On Saturday we were at home to London Club Rosslyn Park. They had played well in the first half of the season with a number of wins and were lying fourth in the league. We were looking to build on the previous three games where we had pushed the top three teams close but were unable to get that winning performance. Conditions building up to the game were atrocious with storm Darragh taking its toll on many fixtures throughout the country. Rosslyn Park won the toss and elected to play against the elements which was gale force winds and driving rain straight down the pitch. They started well taking the game to the home team and almost scored first with a good line break but our scramble defence was good and we kept them out. Every time we had possession we looked to keep the ball in the opposition half which paid off as it was almost impossible to get out in the conditions. We got a penalty after nine minutes which was converted by scrum half Matt Sturgess to give us a 3-0 lead. This was followed five minutes later with a try for left winger Bertie Bradshaw who chased down a lovely grubber kick from fly half Charlie Wardle after a scrum on their five metre line. Matt added the conversion and we were now 10-0 up after fifteen minutes. We had a chance to go further ahead with another penalty after twenty minutes but were unable to convert in the appalling conditions. Despite this we kept the pressure on Rosslyn’s defences with powerful driving play by the forwards and a great kick chase to keep them pinned down in their half. Another lovely passage of play saw fly half Charlie chip over for Bertie to collect and score his second try in the bottom left hand corner. We were now 15-0 up with ten minutes of the half to go but knew that it might not be enough when we faced the elements in the second period. A second penalty from Matt on thirty five minutes further extended our lead and then in the 39th minute we were awarded a penalty deep in their twenty two. We caught and drove the line out and hooker Adam Mallinson touched down for our third try. We went into the half time break 23-0 up after a sold first half performance with the visitors looking to play catch up rugby. The second half was always going to be a mammoth effort as the conditions got worse but this seemed to spur the Tigers on and the second half performance was nothing short of miraculous. Time after time we drove them back in the scrum and took the game to them every time we had possession. We rang the changes and all the players who came off the bench made a huge impact. Rosslyn tried to break down our defences but could not get through. A scrum forty metres out in the 72nd minute saw scrum half Will Wooton break down the narrow side. He fed the ball to winger Rhys Henderson who beat two defenders to touch down in the top right hand corner to give us our fourth and bonus point try. The game ended 28-0 to the Tigers and a five point bonus point win. The performance from the whole squad was unbelievable considering the conditions as the effort, determination and concentration was monumental. Number eight Tom Ailes was given star performer for relentlessly driving us forward but on the day everyone was a star. Next Saturday we are away to Darlington Mowden Park who like ourselves are in the wrong half of the table but no games are easy in this league and another top performance is needed.
Many Thanks, Steve Hazz.
