By Coventry Telegraph
January 28 2008

Nuneaton's hopes of survival in National Division Two hang in the balance after losing this 'must-win' fixture at fellow strugglers Wharfedale. Nuns showed some sparkle, but a high penalty count and a long list of basic errors - including three penalty kicks which failed to find touch - meant they left with just a bonus point for their efforts.

Nuns did themselves no favours from the kickoff, allowing the home side through after just a minute for a Simon Horsfall try which Andy Baggett converted.

Shaking off the cobwebs, Nuns put together a promising move on seven minutes which led to a penalty converted by Rob Cook into a vicious wind.

But three minutes later Dale were back in control when they drove over from a penalty and line-out for a Chris Steel try, again converted by Baggett.

A superb move down the touchline at the end of the first quarter ended with prop Tim Pickard spectacularly spinning out of a tackle to score an unconverted try.

And a score of 17-8 at the interval would have provided Nuns with a good platform, but another ill-timed penalty allowed the home side to crash over in stoppage time for a Dave Muckalt try.

Left with an uphill task, Nuns battled hard to get back into contention, but Jody Peacock was denied a score by a debatable forward pass decision before the unsighted officials ruled out a forwards try from a similar situation to Muckalt's score at the end of the first half.

It was midway through the final quarter before Nuns finally cracked a stubborn Wharfedale defence, winger Mickey Moore crossing in the corner, and Cook accepted a penalty chance from the last move of the game to grab some consolation in a losing bonus point.

Nuneaton: Cook; Takarangi, Croft, Peacock, Moore; Henry, A Wright; Davis, Bray, Pickard, Campton, Griffiths, Holmes, Critchley, Southwell. Reps: Brocklehurst, Fopwles, S Wright, Pearson.

Wharfedale 22 Nuneaton 16

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 28/01/2008 18:14

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
28/01/2008 18:14

Wharfedale 22 Nuneaton 16

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net