Sat 26 Mar 2022, 14:30
NDRFC 1st XV took on Salisbury 2nds in the sunshine on Saturday in conditions that would have been perfect for cricket. The scoreboard started ticking over almost immediately when Henry Lunn tore through the narrowest of gaps in a play perfect training pitch move from a lineout, and fly half Robbie Sampson added the extras. Moments later Robert Morris burrowed low through the dirt for North's second try, quickly followed by Captain Adam Trevis who handed off many would be defenders for both his first and second try. Prop Joe Atkins then barged his way over and not to be out done fellow prop and Man of the Match Eric Munezero crossed the white wash as well, and thereby smashing the fallacy that the front row should only score tries once every 15 years, all three of the starting front row had now chalked up tries before half time. Sean Perry rounded out the first half try scoring festivities with a sneaky little intercept just before the break. Sampson continued to add the extras and the sides settled in to their 5 minute break of oranges & sweeties with the score line of 47-0.
The second half played out in similar fashion. Sam Trevis had a whale of a time at inside centre and scored a hat-trick with some scything runs through the middle. Not to be out done brother Adam Trevis added his third for the day as well. Replacement hooker Gavin Weeks realised that it was indeed a day for the sun to shine on the front row and ran one in from half way for the front row contingent to have their fourth for the day. Sean Perry & Henry Lunn also collected their second tries in the last forty as did Robbie Sampson who ran in the last try of the game and with 2 tries & 12 conversions had a personal collection of 34 points for the day. Perry was replaced by Simon Drake with 20 minutes to go, and he immediately made in-roads through the Salisbury backs, as did Luke Biggs who stretched his legs many a time down the left-hand flank.
Credit should be given to Salisbury for the way in which they played. Their 10 was handful who made many searching runs all day and it was only through dogged defence of Messers Spicer, Chilvers & Green that kept him contained, and their 8 threatened whenever they had an opportunity. Salisbury took their try well when it came, suggesting that if North hadn't starved them of possession throughout the game that more may have come their way. The engine room of Jobling, Bettesworth, Barron, Ward & Randall being directed by scrum half Jay Westcar ensured that this didn't happen. Referee Louis Brown blew full time with the final score 104-7.
