Sat 24 Sep 2022
This weekend Pavs welcomed Alnwick RFC to The Stump in Round 4 of the Regional North East One competition. This was the first ever meeting between the two clubs, so there were a good few unknowns as kick approached, on a warm and sunny September afternoon. The game was given a little extra spice as this weekend Pavs were holding a “Former Players” day, with many old, or should we say more mature, ex players in evidence, ready to run their eye of the current incumbents of the 1st XV shirt.
Pavs began the game with high intensity and with scrum half Ewan Laughtan moving the ball swiftly away from the breakdown. From a lineout the ball was spun down the backline, first right and then immediately left for speedy wing Tom Davies to go in untouched, and with the George Billam extras give Pavs a 7-0 lead on two minutes. Pavs should, perhaps, have extended this lead in the following minutes as opportunities came and went. As these early minutes elapsed, Alnwick began to find their feet and scored a well taken try in the corner, with the fly half levelling the score at 7-7 after ten minutes. On sixteen minutes and following a forward drive hooker Kieran Wells fought his way over to again put Pavs in front with Billam extras at 14-7. At this stage unexplained errors and soft penalties seemed to creep into the Pavs game. Alnwick added a penalty and then a try to retake the lead at 15-14, before rounding off the half with a well taken try to go in to the break 22-14 up.
At the start of the second half, penalties and some erratic handling further gave Alnwick the initiative, which they accepted with gratitude to go further in front at 32-14 after fifty eight minutes. Pavs had been forced to replace talented young flanker Josh Alton-Smith at the break with loose head prop Dan Hyams slipping on to the front row, and Stevie Allen dropping back into the row. Aaron Langan joined the fray, whilst James Reeson took a break following a heavy impact. The addition of fresh legs and minds seemed to turn things round for the home side. All of a sudden, the squad began to find the zip that had been so evident in the early contact, but which had strangely gone missing. Dan Hyams began to dominate his opposite number and the scrum that had been dominant before the changes now began to drive Alnwick backwards. As a result the penalties began to flow in Pavs favour. On sixty minutes Phil Eggleshaw, now at number eight, drove over as the pack again pushed Alnwick back, and with customary Billam extras brought the score to 32-21 in favour of Alnwick. James Reeson returned as Stevie Allen took a very well deserved rest. Pavs began to sniff a turn around and from a forward drive that went from the 22 metre line to the try line, Jake Baldry drove over for his first 1st XV try on seventy two minutes and with the Billam extras bring the score to 32-28. With eight minutes left Pavs went for the win, with away side tiring a little. From a penalty lineout Dan Hyams burrowed under the advancing defence to score his debut try on his first home appearance to take Pavs in front at 35-32 on seventy eight minutes. The entire crowd, coaching staff and replacements then stood transfixed as these last minutes played out. From a final crushing scrummage, Pavs won the ball back for Ewan Laugthan to boot the ball off the pitch.
Pavs had wonderfully and successfully engineered victory out of the jaws of the defeat As most of us know when you play and watch this game, it is so often the other way round!!!) Overcoming an eighteen point deficit in twenty minutes really is no mean feat, particularly in this league!!! Huge credit must go to the entire squad and coaching staff for their efforts on the day. Life has been a little tough in this new league, but Pavs have been slowly building. As a young side, with most under the age of 24, this sort of result will hopefully afford them the confidence and belief that they can more than exist in this very competitive league. Next week Pavs travel to Sandal RFC with erstwhile contacts being renewed after a good few years. Onwards………….
Squad – Allen, Wells, Baldry, Eggleshaw, Flanagan, Alton-Smith, Reeson, Laughton, Billam G, Davies, Rimmington, Billam D, Flint, Molyneux. Rep - Hyams, Langan, Hatton
“Man of The Match” (Selected by Alnwick RFC Staff) – Phil Eggleshaw
“Ones To Watch” – Josh Flanagan, Dan Hyams, Aaron Langan.
Nigel Youl
