Broadstreet Home And Dry In A Storm.
Street storm Hinckley with nick of time surge to bonus point win.
Despite a soft, sodden pitch and atrocious windy and wet weather conditions, Broadstreet RFC overcame strong defiance away at Leicester Road, as they thundered home in the last quarter to take maximum points in a 37 – 9 win over fifth placed Hinckley RFC writes Bob Harcourt.
Starting against a gale force wind, ‘Street needed to be direct with their play and not give away penalties and turnovers. Hinckley kicked off deep, regained possession and pressured their visitors until a “crossing” penalty allowed relief as ‘Street took a line out near half way. The drive saw number eight Beau Carney break off and great support, continuity and multi-phase play for almost two minutes, resulted in a try for centre Todd Freemantle. Lee Chapman converted to give ‘Street a 0 – 7 lead after five minutes. From the kick-off Hinckley used the gale to boom the ball deep into ‘Street territory but a deft chip out of defence saw full back Andy Murray ferret his way up field, where another multi-phase effort presented Chapman with a successful drop goal to put ‘Street into double figures, 0 -10. There then followed a period where scrummaging caused the official grave difficulties for which the usually dominant ‘Street eight were ‘mysteriously’ under pressure and penalised several times as a result! But there you go, a referee can only give what they see but, in fairness, that, of course, depends on what the individual is, or isn’t, actually seeing!? Carpe diem Hinckley, carpe diem – and seize the day they did in that respect as ‘Street were kicked backwards into a lengthy period of defence. Penalties on 13, 16 and 23 minutes from the useful boot of scrum half Joe Glover reduced the visitor’s early lead to one point at 9 – 10. That’s not to say ‘Street didn’t share some possession; breakouts by Tommy Harris, Andy Murray – twice and several good forward phases took the visitors into home territory, but, just one error would see them back in the pavilion corner defending. In the final minutes of the half ‘Street made their way up to the Hinckley 22 and only good home defence and a yellow card for Hinckley’s lock, Benjamin Marshall, for pulling down a five metre lineout drive, prevented ‘Street scoring; Oh! Except for an almighty thunder and lightning hailstorm, that brought a marginally early close to the half, as ‘Street laid siege on the Hinckley try line. Half Time: Hinckley 9 Broadstreet 10.
Nick ThatcherTodd FreemantleExpecting the benefit of the gale force wind, against them in the first period, to be in their favour, ‘Street instead saw that the direction had changed with the storm and that it now blew across-field and was accompanied by rain; as Chapman found when his kick-off sailed directly into touch. From the scrum Hinckley kicked to the left corner where ‘Street had to break out through Beau Carney, again off a drive, to the 22, only for the slippery ball to go forward in the tackle. Hinckley attacked and ‘Street were penalised but home team attack failed allowing ‘Street’s Chapman to kick from 22 to 22. Hinckley knocked on after the lineout and at the scrum, were awarded a free kick to relieve pressure. The home side, soon after, surrendered attacking possession through a ruck infringement and a far left touch break saw Murray and Carney interplay before the ball was lost over the line in a tremendous last ditch Hinckley tackle; rewarding the home side with a 22 drop out. Replacement nine, Nick Thatcher made a break through a melee and when tackled on the home 10 metre line; a Hinckley player prevented the ball being recycled and Chapman took the three points as a consolation, 9 – 13, after 6 minutes into the half. Thatcher was not to be denied at the next opportunity, which came eight minutes later, after another defensive kick by Chapman saw the forwards, the Solomon Boys to the fore, rob Hinckley of lineout possession and a slick off-load from bulldozing prop forward Ben Dawes to the supporting Thatcher, saw the pacy half-back break through to find space behind the home defence. With the cross-field cover closing, Thatcher glided around three players to score a ‘cracker’ near the posts. Chapman converted to take ‘Street out to 9 – 20 with half an hour remaining. Glover missed a penalty minutes later and a period of Hinckley pressure from ‘Street’s drop out saw play lodged for a while in the visitor’s left corner. After a couple of scrums and lineouts, Hinckley lost possession and Chapman lofted a high up and under. Thatcher caught the bouncing ball and galloped to the line where he was held on the ground at the Hinckley try line and the defenders gave away a penalty preventing what seemed like a try opportunity. A penalty try? – Probably; yellow card? – Most certainly! Nevertheless, Chapman added 3 points, 9 – 23; but it was tries the visitors were after, as the clock ticked to 14 minutes remaining and still two needed! A great turnover by physical flanker Jamie Harrop, not his first of the day, allowed ‘Street to pressure the defence in their 22 and from a ‘Street line in the left hand corner, interchange returnee prop, Ben Dawes, came up with another ‘Dawes Dash and Smash’ try with ten minutes remaining. Chapman added the points to give his side a fighting chance of a bonus point fourth try. Hinckley hung on to possession well until competition for a spilled ball saw Man-of-Kent Andy Murray pulled back, earning Hinckley centre Blane Howe a yellow card, and ‘Street a penalty. With only 3 minutes left ‘Street took the corner kick and a resultant scrum, before some disciplined phase play by the forwards down the right hand side; including hooker Stewart Pearl (double top every time!), Alex Beddows, Chris Zutic, Josh McNulty, and back, wing Jeff Gregson and Will Owen, now at centre from scrum half, got the ball wide as it spun to the left touchline where; “I’ve started so I’ll finish”, Todd Freemantle scored in the corner. Chapman landed the widest of conversions with aplomb to finish the game, 9 – 37; at which stage Mrs Freemantle declared, “I wanted him off at half-time, it was far too wet for him to be out there”! (Believe me! I don’t make this stuff up!)
Cameo Moment: Nick Thatcher’s try – top drawer!
Team: Dawes, Pearl, McNulty; Solomon Andy, Solomon Matt; Zutic, Harrop, Carney; Owen, Chapman; Harris Tommy, Freemantle, McGrory, Gregson; Murray. Reps: Pendleton, Beddows, Thatcher.
This was an impressive team effort. Great grafting by the forwards and; skilful movement of the ball in the threequarters, both, under difficult circumstances that include a less than satisfactory platform? Standards to be pleased with; standards to be upheld. Well done gents!
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