Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette

RAYNER PLAYS THROUGH THE PAIN BARRIER

CLUB CELEBRATE 70TH ANNIVERSAR­Y WITH WIN OVER OLD ISLEWORTHI­ANS

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UXBRIDGE kicked off their 70th anniversar­y with a bonus point 24-17 win at Old Isleworthi­ans – making it three out of three in Herts/ Middlesex 2.

In the opening ten minutes, Uxbridge saw the majority of the ball, which brought great rewards as James Malvenan crossed over in the corner, after a strong passage of play from the Uxbridge backs created the overlap for the try.

Up stepped Ieuan Jones for the kick, but he narrowly pushed the ball wide of the posts leaving score at 5-0 to the visitors.

After the restart, Old Isleworthi­ans started to come in to force with the Uxbridge set pieces not going to plan.

This caused Isleworthi­ans to force their way up just outside the 22, where their fly-half took the ball and ran through the Uxbridge back line to score under the posts.

Isleworthi­ans took the lead after the fly-half swiftly converted the try to make it 7-5.

However, the Isleworthi­ans try seemed to spur Uxbridge on as they worked their way into the hosts’ 22 where Malvenan again broke through before being tackled five metres out from the try line where the Old Isleworthi­ans flanker was penalised for not rolling away.

Uxbridge tried to take the quick tap to dart over the line but the penalised flanker tripped the Uxbridge player, causing him to pick up a yellow card and spend ten minutes in the bin.

Despite the extra man advantage, Uxbridge were unable to break through the Isleworthi­ans defence.

Almost straight after Isleworthi­ans were restored to the full 15, outside centre Tom Rainey went over the try line for Uxbridge, after yet another outstandin­g team move from an Uxbridge set piece.

This time Ieuan Jones converted the try, meaning Uxbridge went into the half-time interval leading the hosts 12-7.

It had almost seemed that the halftime interval came at the wrong time for Uxbridge as pressure from Isleworthi­ans saw them truck up into the Uxbridge half. Here Isleworthi­ans won a penalty which the skipper converted, leaving Old Isleworthi­ans only two points behind at 12-10.

From the restart, Uxbridge managed to retain the ball after a mistake from an Isleworthi­an player who dropped the ball in the treacherou­s weather.

As the passing storm blew over Uxbridge seemed to regain the upper hand as second row Mark Coles went over in the corner after another well worked team move.

However, Jones was unable to add the extra points, leaving Old Isleworthi­ans still within one score of the visitors with it standing at 17-10.

As time went on, Isleworthi­ans seemed to be gain ground on Uxbridge and had a long spell inside the Uxbridge 22.

Sean McAndrew then picked up a yellow card and even though Isleworthi­ans had a one-man advantage they were unable to convert the pressure with a try before Uxbridge cleared their lines.

The pressure was not fully relieved and the Old Isleworthi­ans’ quick winger sprinted down the five-metre channel to score.

With the opportunit­y to level the scores, the Isleworthi­ans fly-half stepped up and converted the try to tie up the scores at 17-17.

It had seemed that the game was going to end in a draw until inside centre Marc Pinzon danced through the Isleworthi­ans backs to score out wide and give Uxbridge the bonus point win to kick off the season.

Ieuan Jones finished off the game with the conversion from out wide, giving Uxbridge all five points.

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