Danny’s Double Does It! [But not on his Todd!]
With one win apiece, the season’s third encounter between table-toppers Nuneaton RFC and Broadstreet RFC swayed the visitor’s way at wild and windy Liberty Way, Attleborough, as ‘Street avenged a 13 – 15 home league loss back in November and, with ‘Street’s 12 – 6 Warwickshire Cup Semi-final equalising win on Earlsdon RFC’s neutral ground in February, the stakes had been set high for this long awaited ‘local bragging rights’ encounter, writes Bob Harcourt. In the end, ‘Street saw off their second placed neighbours Nuneaton with two Danny Richard’s penalties and a Todd Freemantle try, converted by Danny Richards; whilst the hosts' kicker Joseph Wilson was this time round awry, missing two in difficult gusty conditions, thereby, making Danny Boy’s efforts all the more praiseworthy in ‘Street’s 13 – 10 ‘decider’ victory. Wilson did, however, manage a penalty and conversion of his own 74th minute try; to give a nervy edge to the dying minutes, but ‘Street, who enjoyed territorial advantage throughout, held their nerve as they mostly pinned their hosts down in their own half, to take an important away win. Not only did ‘Street’s win prove important in taking the season’s encounters to 2 to 1, but, it could prove vital in the race for promotion as the Rugby Road Boys opened up a 13 point advantage over still second-placed Nuneaton, (third placed Sutton Coldfield RFC having lost to ‘steely’ Scunthorpe RFC); with four league games still remaining.
Danny RichardsTodd FreemantleBroadstreet enjoyed the advantage of the swirling wind in the first half and could really have been home and dry by the break had passes stuck as they strove to capitalise on territorial advantage. Danny Richards opened ‘Street’s account with a tenth minute penalty goal, after missing six minutes earlier but, thereafter, thrust after thrust saw chances go begging as first, Richards broke clear early doors to feed flanker Chris Zutic metres out but the flanker lost possession and centre Will Owen did likewise later, as he hit a good inside line off his fly-half. Frustration prevailed until the 34th minute when a multi-phase passage of play Street’s forwards saw the ball moved through the hands to wide right where centre Todd Freemantle, employing some pretty impressive footwork, cut back inside the usually immaculate Nuneaton defence, to slice through to right of the posts. Richards converted, 0 – 10. Half Time: Nuneaton 0 Broadstreet 10.
Chris ZuticAlex BeddowsThree minutes into the second half Nuneaton fly half Wilson landed a penalty goal to put his side on the score sheet. ‘Street pushed on against the wind but conceded too many turnovers, allowing Nuneaton to frequently clear up the left hand touchline. This pattern of play continued until the close of the third quarter when ‘Street picked up a rare second half penalty wide left, as Nuneaton infringed following a tail of the lineout drive. Richard’s kick looked to drift left of posts but his allowance for the strong wind did the trick as the ball veered right and over the bar. 3 - 13 and 20 minutes to play. In a surprisingly rare Nuns' sortie, given the ever-strengthening wind, into ‘Street’s 22 metres zone, the visitors conceded possession running out of defence and the hosts, quickly moving the ball wide, found space for the supporting Wilson to dart to the posts for a try. With the conversion over and the score 10 – 13 ‘Street’s supporters had cause to fret; but the players had other ideas as they spent the last five minutes or so driving deep into opposition territory with some disciplined forward phase play, looking for the clincher. Nuneaton’s admirable defence stood firm to the end as Richards closed play with a punt to touch from a penalty award near the home 22 metre line. Both sides battled hard in less than ideal conditions and with so much at stake it was never going to be a pretty game but, nevertheless, it was one that kept the sizeable crowd on their toes right to the end.
Mrs Freemantle when asked for her comments on Todd’s first half try replied, “I was screaming for him to make it, I nearly wet myself with the excitement”. Then she generously opined that: “Never mind the threequarters, those forwards were heroes; all of the match they worked their ‘wotsits’ off”. (Well, it was a word similar to wotsits)! Gareth Turner, at number eight, and prop Harry Pendleton made several telling runs from the base and in broken play, respectively and the Brothers Solomon were commanding in the lineout and at the breakdown. Flankers Beau Carney, Chris Zutic and replacement Alex Beddows were involved in everything and the front row union of Stewart Pearl, Pendleton, Neil Tatlow and Ben Dawes put in a great shift at the coal face, both, at scrum time and in contact. All ten forwards worked their ‘wotsits’ off; especially the second half, much to the chagrin of the home coaches and supporters, who, for obvious reasons would have preferred ‘Street to play ‘pass-the-parcel’ rugby against a strong un-predictable gusting wind, and the threequarters played accordingly in support of their beefier comrades. Well done chaps, sensible rugby!
Cameo Moment: The Todd Freemantle try – he danced inside three defenders to find a path to the posts.
Team:Pendleton, Pearl, Tatlow; Solomon A, Solomon M; Zutic, Carney, Turner; Thatcher, Richards; Harris Tommy, Freemantle, Owen, Harris Tom; Murray. Reps: Dawes, Beddows, Venus.
Old Halesonians RFC – 3rd (H); Sandbach RFC – 11th (A); Scunthorpe RFC - 8th (H) and South Leicester RFC – 6th (A) remain. All are good sides. None can be taken for granted. Whilst the odds seem favourable, all will be looking to take you down. Stay together and Stay strong!
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