TABARD 14 Tring 25 – London
League 2 North
Tabard put
in a good performance against Tring on Saturday, leading their opponents twice before
succumbing in the end to a defeat by 25
points to 14. Tabard may be
having a difficult season but to play well against Tring, who are equal in
points at the top of the table, shows they can still do well.
The game
started against Tabard when Tring converted a penalty after two minutes to go three points ahead. Tring were very much on the attack in the
first ten minutes but Tabard showed a solidity in defence that made it extremely
difficult for Tring to capitalise on their possession. Tabard’s robust defence also meant that they were not afraid to
run the ball from their own half
and it was just such a run
from wing Neil Hopcroft that took
Tabard very close to the Tring
line. A scrum misdemeanour gave Tabard a free kick and the ball was quickly passed
out, centre Richard Woodard then sent a
superbly timed pass to fullback Tom Smith, coming into the line at speed and he
was over for the score which stand off Jack Reilly converted to put Tabard
ahead.
The game
was then fairly even with both sides
enjoying good possession and defending
well but Tring went ahead just before half time when they finally
got round the Tabard defence for centre Newton to score a try in the corner
to give Tring a single point lead at
half time.
The second
half again saw
both sides playing good rugby with the
Tabard backs showing they had the skill to put a lot of pressure on their
opponents. Again reward came
Tabards way when the Tring defence was just enough out of line to give
Reilly a chance to weave his way through to score a fine solo try which he
converted to put Tabard ahead again.
Tring
fought back and a good period of rugby brought them reward with a try from fullback Holgate, this time Newton converted to put Tring one point
ahead. Then Tabard’s luck ran out again. Fullback Smith was yellow carded for a deliberate
knock-on, even though the ball had come
from his shoulder. With Tabard a
crucial player down Tring took advantage and a forward push took them over the line
for hooker Wallis to claim the score.
Tabard then fought back but without reward and then, with the
final kick of the game, Newton converted another penalty and Tabard were
defeated by 25 points to 14.
Team: Smith, Roberts, Thomas, Woodard, Hopcroft,
Reilly, Karstel, Baker, Gates (Wilkinson 45m), Davey, Montague, Gill, Wyatt (Gough 60m), Matheson and Stoba.