Marlborough II 78 – 7 Sutton Benger
On Saturday (8 October), Marlborough II welcomed Sutton Benger to the Common for what was a re-scheduled and then re-organised game after the first being postponed a couple of weeks ago due to the lack of a referee. Then the game had to be switched to Marlborough due to clubhouse issues at Sutton Benger.
The home side was looking to continue the club’s good start to the season and the pressure was on for the 2nd XV, with the 1st XV not playing, but their players and coaches turned up to watch, encourage and give the players some banter.
The coaches, Mike Banfield and Amori Nailago, urged the team to play with high intensity and continue with the game plan that the club has been working on. The side started on the front foot and put pressure on Sutton Benger in the first scrum of the game. The visitors managed to get the ball away, but further pressure in midfield saw the ball spilled. Tom Ross gathered the loose ball, which was moved out to the outside half, Jimmy Adams, who ran in the first of his four tries of the game and to start his personal tally of 36 points (4 tries and 8 conversions).
During the first half, Marlborough scored 45 points (seven tries and five conversions) with a first half hat trick for winger Tom Ross, with some elusive running, as well as three tries by Jimmy Adams. Also on the score sheet was Ben Soso, who finished off an exciting backs move that went the length of the pitch. Soso sprinted in after a good inside pass by Dylan Davies.
Sutton Benger did capitalise on a loose pass themselves, their left wing, Oliver Clements, gathered a loose ball to run in over the line.
At the half-time break, the players were urged to continue at a high tempo. They also welcomed back Namusudroka Napolioni, in his first game for the club this season. He is a powerful, running centre, and he certainly enjoyed himself as he bagged four second-half tries.
To the credit of Sutton Benger, they enjoyed some good possession and territory during the second half, but the Marlborough side showed some good defensive work. Prominent in this work were Gareth Smith, Charlie Cooper, and Matt Green.
The final score was 78-7 in favour of the home team, who now look forward to another home game against Swindon seconds next week. They still know that they have things to work on in their consistency of performance. But it is to the credit of all the players that, for the first time in many years, the second team players are now really contesting places with the first team players. This all comes from the fantastic numbers at training and the attitude of the whole squad to develop and improve this season.
Final Score: Marlborough II 78 – 7 Sutton Benger
‘FaceBook Fly-tipper’ faces having vehicle crushed and three month driving ban after being caught
