This match, which marked the retirement of Newbold player Brian Humphries on his 50th birthday, was played throughoutin the games best traditions: hard and generally fair. The Newbold game plan to keep the ball in the forwards and away from the AEI backs brought early dividends as the pack rumbled over following a long spell of pressure. Newbold were quickly on the scoresheet again and it seemed that the floodgates would open but an interception try by Rich Pinks and subsequent Neil Waddoups conversion gave AEI some renewed belief. Committed and valiant AEI tackling kept the half-time score to 7-10.
The second half saw Newbold retain their control up front and two further tries during the half put them beyond AEI's reach. However, towards the end AEI scored the best try of the match when, following some great interpassing involving both forwards and back, Paul Thompson crashed over to score. The final whistle signalled the start of the retirement celebrations, and with all rivalries put to aside, both teams adjourned to the bar for a memorable evening.
Three tries apiece by Rich Pinks and Paul Thompson were the highlight of this game which was largely dominated by the AEI backs. Indeed, in a game of hatricks, hooker Rich Stephens also took at least three strikes against the head as the AEI pack showed their strength at the opposition scrums. Meanwhile Nick Elliott, starting the game in the unfamiliar position of flanker, scored five conversions which enhanced his already growing reputation with the boot.
In a game where AEI welcomed back a number of players after prolonged absences, it was typical that the injury list should again be increased with injuries to Paul Eaton and Chris Hague likely to keep them out of this weekends key match against Newbold.
AEI only had 11 players so to avoid a Valentines Day massacre the game was cancelled.
On paper this was a good result for AEI, although the post-match feeling in the changing room was that they had had enough chances to win the game. Playing against the wind in the first half AEI were first to go ahead when, following a well won ruck by the forwards, the ball reached centre Paul Thompson who ran in, virtually unchallenged, to score. AEI then went further ahead after Rich Pinks capitalised on some confusion in the Pinley backs, picked up the loose ball and ran in between the posts to score. Mark McDonough converted. Pinley pulled a try back just before half-time scoring after the ball popped out of a ruck on the AEI line.
AEI started the second half strongly and were soon on the score sheet again. This try of the match followed some good work by both the forwards and backs, culminating Paul Thompson (again) picking a Mark McDonough pass off his bootlaces and running in to score. McDonough's conversion attempt hit the post but at that stage the loss of two points did not seem important. As the second half wore on, AEI seemed to win less and less possession and were hence unable to release their backs to such good effect. Pinley levelled the game with two soft tries, the first following a charged-down kick and the second after pouncing on some loose lineout ball to leave AEI disappointed not to have won.
With their injury crisis ever deepening, AEI took to the field with only two of their forwards playing in their recognised positions, but eventually came out of yet another close encounter with a well deserved victory. In a rare and daring move, which may surprise many regular readers of these reports, AEI actually started the match as an awake and vibrant side and were quickly two tries ahead. Nick Hayward, determined to prove the previous week's try was no fluke, was first on the scoresheet following a break by Nick Elliott. Fellow centre Paul Thompson, still on the road to full fitness, was soon also amongst the tries following a typically determined run after a sublime Andy Sullivan reverse pass. Once this early match exuberance had died down AEI found themselves on the back foot and by half-time Claverdon had hit back with two tries, meaning that AEI had a slender 14-12 lead at the break.
Following a stern half-time team talk, AEI started the second half with renewed vigour and their backs again began to assert their authority. After some good work by both the forwards and backs, the ball found its way out to winger Rich Pinks who rounded his opposite number and the fullback to score a trademark try. Not to be outdone, fullback Nathan Yeung astounded all his team mates by bursting into the line, catching a pass and sprinting 30m to the try-line. Nick Elliott maintained his 100% record by kicking his fourth and most difficult conversion. After going close a number of times, Claverdon hit back with a try at the death but by then it was too late.
For the second successive Saturday AEI lost by a single score, although the manner of this defeat was a great deal more encouraging than the previous weeks. AEI started with their usual alertness and, yet again, conceeded a try in the opening minutes. They then clawed their way back into the game and following some good work by the forwards on right hand side, the ball was spun out to the left wing where some excellent handling between the backs eventually saw centre Nick Hayward go over for his first try of the decade. Not content with levelling the scores, AEI then went ahead when winger Nathan Yeung dared to take a quick throw-in deep in the Towcester 22 and Paul Thompson crashed through to score. Just before halftime, the loss of prop Dave Pritchard caused disruption to an already unfamiliar looking AEI pack and left them with only six recognised forwards on the pitch.
AEI spent most of the second half in defence and rarely had any ball with which to work. The backs remained solid in defence and the reshuffled pack performed manfully in the endless series of scrums. The winning Towcester score eventually game when the ball squirted out of the side of an AEI scrum, close to the line, and the Towcester scrum half made it to the loose ball first.
In a tough game, with attacking opportunities for each team limited, the slope of the pitch was the largest factor in determining the scoring. AEI's first half was literally a up-hill battle and BBOB's were soon on the scoreboard following a kick through and chase. Most of the first half remained tight but just before the break BBOB's went further ahead with an almost identical repeat of their first try.
Playing downhill in the second half, the AEI front row had complete control of the scrums and the Waddoups/Sargent combination in the line-outs was yet again dominant. However, despite all this possession, AEI found it difficult to make inroads and it took an 50m interception try by Tony Chronnell to bring AEI back into the game. BBOB's replied with a penalty before AEI were awarded a penalty try for persistent infringement by BBOB close to their line. Mark McDonough scored his second conversion to bring AEI within a point. Despite ending the game on the attack with man of the match, Nathan Yeung going close, AEI could just not find that elusive winning score.
Onley were, as always, quick off the mark and gave AEI a short, sharp, shock by scoring in the opening minutes. AEI took a while to settle in a hectic start to the match and despite a quick try in reply, an AEI mistake near the Onley line saw the Onley fly-half run the length of the pitch to score again. Eventually, AEI found their rhythm and managed to bring the game down to their own pace as the forwards controlled the ball. The AEI forward dominance was typified by the second row combination of Waddoups and Sargent who, not satisfied with lineout domination, both contrived to score their first tries of the season. There was also a rare try for prop Dave Pritchard.
Other tries were spread around the team: Gary Storer, Nathan Yeung, Tony Chronnell, Graham Wood, Mark McDonough and Andy Sullivan all joining in the try-fest. However, the most notable feature of the match was the single-minded running of Nick Elliott, daring to run when lesser mortals might have passed. In all he scored three tries and seven conversions, his hat-trick try being the pick of the lot as he left a trail of bodies in his wake.
On a day when most sensible sides remained in the bar, AEI travelled to Brackley for a mud-bath of a match. Despite playing downhill with the wind, rain and hail at their backs in the first half, the conditions made any attempt to run the ball meaningless as the ball squirted soap-like through the hands. Brackley started the half on the attack and AEI were forced to defend deep in their own 22. Despite some excellent AEI tackling the pressure eventually told and Brackley scored a penalty swiftly followed by a try half way through the half. The try and the increasing cold spurred AEI on to extra effort and they slithered their way towards the Brackley try line. Just before half-time, a mistake by the Brackley backs saw Nick Elliott kick through and score to see AEI trailing 8-5 at the interval.
The second half saw little improvement in the conditions, although when the rain did cease AEI found the sun in their eyes instead. As conditions under-foot became ever worse, Brackley's extra man advantage began to tell and they ran in three further tries during the half. In the end both teams were more than glad to hear the final whistle and retired to the bar to thaw out the numbed extremities.
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