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Sat 05 Sep 2015
1st XV MenEly 1&2
12
20
Percy Walker Cup remains in Ely....
Phil Brown6 Sep 2015 - 11:37
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... if it ever left it.
Slight differences in the objectives for the match meant that the visitors arrived with a "match squad" determined to play two halves. The Bulls were delighted to welcome many faces old and new and treated the match as practice with frequent rotations of players and positions to test combinations. And a very worthwhile exercise it proved.
Playing up the slope, but unusually [i]with[i] the wind, Ives scrum performed well against a heavy pack. The back line aligned well and moved the ball frequently. Good patterns were ultimately rewarded with a try in the corner for Luke Slade, ably converted by Jim Robinson.
Over eagerness at the breakdown by the Bulls gave Ely plenty of relieving penalties. From one such, they punted to the corner and drove over from the lineout.
With the next penalty, the visitors tapped and went quickly, scoring a 2nd try.
The second half saw Ely take advantage of a depleted Ives team, one sin-binned for hands in the ruck, another receiving treatment. On both occasions, Ely made use of the extra man to score.
The change to the scoreboard occurred when a sweeping move, supported well throughout the 15 on the park, ended with Tommy Newman pirouetting through two tackles to score in the corner.
Ives created a number of chances which would have taken the game. Unfortunately, a couple of spilled balls and white line fever meant they went begging.
Special mention for Charlie Mandley who made his first senior appearance having just turned 17. Not for a moment did he look out of place amongst his elders.
Skipper Josh Dear was delighted with the performance. "With several first team regulars absent, I asked for people to take the opportunity to stake claims for the first league match. All certainly did that, which gives us a positive selection problem for next week."
Squad:
Pete Hammond, Tommy Newman, Josh Dear, Stuart James, Russell Warrington, Rob Olivier, Matt Aveyard-Cowx, Ollie Bartlett, Tom McNamara, Adam Smith, Jack Tate, Mickey Drake, Jim Robinson, Steffen Gosling, Luke Slade, Graham Moffitt, Craig Cheetham, Xavier, Sam Bateman, Ronan Delany, Harris Christison, Charlie Mandley, David Lace, Steve Burke
Playing up the slope, but unusually [i]with[i] the wind, Ives scrum performed well against a heavy pack. The back line aligned well and moved the ball frequently. Good patterns were ultimately rewarded with a try in the corner for Luke Slade, ably converted by Jim Robinson.
Over eagerness at the breakdown by the Bulls gave Ely plenty of relieving penalties. From one such, they punted to the corner and drove over from the lineout.
With the next penalty, the visitors tapped and went quickly, scoring a 2nd try.
The second half saw Ely take advantage of a depleted Ives team, one sin-binned for hands in the ruck, another receiving treatment. On both occasions, Ely made use of the extra man to score.
The change to the scoreboard occurred when a sweeping move, supported well throughout the 15 on the park, ended with Tommy Newman pirouetting through two tackles to score in the corner.
Ives created a number of chances which would have taken the game. Unfortunately, a couple of spilled balls and white line fever meant they went begging.
Special mention for Charlie Mandley who made his first senior appearance having just turned 17. Not for a moment did he look out of place amongst his elders.
Skipper Josh Dear was delighted with the performance. "With several first team regulars absent, I asked for people to take the opportunity to stake claims for the first league match. All certainly did that, which gives us a positive selection problem for next week."
Squad:
Pete Hammond, Tommy Newman, Josh Dear, Stuart James, Russell Warrington, Rob Olivier, Matt Aveyard-Cowx, Ollie Bartlett, Tom McNamara, Adam Smith, Jack Tate, Mickey Drake, Jim Robinson, Steffen Gosling, Luke Slade, Graham Moffitt, Craig Cheetham, Xavier, Sam Bateman, Ronan Delany, Harris Christison, Charlie Mandley, David Lace, Steve Burke
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