Aluredian
66
T
he 2nds had to endure a
frustrating one-point loss in
their opening match against
Canford, after playing much of
the attacking rugby. We
scored three well-worked tries
though through skipper Toby Barnes Yallowley,
James Pardy and Matt Enright. Toby was on
the scoresheet
again against
Clifton, but having
led 12-0 at halftime,
we picked up
a series of injuries
after the break and
lost our way rather.
Against Plymouth
we enjoyed the
majority of
possession, and
scored four good
tries to win 22-21.
We had begun to
play some good
attacking rugby,
showing our
potential when we
attacked from deep.
But it was a much
weakened side that
faced Blundell's, and though we showed
glimpses of our form from the previous week,
we ended 12 points adrift.
Against Bristol Grammar School we needed an
early try by the opposition to wake us up, but
we responded quickly and never looked like
conceding further points. We scored nine tries
in all with some entertaining attacking rugby,
and everyone looked dangerous with the ball in
hand.
Despite dour conditions, we produced some
exciting rugby at home to Queen's, stringing
together multiple phases of play and off-loading
in the tackle. The tries were scored by the
backs and by prop Aron Marshall, in a
scintillating display of free-flowing rugby.
It was a scrappy affair at Taunton School, with
some missed tackles allowing the opposition to
score a converted try. Toby Barnes Yallowley
scored a well-worked try out wide, but we
couldn't manage the conversion. Against
Sherborne we were up against a superbly welldrilled
pack who set up all their scores. Our
own forwards though provided a plentiful
supply of ball for the backs to use, and this
resulted in an excellent try by Harry Canning -
a determined and fitting conclusion to the
season.
I
n the 3rds' opening game at Canford,
we had to show great character and
commitment against a physically larger
and more established Canford side.
After tries by Shane Scott and Will
Griffiths, a finely-balanced game ended
in Canford's favour with an injury time shortdistance
try in the corner.
This proved a good dress rehearsal for the
Plymouth game, when we put on a vintage
display of 15-man rugby, superbly led by skipper
Shane Scott. Try scorers were Alan Lennox-Boyd,
Alex Dathan, and two from man of the match
Alex Clarke, as we ran out comfortable 24-5
winners. We had to play out of our skins against
Blundell's, scoring four showpiece tries against
highly-rated opposition. Owen Davies ran 80
metres through seven opponents to score, while
Aminu Waziri ran 60 metres to set up the
winning try with his first (ever) touch of the ball.
We continued our three-week unbeaten run
with a sublime display of champagne rugby at
home to Bristol Grammar School. Felix Ameye
scored the first of four spectacular tries, and
Owen Davies scored his fifth try in five games.
Against Queen's we put out a mixture of 3rds
and Senior Colt Bs, and it turned out to be a
scrappy contest, but we exploited our superior
pace and skill to run out eventual 32-7
winners. Constantin Kossen scored his first try
for King's, and he was joined on the
scoresheet by Ollie Preece, Shane Scott and
Alex Dathan (2).
Despite an unflattering scoreline, we put up a
tremendously gutsy display against a very
strong Sherborne side. The tackling was firstclass,
and Aminu Waziri scored an excellent try
to round off a highly enjoyable and successful
season.
3rd XV
2nd XV
Sam Merriweather makes a
break against Bristol
Grammar School