BUCS SUPER 8 Student Rugby League
Wednesday 9 December 2009
UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE 30 – 30 ST MARY’S TWICKENHAM
A controversial try three minutes from time gave St Mary’s a 30-30 draw with the University of Gloucestershire at Cheltenham’s Prince of Wales Stadium. The levelling score came from a quickly taken 20-metre restart taken from a point behind the line and some metres from the centre of the field.
The home side will no doubt consider the result a point lost as they twice held a 12-point lead and some ill-discipline and poor ball control at crucial times meant that they threw their advantage away. They had a chance to take both points but Danny Poulton’s field goal attempt with the final kick of the game drifted inches wide.
The game was not a pretty affair. On a heavy pitch, mistakes were commonplace and neither side played to their true potential, often losing their way in good field position. Gloucestershire perhaps were the more guilty of the two sides, seemingly being unable to find the organisation to use their damaging runners effectively.
St Mary’s were first on the board after consecutive penalties marched them downfield and Wes Newton squeezed over in the corner for an unconverted try after two minutes. It took ten minutes for Gloucestershire to reply, Gareth Speers taking the defence on from a close range penalty to score under the posts. Poulton converted to give the home side the lead.
St Mary’s were soon back in front with their second unconverted try in the same corner through Kieron McRoberts and Gloucestershire were unable to reply until Pat Evans snatched an intercept 20 metres out to canter over for an easy try. Poulton’s goal gave the home side a four-point advantage that they took to the break.
After both sides had a man sent to the sin-bin for fighting, soft defence and strong running saw Matt Carter barge over to level the score. But a clever restart saw Matt Fiander regain possession and Jake Collier crash over under the posts to give Poulton an easy conversion.
Poulton then banged over a penalty before a neat switch of play gave Andy Webster a try too far out for Poulton to successfully convert.
Inexplicably, Gloucestershire lost their intensity soon afterwards and James Szymik twisted over to score under the posts, Tom Sadler converting and the game was back in the melting pot.
Ten minutes later, a tremendous 40-metre charge from Speers saw him crash through tackle after tackle to score a fine try converted by Poulton to ease the home side two scores ahead again.
However Chris Blake was sent off for kicking with ten minutes to go and St Mary’s laid siege to the line. Back to back penalties finally forced the break and with men outside him, Newton dived over to score. Sadler converted to make it a six point game.
Gloucestershire could not hold on and James Anthony streaked away from the defence to the posts to earn his side a draw despite Poulton’s desperate last gasp effort.
TEAMS:
UGRL: Harry Broughton, Lewis Warner, Josh Pettifer, Matt Fiander, Pat Evans, Danny Poulton, Rory Trow, Gareth Speers, Sam Vaughan, Jake Collier, James O’Donnell, Mike Venn, Andy Webster. Substitutes: Chris Blake, Marc Cashmore, Rob Webber, Tom Patience.
ST MARY’S: Wes Newton, Kieron McRoberts, Joe Ridley, James Anthony, James Szymik, Jake Cottrell, Luke Watling, Guy Adam, Tom Sadler, Olly Rosenstock, Matt Carter, Dom Stock, Lloyd Pullen. Substitutes: Callum McCormack, Jack Newton, Josh Gunn, Don McCarthy.
SCORERS:
UGRL: Tries; Gareth Speers (13, 64), Pat Evans (26), Jake Collier (45), Andy Webster (51). Goals; Danny Poulton 5 from 6.
ST MARY’S: Scorers: Tries; Wes Newton (2, 72), Kieron McRoberts (17), Matt Carter (43), James Szymik (55), James Anthony (77). Goals; Tom Sadler 3 from 6.
Scoring sequence: 0-4, 6-4, 6-8, 12-8, (HT), 12-12, 18-12, 24-12, 24-18, 30-18, 30-24, 30-30, (FT).
Penalties: UGRL 9, St Mary’s 12.
Referee: Alf Harvey (Wales RLRS)
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Chris Wilson
Media Manager, Gloucestershire Warriors RLFC
Tel: +44 (0)1684 850903
Mobile: + 44 (0)7905 931033
Email: gloswarriors2004@aol.com
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The Gloucestershire Rugby League is an organisation for local rugby league clubs in Gloucestershire. Our main activity currently is to promote rugby league through the County and give useful information about our sport to the public of Gloucestershire.
