Paviors RFC

[b]The exclamation “Phew” is suggestive of an expression of relief, after successfully completing a difficult task. So “Phew” it was for the for the players and supporters who travelled 100 miles south to Leighton Buzzard this weekend at the sound of the final whistle !![/b]

Pavs made a couple of enforced changes with Ed James coming into the squad and Josh Flanagan departing to the open pastures of the wing. On a bright afternoon Pavs played down the slope, but against a howling gale. Early contacts were shared, but with LB defending stoutly and denying Pavs any clear chances. Almost with their first venture into Pavs half, LB took the lead with a drop goal which kind of limped rather flew over over. After twenty four minutes LB were awarded a scrum near their line which Pavs disrupted, allowing flanker Josh Hall to snaffle the ball and give Pavs the lead at 5-3. Minutes later LB scored a good try of their own, scoring after a number of phases and retaking the lead at 10-5. Pavs then went down into LB’s twenty two and following a well rehearsed lineout drive were awarded a penalty try, so back in front for Pavs at 12-10. In the last minute of the half LB again struck back, scored a try and with the now customary reversal of fortunes retook the lead at 15-12. A real topsy turvy first half with neither side being able to establish supremacy, but some skilful rugby being played.

After the break, and on fifty one minutes LB further extended their lead 20-12. Pavs were clearly not consistently at the races, but the best part of the game was yet to come. On sixty five minutes skipper Doug Billam broke a series of tackles to touch down, brother George added a very well struck conversion to narrow the LB’s lead to 20-19. With twelve minutes left Keiran Wells finished off another drive and with another accomplished conversion from “G” Billam gave Pavs the lead at 26-20. If any of the Pavs players or supporters were beginning to feel more comfortable LB clearly had other ideas. On seventy two minutes LB grabbed on to a loose ball in their own half, moved the ball wide before sprinting in to score and post yet another score reversal at 27-26. In the dying minutes Pavs moved the ball to wing Alex Barton who then took off on a magical mystery tour of a run before putting in a sublime cross field kick which sat down over the try line for opposite wing Christian Murphy to touch down. “G” added the extras to give Pavs the lead yet again at 33-26. Even then matters were not complete with a last play needing to be fulfilled. Thankfully, Pavs effectively collected the kick off and scrum half Jonty Green punted the ball into touch. The final whistle sounded with a collective “Phew” and a wry smile from the Pavs faithful. There was even an amusingly sardonic “Never in doubt” from a couple of relieved spectators. Victory successfully engineered from the jaws of defeat but it was very close !!!

It could be said that Pavs were not quite at their best and LB were a much stronger side than league position would suggest, so coming away with five points was gleefully accepted by all. Finally, mention must be made of a couple of unsung heroes today. Andy Gough and Rob Severn drove an extra hundred miles each following a kit kerfuffle. Any club/organisation cannot exist without such selfless thinking and action, so a big thank you must go to them.

[b]Squad- Allen, Wells, Mason, Hanson, Plant, Hall, Reeson, Collingham O, Green, Billam G, Barton, Eggleshaw P, Billam D, Flanagan, Barton. Rep-Mason, James, Eggleshaw N.
Scorers- Hall 1 try, Billam D 1 try, Wells 1 try, Murphy 1 try, penalty try, Billam G 4 conv.
[/b]