Reds give Hornets a fatal sting in the tale
OLD Redcliffians made it two wins on the spin after grinding out a narrow victory over Hornets.
The first half started brightly for the home side as wave after wave of pressure told when, two minutes in, Dan Thurston crossed the whitewash to touch down beneath the posts giving Ash Groves the simplest of conversions and he was never going to miss.
Reds, boosted by the quick start, registered their second within minutes through Don Farmer but this time Groves was wayward with the extras.
Groves, however, put three more points on the board with a successful penalty attempt.
Fifteen points to the good, it seemed Reds would run up a bumper score.
After 20 minutes, however, the Hornets pack decided to start playing and their first serious foray in to the Reds’ half and a penalty kick to touch saw the resultant catch-anddrive play set the ball up to be spun wide for danger winger Oscar James to step inside and touch down. The conversion,
not so accurate, though.
Groves restored the points gap with his second penalty, before a magnificent 30-metre driving maul was at last halted, but Charlie Carter was on hand to pick up and cross with the conversion again wayward.
Despite further attacks from both sides, the half came to a close at 18-10.
The second half got under way and Reds were off to a fast start again, phase after phase inched towards the Hornets’ line and Jon Cooke was available to ghost through a gap before sprinting to the posts to give Groves another two points.
From the kick-off, there was more joy for the home crowd as Sam Rees was the recipient of a fast handling move to score the bonus try in the corner. This time Groves was not up to it, slipping as he kicked.
The Hornets’ third try again came courtesy of a catch and drive from a five-metre lineout with Bailey Jackson crossing, but, luckily for Reds, Carter was again off key.
He wasn’t going to miss the next attempt, though, as he converted the try from hooker Callum Lane finishing off another controlled drive.
Further torment was heaped on Reds as they conceded penalty after penalty and Carter gave the Hornets three points from the tee to get within five points for a second bonus point, which looked close to being snatched away as Groves had a last kick of the
game chance but put the attempt inches wide. Five points for the hosts, but a valuable two for the visitors.
Reds head coach, Dan Cox, said: “The first 20 minutes of both halves were some of the most accurate passing and movement of the season so far. But the lack of any games for two weeks saw the sharpness fade away and we allowed what we knew to be a very competitive Hornets pack to start to dominate our own young eight.
“Most of the things we discussed throughout the week were achieved and our targeted bonus point wins of the past two home games were achieved.
“May I also say that the attacking flair shown by both committed sides are not reflected by their lowly league status.”