CARNEGIE RUGBY LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP - Round One
UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE 32 - 36 EDINBURGH EAGLES
A try six minutes from time from Eagles' loose forward Mike Wallace edged the Scottish champions into the second round of the Carnegie Rugby League Challenge Cup.
They were made to fight all the way by the students for whom the outstanding Alex Robinson grabbed a hat-trick as they surged to an eight point lead with a quarter of the game to go. However the Eagles battled back and took the spoils right at the end.
Edinburgh edged a tight first half where both sides scored three tries though the students were always playing catch up after Wallace opened the scoring after eight minutes and Andy Grodynski added the first of his six successful goalkicks.
After a nervy start, the students settled and Robinson pulled a score back soon afterwards when Danny Poulton's kick to the wing was fumbled under pressure by Nick Brore,
Wallace extended the Eagles' lead with his second try, stretching over after the Eagles' big props had made good yards. Grodynski added the extras.
The see-saw game continued, Rob Webber taking on the defence and exchanging passes with Harry Boughton to score. This time, Poulton converted.
The Eagles kept their noses in front with a try out wide from Rory McLeod, Grodynski's goal giving them an eight-point lead.
However quick thinking by Poulton caught the Eagles out and Robinson weaved through a hole for the try that cut the lead to just two points.
The students started the second period well and after Jake Collier drove the ball in, Andy Webster profited from a lack of numbers out wide to dive over and convert to give the students the lead for the first time.
After the eagles knocked on right on the try-line, John Cox forced his way over and Grodynski restored the Eagles' lead.
However, two tries in as many minutes seemed to set the students up for a memorable win.
Poulton's kick to the corner was fumbled by McLeod, Robinson pouncing for his third try well converted by Poulton from touch. From the restart, Robinson made a superb break from his own half and via Webber, Boughton finished in the corner too far out for Poulton to convert.
The students now had an eight-point gap with a quarter of the game to go but the Eagles would not lie down and they conjured a close range try from Ash Carroll to make it a two point game once more.
From the restart, they forced a goal-line drop out and Wallace slid over in the corner to restore the Eagles' lead.
The students had one final chance but Webber was ruled to have knocked on and the Eagles' name goes into the hat for the second round for the second year running.
TEAMS:
UGRL: Harry Boughton, Josh Pettifer, Marc Cashman, Alex Robinson, Pat Evans, Dan Poulton, Sam Vaughan, James O'Donnell, Rob Webber, Jake Collier, Andy Webster, Mike Venn, Matt Fiander. Substitutes: Paul Hewitt, John Radnor, Theo Wakefield, John Symons.
UGRL: Scorers: Tries; Alex Robinson (12, 32, 53), Rob Webber (23), Andy Webster (41), Harry Boughton (55). Conversions; Danny Poulton 3 from 5, Andy Webster 1 from 1.
EDINBURGH EAGLES: Nick Brore, Rory McLeod, Richard Knight, Andrew Brown, Cieron Watson, Seb Trotter, Andy Grodynski, Ash Carroll, Giles Lomax, John Cox, Niall Parkinson, Rich Johnston, Mike Wallace. Substitutes: Jon Steele, Chris Graham, Roddy Mackenzie, Morgan Martin.
EDINBURGH EAGLES: Scorers: Tries; Mike Wallace (8, 18, 74), Rory McLeod (28), John Cox (50), Ash Carroll (70). Conversions; Andy Grodynski 6 from 6.
Scoring sequence: 0-6, 4-6, 4-12, 10-12, 10-18, 16-18, (HT), 22-18, 22-24, 28-24, 32-24, 32-30, 32-36, (FT).
Penalties: UGRL 12, Eagles 15.
Carnegie Man of the Match: Mike Wallace (Edinburgh)
UGRL Man of the match: Alex Robinson
Referee: Chris Hancock (Hull RLRS)
Touch Judges: Simon Matthews, John Cadogan.
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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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