Sat 8 Jan 2022
The second half of the season started with a return fixture v Cannock. The last meeting was clouded by the severe injury to Ash Mooney, on that day R lost heart after losing their team mate, this time around R played with great heart, great spirit and could count themselves unlucky not to get more than the one losing bonus point.
On a surprisingly dry pitch with a noticeable slope R were dominant in the opening stages but the final pass failed too often to reach its man and they were only rewarded with a penalty kick by Will Spires. Having ridden out the initial storm C developed their own game plan and enjoyed more possession. A series of needless penalties were conceded by R which allowed C to kick their way to the lead slotting over three kicks for a 9-3 lead.
Though line outs were a lottery on a windless day, R had had the upper hand in most of the scrummages. The most telling of which occurred deep into the C half, having disrupted the C feed, Stu Brookes snaffled the loose ball, possession was recycled in field where the ever present Brookes found Matt Allen charging through to score just before the half time whistle, Spires converted to give R a slender 9-10 lead at the break.
In the second half C upped their game, being used to their sloping pitch they played used the advantage more and more, driving forward play would have been more conclusive had it not been for resilient defending, and solid tackling from everyone though Brookes, Mikey Essex, Micky Adams and Jack Bacciocchi stood out though everybody played their part. In the backs Aaron Atkinson, Leo Fanthome and Spires kept danger out and looked dangerous in attack
On his first team debut Player of the match, Tom McLarney scored the second R try finishing off a sharp handling move amongst the backs to extend their slender lead. C bounced back, they widened their play to bring wingers into the action but the thin blue line held firm until the C centre managed to evade tacklers and scored under the posts, for a converted try giving C the edge.
A tense closing few minutes saw skill and errors in equal measure from both sides but no more points . R considered themselves unlucky not to win the game, they were possibly the more adventurous and attacking side but first half indiscipline proved decisive.
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