Paviors RFC

Stoke 39    Pavs 38

This weekend Pavs travelled over to Stoke on Trent RFC for the second away game from three in recent weeks. Last year, the plaudits were shared with both sides winning at home, so a big challenge for the boys.

Pavs made a brisk start, and scored in the corner,after some excellent attack play courtesy on Matt Molyneux. This galvanised the home side into action and two quick tries were scored on the ninth and eleventh minutes to take them in front at 10-5. Five minutes later, hooker Owen Taylor finished off a well orchestrated forward drive and with the George Billam extras gave Pavs the lead back at 10-12. Pavs then rotated matters upfront with young prop Bobby Johnson taking over from Tom Ryan. Just before the break, Stoke made good use of a loose play to go back in front at 15-12. 

During the break, Ryan returned and Conner Tomlinson took his turn on the bench. Minutes later, Stoke utilised another inaccuracy  from Pavs to extend their lead to 20-12. With forty seven minutes gone, Pavs kept control of the ball in Stoke’s twenty two and Doug Billam darted through the defence to score and with his brother’s extras bring things close at 20-19. A minute later, Pavs made a further rotation with Tomlinson replacing Johnson on the front row. Pavs then conceded two more very quick tries after losing control of the ball, to go 32-19 down. At this time Kaine Johnson came off with a shoulder knock which brought another highly promising youngster in the guise of Connor Burney into the fray. This seemed to create a competitive edge in his brother Kyle,on the flank, who then promptly fought his way over to touch down and bring the score to 32-26 with the Billam extras and twenty minutes to go. Stoke must have felt that they were pretty much in charge as the minutes ticked by. Pavs then staged their now customary comeback. Joe Banbury took his place on the wing as Cole Mangham had suffered a couple of heavy tackles in as many minutes. With ten minutes to go, back rower Josh Flanagan found himself in space on the right to touch down and bring the score to 39-33 with Billam’s. With two minutes left, Owen Taylor pounced on an overthrow at the lineout to dive in to bring the score to 39-38. Unfortunately for Pavs, this was how the game ended.

So another very close affair with Pavs taking two bonus points away from home. There are always ifs, buts and maybes and there was a genuine feeling that the result so easily could have gone the other way. Admirably, Pavs going forward have scored over a hundred points in three games, however, a key development for them is to tighten up possession and not to give the opposition easy opportunities to score themselves, The boys are again away next weekend at West Bridgford for another tough battle. As usual please come and support “The Green Machine.” 3.00 kick off. 

Squad

1.Conner Tomlinson +

2.Owen Taylor + (2 tries)

3.Tom Ryan

4.Tom Platt +

5.Kaine Johnson

6.Josh Flanagan + (1 try) 

7.Kyle Burney + (1 try) 

8.Phil Eggleshaw +

9.Ben White

10.George Billam + (5c) 

11.Seth Collis +

12.Doug Billam + (1 try) 

13.Matt Molyneux + (1 try) 

14.Cole Mangham +

15.Owen Evans +

16.Joe Banbury +

17. Connor Burney +

18.Bobby Johnson +

+ Pavs Home Grown Player 

Nigel Youl

1st XV Manager