Midlands four
By Coventry Telegraph
December 4 2008
Shipston on Stour 13 Old Leamingtonians 23 ALTHOUGH they never hit prime form at Mayo Road, OLs had more than enough in hand to collect a second league win in succession. Fly-half Adam Canning kicked an early penalty only for Shipston to respond and snatch the lead with an opportunist try from a tap penalty. But No.8 Andy Davies balanced the books by the interval with a pushover try and
December 4 2008
Shipston on Stour 13 Old Leamingtonians 23 ALTHOUGH they never hit prime form at Mayo Road, OLs had more than enough in hand to collect a second league win in succession. Fly-half Adam Canning kicked an early penalty only for Shipston to respond and snatch the lead with an opportunist try from a tap penalty. But No.8 Andy Davies balanced the books by the interval with a pushover try and
skipper Luke Staton launched the second-half assault with a superb try after quality rucking by Liam Jones and Craig Ellis created the opening.
Shipston retaliated with an unconverted try but OLs’ Steve Dealtry homed in on scrum-half Mark Foley’s punt to dive over in the corner. Adam Canning’s conversion was textbook.
Having taken his season’s tally to 99 points, Canning was forced off. But Mark Foley accepted the kicking responsibilities with a penalty when Shipston went over the top of a ruck.
* Kings Norton 18 Southam 20
Southam leapfrogged basement rivals with a gritty all-round display.
Pete Burnell’s seventh drop-goal of the season came in the third minute, and the fly-half added a try five minutes later after a quickly-taken line-out wrong-footed the home cover.
Norton responded with a penalty but a neat try by winger Scott Simpson gave Southam a 13-2 cushion at the break and their set-piece domination was rewarded when Simpson pounced on Burnell’s chip to log his second touchdown, converted by Burnell.
Some sloppy defending saw Southam’s advantage shaved perilously close by two tries, one converted, and a penalty. But they regained their discipline for a crucial success.
* Upton-on-Severn 12 Bedworth 17
TRAILING to a first-half try, Bedworth responded with a ustained effort.
Ade Iliff speared home a penalty before man-of-the-match Matt Randle forced the opening try with a powerful drive from a ruck.
Bedworth made the all-important breakthrough when a handsome break by the backs saw winger Pip Clamp swap passes with hooker Ryan Jenkins and slip the ball to centre Lee Tonks who darted over in the corner. Iliff added an impeccable conversion and Bedworth soaked up pressure before conceding a late try.
* Rugby St Andrews 19 Daventry 14
SAINTS overcame first-half indiscipline for an ultimately deserved win.
Daventry passed up four kickable penalties before Hin Dip broke through with a try under the posts, but Saints promptly responded when Paul Farr followed up a high kick to dive over for a try converted by Lee Hersey.
Saints had two players sent to the sin-bin in rapid succession and Daventry’s inevitable pressure was rewarded with a second Dip success.
But, with a full quota, Saints pushed forward and Hersey flighted home four long-range penalties to clinch a victory that moves fourth-placed Saints to within a point of their rivals.
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