Mellish
Line up: Street, Jones, Harris,
Mason (c), Greathead, Morley, Gray, Lewis, Pickering, McConnell, Bexon,
Linney, Stevenson, Smith, Butcher, Bray, Moorehead, Rowbottom
Tries: Linney, Stevenson, Bexon, Rowbottom
Conversions: Mason (3)
Pens: Mason |
Mellish entertained Peterborough Lions
in the opening fixture of the season in the EDF National Cup.
With a strong side selected, skipper Dave Mason & coaches Matt
Williams/Phil Justice were hoping for a major improvement from the
previous weeks trial game against Tamworth where the second team
totally out shone the 1st XV.
Peterborough won the toss and elected
to receive the kick-off, from the first exchange of play, the Lions
hammered away at the home pack resulting in the Mellish pack going
backwards & being penalised for ill-discipline. This resulted
in a well worked try for Peterborough under the posts for a well
deserved 5 – 0 score.
This would result in a wake-up call for the home side with the home
pack going at the Peterborough pack in similair fashion to the Lions
first 5 min period. A series of driving mauls drove Mellish into
Peterborough territory resulting in a 5 metre scrum which was won
against the head & the Lions cleared their lines.
Mellish turned over the Lions lineout through the dominant back-row
of Lewis, Woody & Stu Morley, quick ball was shipped to the
backs where Paul Crossley carved the away defence to shreds &
off-loaded to centre partner Paul Linney who powered
over for a superb try, the resulting kick by Mason
gave Mellish a 12 – 5 lead.
A penalty was awarded in which Mellish kicked for touch, the resulting
lineout was won by Mason & quick ball was shipped out to McConnell
who carved the away side in half with a quality dummy run from Paul
Linney with the gap created McConnell passed to debutant Tim
Stevenson who crashed over the line for a well worked Mellish
try giving the home side a 12 – 5 lead.
Mellish dominated the remained of the 1st half to lead 12 –
5 at the interval.
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Mellish started the 2nd half in good fashion
with a series of driving mauls which Peterborough couldn’t handle
only for them drag the maul down, the resulting penalty was slotted
over by Mason for a 15 – 5 score.
Peterborough we’re again forced to concede a penalty from a driving
maul, this time the kick dropped just short of the goal posts where
the chasing backs turned over the lions defender & young Joe
Bexon scored under the posts with Mason adding the conversion
for a 22 – 5 lead.
The remainder of the half was dominated by good interlinking from the
forwards & backs which could of easily led to further tries. Mellish
did get back on the score sheet with a well worked try with Jordan
Rowbottom getting on the end of a good move which was instigated
by big Ryan Lewis & Paul Linney, Mason added the
conversion for a healthy 29 – 5 lead.
The Lions finished the game off with a good break resulting in a try
for the travelling team making the final score a 29 – 10.
Skipper Dave Mason was impressed with the
way the team bounced back from a mauling in the first 10 mins to actually
put in a solid display for the rest of the game which is good preparation
for the fourth coming opening league game against newly promoted Bakewell.
Star performers were both centres Paul Crossley & Paul Linney who
both looked sharp & caused the away team all sorts of problems all
afternoon. Neilson Smith impressed on his return to 1st team action
after more then a year out of the side & young Tim Stevenson had
a solid debut & also scoring on his debut.
Man of the match this week goes to Ryan Lewis who was
outstanding in the tight & effective in open play linking well with
the backline.
Mellish Man of the Match: Ryan Lewis
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