| Match Report |
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Saltash - 28 vs. OPMs - 10
(Sep 12, League) Saltash started their home run of games with a solid win on Saturday against OPM's. The pitch and weather conditions all conducive to some open flowing rugby. With Ashes facing down the hill in the first half, the pressure was building on OPM's line, and Ashes were rewarded 10 minutes in with a penalty kick, Tod Croft making it 3-0. This pressure was rewarded once more 5 minutes later when the defence was sucked left before the ball was passed simply along the line for Richard Skinnard to canter over the line 10 metres right of the posts. With the conversion missed, the score 8-0. With the wind unusually coming from the opposite direction at Moorlands Lane, some aerial ping pong ensued with OPM's clearing their lines only for Ashes to run it back. Tod Croft narrowly missed an opportunity to put ashes a further 3 pints ahead in the 24th minute. A fine counter attack by Ashes followed to put Keiran Hurrell in the far corner as he was dragged down by three defenders as momentum carried him over. The scoreboard moved along to 13-0. Ashes started to give a away a number of penalties even in possession going forward, something that OPM's capitalised on in the 38th minute as Chris Glendenning put them on the board. Just before half time, OPM's had another chance to capitalise on Ashes indiscipline, the kick drifted left of the posts. The halftime score 13-3. Ashes now facing up the hill received the kick off and ran it straight back at OPM's and were rewarded a penalty kick that Tod Croft duly accepted. Score, Saltash 16, OPM's 3. Through out the game the OPM's scrum was solid and they were never troubled on their own put in, with Ashes struggling for the first half to settle on their ball. This continued in the second half to some extent, but Ashes manage to salvage some solidity, just enough in fact for Ben Devonport to break off the back of the scrum on the half way line, sprint through the defence and around the fullback and dive over the OPM's line for a fine solo try. With the conversion missed, the score, 21-3 to ashes. OPM's heavy pack were reward 65 minutes in when some good running and off loading, positioning OPM's 5 metres off the Ashes line where they drove over the line, James Ball claiming the try and Chris Glendenning taking the extra two points. The score 21-10. Three minutes later Ashes were once again running it around the field, and in broken play, the ashes backs combined to put Mawgan Tom's around the outside for him to go over 5 metres left of the posts to round off a strong debut. Tod Croft once again taking the extra two points, and with OPM's slotting a penalty kick 3 minutes later the final score finished Saltash 28, OPM's 10. |