Magnificent seven helps Old Eds get set for tough examination
NUNEATON Old Edwardians’ superb start to the Midlands Two West South title chase continued with a seven-try victory over Leamington.
Coached by the Wasps duo of Jimmy Gopperth and Ashley Johnson, the Weddington Road club has won all nine of its league games so far, six of them with a try-scoring bonus point, conceding just 81 points in the process.
Man of the match Craig Jones ran home a hat-trick while Luke Roberts, Ryan Southall, Brad Darlaston and John Graham all registered scores as the Eds converted a 22-10 half-time lead into a 41-17 victory.
The Eds’ title credentials will receive a thorough examination in the next two weeks when they face two clubs who are hot on their heels. A trip to third-placed Malvern, who have lost only once this term, comes first, before the side who inflicted that solitary defeat, Stratford-upon-Avon, make the trip to Nuneaton on December 21.
Elsewhere in the division, Barkers Butts sit fourth after a narrow 22-19 win over Silhillians, Pinley gave their survival hopes a huge shot in the arm by defeating nearest rivals Earlsdon 22-3, a defeat which create a fivepoint gap between the clubs above and below the relegation zone.
Bottom club Southam secured only a third point of the season going down 17-13 at home to Spartans while Old Laurentians were 34-7 winners against Evesham. Stratford remain second after a 31-8 win at Malvern.
Shipston on Stour, who play in the regional equivalent Wadworth Southern Counties North, suffered only a third defeat of the season going down 17-12 at home to Witney – but became the first side to deny the visitors a try-scoring bonus point as they secured a tenth consecutive win to top the table.
Nuneaton overturned a 12-point half-time deficit against Bromsgrove to secure back-to-back Midlands Premier wins for only a second time this season.
The Nuns were 17-5 down at the interval but turned it around to win 27-24 on the road heading into this weekend’s visit of Burton to Liberty Way.
Head coach Geraint Davies said: “We leaked some sloppy scores in the first half. But I am really pleased with the way we bounced back, the boys were outstanding. “We really raised the tempo and were the best team by some way in the last 35 minutes or so. It places us quite nicely in the league table going into our final game of this half of the season against Burton.”
In the same division Broadstreet ended a four-game losing run to defeat Paviors 46-24. The bonus point win keeps Street a point above the relegation zone.
A hat-trick from winger James McGill helped Newbold overcome a shaky start to inflict a 12th consecutive defeat on Midlands One West bottom club Kidderminster.
Huw Thomas’ side struggled early doors against their winless hosts before rallying to win 38-12.
“We’re happy to pick up another five points,” said Thomas. “I think the way the weather disrupted training in recent weeks showed, we couldn’t get in the game early doors. We were losing 5-3 heading towards half-time before we finally managed to put some phases together.
“As the game wore on we got better, more fluid, picked up four converted tries, adding to the one in the first, with a hat-trick for James McGill, two for Rudi Reid.
“Hopefully we’ve got a bit of rustiness out of our system, it was always a potential banana skin away at bottom of the league. Next up we face a Lichfield side that’s flying at the moment, picking up bonus-point wins left, right and centre but they also have a bit of a leaky defence.”
In the same division, Kenilworth bounced back from two defeats in three games to comprehensively defeat Old Halesonians 48-23, to remain within three points of secondplaced Lichfield.
In Midlands One East, Rugby Lions were 26-20 losers at Market Harborough, who leapfrog them to eighth in the table.
Midlands Three West South leaders Rugby St Andrews are now 15 points clear of third place following a 43-16 beating of Stoke Old Boys.
Their nearest challengers Old Coventrians bounced back from their shock loss to Alcester in round eight by overcoming Bedworth 38-12. Josh James and Liam O’Neill shared four tries. Coventry Welsh and Manor Park lost at home to Woodrush and Berkswell and Balsall respectively and Old Leamingtonians, coached by the Wasps pair of Tom Cruse and Ben Harris, edged Alcester 13-10 with tries coming from Mike Robertson and Liam Wellings.
We leaked some sloppy scores in the first half. But I am really pleased with the way we bounced back. Geraint Davies