Sat 7 Sep 2024
This weekend opened the 2024/5 season with a difficult looking away fixture at Melbourne RFC. Last season’s games were very close affairs with Pavs coming out on top by the closest of margins in both. Pavs continue to give experience to a number of youngsters with Ollie Anderson, Rohan Cates, Ed Holmes and Jacob Playford much to the fore.
On a somewhat strange afternoon, warm but dank, it was Melbourne who made a more emphatic start, putting the away side under pressure upfront. As a result Pavs talented young backline saw precious little of the ball as Melbourne grasped the early momentum. Two Melbourne tries followed in relatively quick succession with the forwards driving over to give them a 10-0 lead. Pavs then eschewed two kickable penalties for a kick to corner, but lost both of the resultant line-outs, before common sense prevailed and Ollie Anderson popped over a third to bring the score to 10-3. This seemed to boost Pavs’ confidence as they began to be able to find some width and exert some pressure of their own as the half drew to a close.
At the beginning of the second half. Pavs began to control matters as the sought to keep the ball alive. On forty six minutes, prop Tom Ryan broke through before offloading to Tom Davies and then receiving a return pass before crashing over to bring the score to 10-8 and game on. Frustratingly for Pavs, Melbourne then struck back via a pushover try to increase their lead to 17-8. Ben Taylor then replaced Jonty Green at scrum half, Rohan Cates gave Tom Ryan a rest and Ed Holmes replaced Dan Flint. Minutes later, Ed Holmes snaffled an interception for the second time in two outings, before racing under the posts and with the Ollie Anderson conversion bringing the score to 17-15 with ten minutes left. Pavs pushed for the winning score,but were denied this when they conceded a penalty which was converted to extend Melbourne’s lead to 20-15. With minutes left Pavs kept at it, but were frustrated in their efforts when the official signalled the end of the game.
In conclusion, one could whip out the cliched “Curate’s Egg” image. On the plus side, Pavs are refreshing their squad with a number of products of their academy, giving them a youthful look and attitude.
Open play is a real strength with a talented young backline beginning to show how dangerous they could be. Other key areas are being worked on in training and when these two aspects of the “egg” come together, Pavs will be squad to be truly proud of. Next week, Pavs welcome local rivals Newark RFC to The Stump for what is sure to be a hotly competitive affair.
Squad
Tom Ryan (1 try)
Owen Taylor
Kieran Wells
Sam Bradley
Tom Gladwin
Jacob Playford
Josh Flanagan
Phil Eggleshaw
Jonty Green
Ollie Anderson (1p,1c)
Will Taylor
Doug Billam (C)
Morgan Jones
Tom Davies
Dan Flint
Impacts
Ben Taylor (50 mins)
Ed Holmes (50 mins, 1 try)
Rohan Cates (60 mins)
Forward of The Match - Josh Flanagan ( as well as a war wound to add to his boyish good looks!!)
Back of The Match - Will Taylor.
Nigel Youl
1st XV Manager
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