Paviors RFC

This weekend Pavs 1st XV travelled away to Melton Mowbray looking for a five point bonus win in order further cement their position in the playoff spot at the top of Midlands One.  Pavs fielded a couple of changes with Durham University student Elliott Severn stepping in for Jonty Green at scrum half and talismanic Chris Tipton slipping on to the back row. 

On a balmy afternoon Pavs kicked up slope but with the wind at their backs. Fly half George Billam kept Melton pinned back in their own half with some accurate and astute kicking, allowing Pavs to build pressure on the home side. After twelve minutes Elliott Seven threw a little dummy before scampering between the posts to give Pavs the lead. Within minutes skipper Doug Billam finished off a fine move to extend the lead to 14-0 with brother “G” adding the extras. Coach Nathen Eggleshaw wrought the changes with returning “Tippo” coming off the bench and proving to be formidable in both attack and defence. More well executed tries were to follow, first with try a game Christian Murphy going in for his first, Doug Billam adding a second and stalwart front rower Adam Stirling fighting his way over for his second try of the season. Melton stuck to their task but Pavs were finding the form that has kept them at the top of the league for most of the season. Half time score 33-0 in favour of Pavs.

Playing down the slope Pavs were unstoppable. Keiran Wells got things moving and following a bullocking drive forced his way over. Doug Billam went in for his hat trick and Christian Murphy his second. Phil Eggleshaw then crossed the line for his second in two weeks. With George Billam wearing his kicking boots, eight of nine conversions were slotted over to give Pavs an unassailable 61-0 lead after seventy five minutes. The best moment of the game was about to be enacted ! Pavs were defending stoutly inside their own five metre zone before turning the ball over. Kieran Wells broke out before shifting the ball to prop Theo Collier, back to Wells, back to Collier who then set off on a charge that Jake “The Raging Bull” LaMotta would have been proud of. Deft sidesteps, a few little shimmies and Theo was into the Melton half. The occasional swat of a despairing defender followed and Theo found himself in bewildering open pasture. He charged on towards the try line before dispatching one last defender and coming to rest over the line. Front five forwards do have a tendency to “exaggerate” the distance they have to cover to score a try but in truth this was a superb effort. [b]Theo covered the full length of the pitch to score and richly deserves the accolade of individual try scorer of the season! Final score 68-0.[/b]

Pavs have now secured the playoff spot for promotion to Midland Premier. A bonus point home win against Northampton Old Scouts next week should mean the playoff fixture will be at home so still a good deal to play for. Onwards ……………