MIDLANDS TWO – WEST SATURDAY 8^TH MARCH 2006.

BROADSTREET V NEWPORT

This was never going to be a showpiece game, with ‘Street missing some five injured players, and so it proved.

‘Street called Chris Harrison out of semi-retirement at flanker; he then proceeded to orchestrate and dominate the mauls, and actually score in the second half. The other player who must be mentioned, is Mick Curtis. As usual this season, he came on as a substitute, this time as full back, stopped a sure-fire try on the line, and then joined the forwards?, rucking and mauling up the pitch to set up the next score. Both sides then struggled with long periods of poor play, including bad decisions and poor handling.

‘Street should have gone ahead three minutes into the game, only to mishandle just short of the line. Brown kicked a penalty on five minutes. Score 3-0.

Thatcher for ‘Street, touched down on twenty five minutes from the back of a maul which Brown converted. Score 10-0.

Newport then started to get into the game with full back Watson-Jones going over with a well worked move out to the wing. Try converted by scrum-half Simpson. Score 10-7.

Brown, for ‘Street, replied with a penalty on thirty five minutes. Score 13-7.

The half finished with Newport’s Watson-Jones breaching a poor ‘Street defence, to make it 13-12 at half time.

‘Street’s Brown kicked a penalty two minutes into the second half. Score 16-12.

Seven minutes later, Chris Harrison touched down from a rolling maul to bring the score to 21-12.

On twenty minutes, Newport caught ‘Street’s defence napping again, with winger Robinson running through to touch down. Converted by Simpson. Score – 21-19.

On twenty four minutes, Newport’s forward was yellow carded. Chris Brown kicked the resulting penalty. Score 24-19.

Five minutes later, Thatcher for ‘Street, scored from loose play. Converted by Brown, to bring the final score to 31-19.

This win, along with ex ‘Street coach Bob Harcourt doing the business up the road to beat Kenilworth, gave ‘Street the championship of Midlands 2 West, and put them back up into Midlands 1 next season.

Second team. – Broadstreet 15 - Melton Mowbray 87

Ces Benn, Broadstreet RFC.