Street Surge Sinks Salop Scrappers.
Broadstreet Rugby Football Club fight on with another maximum points win in National League Three Midlands over the battling boys from Newport Salop RFC; but it took a fifteen minute second half surge to sink the plucky travellers and to seize the spoils writes Bob Harcourt. On a pleasant Spring afternoon in perfect conditions for rugby, injuries in the opening ten minutes to number eight Chris Wood and flanker Jamie Harrop took some of the shine off this 41 points to 25 victory, but with players of the calibre of Beau Carney and Chris Zutic coming off the bench to replace them, play saw little or no disruption in the back row department, as ‘Street took a 20 – 11 lead into half time. Tries from astute replacement open side Carney; everywhere centre Todd Freemantle and man-of the match performance lock Andy Solomon, put paid to Newport’s dogged fight after getting back to 20 – 18 just a couple of minutes into the second half, as tricky Fishes’ winger Samson Masiyarira scored the first of his two tries.
Andy SolomonIn the first half, fly half Danny Richards landed two penalty kicks and two conversions to add to scrum half Nick Thatcher’s tap and go try on seventeen minutes and a maiden touch down six minutes before the break by full back Corey Venus, after lock Matt Solomon had picked up a wayward pass around his ankles to deliver a scoring pass. Newport’s Liam Holder kept his Shropshire side in touch with a try and two penalty goals. Half Time: Broadstreet 20 - Newport 11.
Matt SolomonAfter the Masiyarira claw back and eight minutes into the second half, Newport’s Chris Perry earned himself a yellow for not retreating ten metres and the indiscipline saw his side concede fourteen points in his absence; as first Beau Carney finished off another Thatcher tap and go, with the ball passing through the supporting hands of Matthew Solomon and Ben Dawes; and then Todd Freemantle intercepted a pass from two try ‘Port hero Masiyarira, to run in from thirty metres and, with Richards converting both, the score advanced to 34 – 18 with 23 minutes to go.
Todd FreemantleThat man, Freemantle, had spilled the ball over the line earlier in the game, whilst flamboyantly trying to score. Asked what she thought of her progeny’s faux pas, Mrs Freemantle said “I’m saying nothing!” but then couldn’t resist adding, “But I can’t stand show-boating!” Sorry Todd - but Mam does possess a formidable rugby pedigree in being a Jenkins and marrying a Freemantle! [Happy 80th Birthday Roly and Many Happy Returns! and thank your family for returning the Stilton - Son-in-law Steve knows that that cheese must be at least twenty year old?]
Danny RichardsAnyway, to make his amends, Masiyarira intercepted a Richards’ wide pass three minutes later to sprint seventy metres for a try, converted by Holder, 34 – 25 giving Newport renewed hope with ten minutes still to play. But, it was lock Andrew Solomon who put the final nail in the visitor’s coffin as he finished of slick phase play; involving forwards and backs, and a great performance of his own, with a well-deserved try, duly converted by fly half Danny Richards in an afternoon’s consummate kicking display of seven out of seven attempts, 41 – 25. With a minute to go the bullocking Gareth Turner copped a yellow for a ruck infringement but ‘Street were already home and dry with a healthy sixteen point lead and maximum league points attained. Full Time: Broadstreet 41 - Newport 25.
With so many changes over the last few weeks, one can excuse play being a bit disjointed at times but, there was more than enough team play and application to deserve a bag full of the spoils. Well done chaps, Newport are a good outfit with no little skill and loads of pace to wit!
Cameo Moment: That pick-up off his toes by the 6’ 5” Matt Solomon to deliver a dexterous scoring pass.
Team:Pendleton, Pearl, Tatlow; Solomon A, Solomon M; Turner, Harrop, Wood (C); Thatcher, Richards; Harris Tommy, Freemantle, McGrory, Murray; Venus. Reps: Dawes, Carney, Zutic.
Away to Nuneaton next week, so no need for further comment!
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