Sat 19 Oct 2019
After two weeks on the road. this week Pavs returned to Burntstump to play Peterborough Lions in round seven of the Midlands Premier competition. Lions have had their travails in recent months, but as the cliché goes, there is nothing as dangerous as a wounded lion. Coach Nathan Eggleshaw stressed the need for focus and determination in the opening phase of the game. The squad fully bought into this, with centre Tom Winning crossing after six minutes, giving Pavs the ascendancy that they were never to lose. Tries from skipper Doug Billam and back-rowers Ollie Collingham and James Reeson quickly followed with George Billam adding the extras and extending Pavs lead to 28-0 after twenty minutes. During the second quarter, Pavs pace and energy proved too much for the away side. Four well-worked tries from scrum-half Jonty Green, wing Alex Barton, skip Doug Billam and full back Matt Molyneux converted Pavs pressure into an insurmountable half time lead of 50-0.
Straight after the half time break, Doug Billam added to his earlier brace with his third try on forty-one minutes. Lions then began a fightback with some powerful forward drives and handing in the backs. On fifty-one minutes, they finally drove over to score and get on the scoreboard at 57-7. This served to remind Pavs that in this league you cannot afford to drop below the highest standards. Accordingly, Pavs got back on the shovel with three tries in the next twelve minutes. Josh Hall, in typically combative style, fought his way over, followed by popular tight head Adam Stirling scoring his first try of the season. Matt Molyneux outpaced the defence to score his second and extend Pavs lead to 72-7 with the Billam G extras. Going into the last ten minutes Pavs continued to up the tempo and the pressure. Three tries then came in as many minutes, Replacement scrum-half Cameron Graham opened his account for the season before number eight Phil Eggleshaw gave the hamstrings a workout in sprinting from the halfway to touch down. Alistair Plant finished off another fine move to extend the lead to 91-7. Finally, bustling hooker Kieran Wells fought his way to and over the line and complete the scoring with the result being 98-7.
Next weekend Pavs travel to Sandbach RFC. The squad have quickly learnt that this league is hugely demanding - week in, week out. By nature, they are a very affable and grounded group of young men. They will assess the games played during the last couple of weeks and use them to inform and support the constant drive to improve as a team and as individuals, as well as characteristically thoroughly enjoying the process. Onwards ………..
