to referee Mr Martyn Wood’s satisfaction was good in itself. For his part Mr Wood gave a good display of hands-off refereeing, no yellow cards, less than ten penalties awarded in the whole match says a lot for his handling of the match.
It took to right before half-time before there was any score when hooker Muir was bundled over the line, captain and full back this week, Neil Hallett was unable to convert with the strong wind in his favour but with a lead of 5 – 0 but with the wind to face in the second half the match was in the balance. Eton Manor were given a kickable penalty for Wimbledon being offside in front of the posts, their scrumhalf Mick Horton made no mistake. But as so often happens the home conceded almost immediately after side entry to a maul, the penalty was taken to the corner and scrum half Rhys Morgan who had by now moved to the right wing was able to sprint in and score. This time Hallett’s conversion attempt was from near the touchline but judging the wind well, he made it and Wimbledon had a nine point lead.
By the fourth quarter of the match Wimbledon were on top and a succession of penalties led to them three times crossing the line, with driving mauls but with no reward. One clearing kick near the end from Eton Manor took play to the Wimbledon 22 metre area, the ball was moved rapidly across the field and winger Luigi Martelletti was able to cross the line and run round under the posts. The conversion was simple for Horton but although it was too late it did secure a bonus point for Eton Manor. However Wimbledon took away the four points for the victory.
After the match Wimbledon’s Head Coach Nick Easter was happy to take the win away from home and the two tries scored. Another positive was the return from the bench of scrum half Charlie Morgan for the first time this season.
Back at Beverley Meads the 2nd team secured a good victory and the 3rd team playing away similarly.
Next Saturday Wimbledon will be at home to Gravesend with a 2.30pm kick-off.
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