Sat 4 Mar 2023
Following four lengthy away games in five weeks, Pavs finally found themselves at home this weekend against fellow former Midlands league rivals Doncaster Phoenix. Games between the two clubs are normally high scoring, entertaining affairs and this game was to be no different.
From the kick off, Doncaster pushed hard for the opening score. After two minutes Pavs centre Jared Kelly was invited to take a ten minute rest following a seatbelt tackle in the red zone. Pavs defence for the ensuing period was nothing short of miraculous, with every player putting their bodies on the line in support of the cause. Strange as it may seem the travels, trials and tribulations of the preceding weeks seemed to have had a bonding effect on what was already a close knit unit, this being much in evidence in the unfolding seventy minutes. With Pavs back to full complement, speedy winger Tom Davies finished off a fine move to give Pavs the lead with George Billam conversion at 7-0. Doncaster struck back on twenty one minutes with Brad Farrell touching down to level the score at 7-7. More was to come from the away side as Tom O’Brien intercepted a Pavs pass to go in between the posts to take them in front 14-7 on twenty nine minutes. Prop Dan Hyams took to field following an injury to lock Theo Collier, this seeming to give Pavs an increasing presence and eventual dominance in the scrummage. The remaining eleven minutes were highly contested with the half time being signalled by the official with the score at 14-7 to Doncaster.
After the break, Pavs had the most dominating period play of the entire season. On forty two minutes, Jared Kelly broke free to score and with the Billam extras level the score at 14–14. More was to come on fifty one minutes as No 8 Jim Reeson battled his way over following a short yardage maul,and with Billam clearly on top kicking form, give Pavs the lead at 21-14. The so called icing on the cake was applied on fifty five minutes when the mercurial Kelly again broke free before again crossing the line and giving Billam the opportunity to further extend Pavs lead to 28-14. No-one, however, believed that this was to be the end of the scoring as Doncaster set about redressing the balance of the game. To increase the sense of drama Pavs hooker, Kieran Wells was harshly sent to the bin for an attempted interception on sixty six minutes. This seemed to galvanise Doncaster as they pushed forward. On seventy minutes, a series of forward drives saw them score in the corner to narrow Pavs lead to 28-19. A final fraught ten minutes, saw Wells restored and both sides going at it tooth and nail. Finally, the official signalled the end of the game with Pavs taking the laurels.
This was a massive and confidence boosting win for Pavs. It really is impossible to select any one player for special mention as every man jack of them deserve our utmost respect. This has been a hugely challenging season for the entire group including the coaching staff. A new league, road trips and strong opposition every week was always going to be tough. Pavs have stuck at it even in the toughest of times and continue to display the best virtues of rugby as team mates who revel in each others company and enjoy a beer win, lose or draw. Pavs now travel to Driffield and Scunthorpe in the next two weeks and finish off the league season at home against West Bridgford on the 25th March with cup competitions to follow in April. Traditionally, Pavs have flourished on the firmer surfaces and the warmer weather, so a strong finish to the season is in prospect. Onwards……!!
Squad - Allen, Wells, Baldry, Flanagan, Collier, Alton-Smith, Jones, Reeson, Flint, Billam G, Rimmington, Taylor B, Kelly, Davies, Molyneux.
Rep- Hyams (25 minutes), Pritchard (71 minutes), Green D (72 minutes)
Nigel Youl
1st XV Manager
Jared Kelly try
Jim Reeson try
