FULLERIANS 1st XV 8 Eton Manor 16

London 1 North League

This game just got away from Fullerians who deserved to win this game or at least a bonus losing point. Fullers started the brighter and worked themselves into the Manor half. They had a few opportunities to score but the try went missing as the home side just weren’t clinical enough or took the wrong option at the most critical time.

They were awarded a penalty as ill-discipline started to cost Eton Manor. The ball was agonisingly wide. However, moments later they scored via a Dan Evans penalty as their visitors were infringing at the ruck.

Eton Manor were a man down and managed the time well. In fact they went ahead after Fullers were off their feet at the ruck. They kicked for the corner moved the line out and a lovely backs move saw them score in the corner.
That was it for the half as Fullers built the pressure but just as it was about to burst they let their visitors off the hook via a missed line out or knock on.

Eton Manor started the brighter in the second half and immediately caught Fullers napping. They moved the ball wide and Fullers defence got narrow and the gaps appeared for Eton to crash over for their second of the match and extend the lead to 3-10.

Fullers scrum was ever so dominant and earned penalty after penalty and earned a yellow card with the referee having enough of Eton Manor’s skull duggery at the scrum. However, the kick for the corner went missing, which also happened on three other occasions to let their visitors off the hook as the momentum built for Fullers.

Eton Manor being the more clinical of the teams converted a penalty when they got into the Fullerians 22 to extend their lead to 3-13. This young spirited Fullers side went back up field and earned a scrum on the Eton 5 metre line. They drove the opposition backwards for No8 Miles Finnegan to crash over. The conversion went wide leaving a 8-13 score with all to play for.

Once again Eton Manor used their kicking skills well to pin Fullers back in their own half making the home side really work hard for every inch. Eton were awarded another penalty and converted to extend their lead to 8-16.

In the dying moments Fullers were awarded a scrum on the Eton Manor 5 metre line. They were marching back and Eton illegally wheeled and fell into the scrum, according to the crowd, but the referee decided otherwise and the deserved bonus losing point went missing. It was Eton Manor’s day.

“We started very well but lost opportunities to score by not being clinical enough in the 22. We should have scored two tries in the first half but fair play to Eton Manor they had two chances to score and they did. We deserved something out of the game but sometimes sport can be tough but we played much more up tempo rugby and will take this into our next game with all to play for.” commented Fullerians Head Coach Rich Hoskins.

Team. Barson (MacDougall 50), Williams, Bushell, Boyd, Kerr, Scully (D. Toon 50), Harvey, Finnegan, Wells, D. Evans, T. Williams, M. Toon (Dollard 65), Beeston, Woodham, Mann.

Man of the Match: Matt Bushell