Sat 15 Oct 2022
This weekend Pavs welcomed Scunthorpe RFC to The Stump in round 6 of the Regional North One competition. Pavs were able to welcome back crowd favourite Jared Kelly whilst also giving Owen Taylor his first start of the season. Last season’s meetings were highly charged affairs with Scunthorpe winning two and Pavs winning one. In the light of this the gathered crowd were expectant of a highly entertaining afternoon; they were not to be disappointed !!
After five minutes, Scunthorpe went in front with a well taken try in the corner. Not to be outdone Pavs struck back via Jake Baldry following a forward drive to bring the score to 7-5 in favour of Scunthorpe. On fourteen minutes, and following a short distance lineout drive, flanker Owen Taylor drove over powerfully, and with the George Billam extras give Pavs the lead at 12-7. From this point forth Pavs seemed to engage the wrath of the official who, first sent Joe Crossland for a ten minute break and then minutes later warded a penalty try against Pavs, and sent a bemused Aaron Langan into the sin bin. After thirty five minutes Scunthorpe had accrued a further try and a penalty to give them what looked a convincing lead of 22-12. On thirty nine minutes, however, wing Alex Rimmington finished off a fine move, and with the Billam extras narrow the Scunthorpe lead to 22-19 at the break.
In this topsy turvy game, Scunthorpe went further in front at 31-19 with a converted try and penalty, before George Billam converted a penalty of his own to keep Pavs in touch at 31-22,
From this point Pavs grabbed the initiative with, first, scrum half Ben Taylor darting in on forty seven minutes, and then, George Billam ghosting through a gap in the Scunthorpe defence on sixty three minutes, before converting his try to give Pavs back the lead at 36-31. Nine minutes later full back Matt Molyneux broke through a now tiring Scunthorpe defence to go in under the posts, and with the now customary Billam conversion give Pavs a seemingly unassailable lead of 43-31 with minutes left. It was, in fact, Scunthorpe who rounded off the scoring with an attractive try to end matters at 43-36 in favour of Pavs.
All in all, Pavs fighting spirit was again much in evidence. The old epithet of “snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat” does apply to today’s game. We know that matters do often work the other way round in this league as well. Next week Pavs travel the short distance to West Bridgford RFC, all support welcome for this local derby.
Squad - Steve Allen, Kieran Wells, Jake Baldry, Joe Crossland, Aaron Langan, Owen Taylor, Jim Reeson, Phil Eggleshaw, Ben Taylor, George Billam, Tom Davies, Jared Kelly, Doug Billam (c), Alex Rimmington, Matt Molyneux.
Finishers - Dan Flint, Theo Collier, Josh Hall.
Pavs Man of The Match (selected by Scunthorpe) Jared Kelly
“One to Watch” Owen Taylor
Nigel Youl
Team Manager
