Apologies to the regular users of the site who were expecting match reports for the opening games of the season.  After two appalling opening fixtures in which it can only be said that Broadstreet looked like a village side that would struggle a league or two below, I struggled to summon the enthusiasm to write a summary for a side that seemed to lack any enthusiasm whilst on the pitch.  This week saw a number of changes to the previous week’s side, most significantly in the pack with the return of a few more experienced and familiar 1st XV faces including specialist Tighthead Matt Dearden, streetwise Flanker Ady Nightingale and powerhouse Number 8 Stewart Hendry.  Hooker David Roff started for the first time this year after a couple of fiery performances coming off the bench and 1st XV regulars Nick Pratt and Tom Greevy started in the Second Row for the first time this year.  Luke Truslove writes.

Broadstreet kicked off the match and, after a couple of phases of play, a South Leicester knock on forced the first scrum of the game. It was at this point when the pack was about to engage that Broadstreet realised that their Number 8, Stewart Hendry, was not even on the field and after a minute or two of looking around and everyone scratching their heads as to where he might be, Stew emerged from the changing rooms ready and raring to go. He had had apparently more important matters to attend to than being on the pitch for the opening passages of the game!

Just two minutes in Scott Harman opted for the posts from 40 metres out after a South Leicester infringement at the breakdown and recorded the first points of the match.  However, mere minutes later a half break and offload out the tackle in their own half allowed the South back line behind the Broadstreet defensive line and free reign in broken play.  Despite a number of decent covering tackles which seemed to halt the attack, another tricky offload to Wing Matt Fisher meant that he had a clear run to the line from less than 15 metres, which he finished with ease.  Conversion by South Fly-half Rikki Aley  3-7

On the 10 minute mark Scott Harman added another three points to his tally, but once again Broadstreet fell asleep straight after scoring. A wave of South Leicester pressure brought them up to the Broadstreet 22 and ill discipline from the home side gave away a penalty.  For some reason ‘Street were in a daze and rather than setting up to defend like any normal team would, we decided to bunch up on one side of the posts apart from our two front row forwards, who were left to defend the other half of the pitch by themselves. The South Fly Half spotted this immediately and with two long, quick passes, their Outside Centre Mitch Culpin was able to cross the whitewash without a ‘Street player laying a hand on him.  Converted by Rikki Aley.  14-6.

On 24 minutes, South’s super try scoring Hooker (33 1st XV tries last year) Luke Coltman crashed over from short range to extend the score to after a series of pick’n’goes and Rikki Aley once more proved adept at bagging the easy targets by opening up a 21-6 lead.

After disrupting opposition ball at the base of the scrum which caused the ball to shoot off back in to South Leicester territory, Nick Thatcher got properly clattered by the South Number 8 and Second Row whilst the ref had his back turned.  However, just before the half time whistle a poor lineout from ‘Street proved to be a blessing in disguise as the bouncing ball caused enough confusion to leave enough gaps for Nick Thatcher to gather the ball and slip through the defensive line for a try. Unfortunately Scott was unable to carry on his kicking stats and Broadstreet went in at half time, luckily still in the game at 21-13

HT – 21-13

After the restart South Leicester started brightly again and forced Broadstreet back in to their own half, a cunning crossfield kick from the fly-half Rikki Aley opened up the field  for Matt Fisher to collect and score his second try of the match.  28-13.

Broadstreet reacted well to the deficit as they haven’t done in recent weeks and showed a lot more fire in trying to close the gap which saw us dominate most of the second half.  Five minutes later, a South Leicester scrum on their five metre line was disrupted when Thatcher got a foot to the Scrum Half's pass where it bounced around till Thatch was able to collect it and drop over the line for his second try. Unfortunately Scott Harman was unable to add the extras...it is worth mentioning that South Leicester had brought a clown with them who thought it was appropriate to shout loudly everytime the ‘Street Fly Half attempted a kick,  Scott also missed two other kickable penalties and the little weasel was lucky that Scott’s mum didn’t get hold of him in time!  28-18.

 With ten minutes to go Thatch grabbed his hat-trick try and brought ‘Street into the losing bonus point range, but Scott was unable to add the extras.  For the final phases of the match Broadstreet were definitely were in the ascendancy and had the match been slightly longer it seemed that ‘Street might have snatched a win.

FT 28-23

 A much better performance from Broadstreet and with a couple more players yet to play who should be featuring in the next few weeks, will make Broadstreet capable of turning anyone over in the league.

 MoM – Nicholas Thatcher (hat trick hero’s display from the captain)

 DotD – Despite another kick in open play from Ben Dawes, for missing the kick-off D*** of the Day has to go to Number 8 Stewart Hendry.