Imperial Medicals 5 TABARD 17

Jack Reilly, Tabard’s stand off had an inspirational game on Saturday, not only scoring 12 points with his kicking, two penalty and two drop goals but also using his tactical kicking to great advantage to give Tabard a good win over an enthusiastic Imperial Medicals side by 17 points to five.

The game was an exciting one to watch with both teams displaying different styles, Medics were young and keen to throw the ball about at every opportunity and Tabard were more traditional in trying to achieve mastery up front and set up probing attacks against the defence. Fortunately Tabard’s defence held throughout the game and the Medic’s attacks were stifled but it was close to start with as this was Tabard’s first game for five weeks and a certain amount of rustiness was sure to be there.

As it happened Tabard weathered the initial storm and even had a couple of early scoring opportunities themselves that went awry but it was Imperial Medicals who opened the scoring after 23 minutes. Tabard were attacking but they lost possession in a line out on their own throw and the result was Imperial Medicals made ground into Tabard’s 22 metre area where they secured a line out. From this the ball was passed very quickly to their wing, Efeotor, who was over in the corner.

The first half then settled into a good game of Rugby with the tabard defence holding out and similarly the Medics kept the Tabard thrusts at bay. Just on half time Tabard were able to get their first points on the board when Reilly kicked a long penalty goal so the teams turned round with Imperial Medicals leading by five points to three.

In the second half Tabard scored virtually from the kick off. A kickable penalty was taken quickly much to the chagrin of the Tabard supporters but this turned to cheers as flanker Ashley Hall went over near the corner for a good try. Although Reilly saw the conversion go just wide this was the spur that Tabard needed and they started to put the game together well and were able to put a lot of pressure on their opponents, not that this daunted the Medic’s as they repeatedly attacked out of defence but when their attacks were stopped it was Reilly’s long kicks that got Tabard back into their opponents territory and this set up Tabard’s win. Firstly Reilly converted another penalty and then two long drop goals gave Tabard the winning margin although Imperial Medicals attacked hard during the final ten minutes, Tabard’s defence held and they won by 17 points to five.

Team: Cunningham, Thomas, Murphy K, Taylor-Davies (Hopcroft 40m), Roberts, Reilly, Murphy A, Lake B, Collette, Lake W (O’Neill 55m), Miller (Hall 40m), Kidd, O’Connor, Matteson and Stoba.

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