Marlborough 31 – 7 Stow-on-the-Wold
After a week of hype, nerves, hard work and expectation, the much-anticipated clash of the two top-of-the-table teams in the Regional 2 Tribute South Central League has been and gone. Both teams had a perfect winning strike rate, but only one could keep this record – but who would it be?
For the time of year, the weather conditions were mild up on the Common, no real hoolies were being blown, a bit of moisture in the air, but it was just dull. Both sets of spectators were hoping that their side would be the one to shine through the gloom and the mirk.
Marlborough started well, playing up the slope, and inside ten minutes they were awarded a penalty try when Stow collapsed an attacking maul. Not exactly how Marlborough would like to start the proceedings—but points are points.
Marlborough dominated for the next few minutes, but somehow, they still managed to hinder themselves so much that they missed the opportunity to score two further tries. Thankfully, by the seventeenth minute, they managed to get their ducks in a row. Inosi Laqekoro (Knoxy), picking up from the base of a very dominant scrum, off loaded to scrum-half, Will Grant, who passed to Will Reeve (full back) to score, which was kindly converted by Grant.
Marlborough maintained dominance, but Stow were defending well but seeing very little of the ball. After half an hour, Marlborough’s new fly-half, Richard West, playing his first game for Marlborough, made a break, passing to Weir Filikitonga, then onto a rampaging Ben Fulton to score an unconverted try.
Marlborough may have maintained dominance within the last ten minutes of the first half, but they were also a little careless until the dying seconds. Marlborough won a scrum against the head, the ball then passing quickly along the line, eventually ending up in the hands of Akariva Seruvatu (Aka), the speedster winger, who scored an unconverted try.
Half-Time: Marlborough 24 -Stow-on-the-Wold 0
The coaches’ half-time talk was positive; they just wanted the boys to be more clinical in their thinking and execution in the second half. Two changes were made: Gareth Smith coming on for Lemeki Moala (Meki), and Adam Neal taking over from Oscar Tamani. Adam gets his first Marlborough cap.
Sadly, the second half was as dreary as the weather-within one minute of the restart, Callum Hunt received a yellow card for retaliating after a Stow player pushed him away after a dominant tackle.
Thankfully, some more cheer arrived six minutes later when Aka scored his second try of the game, following another Marlborough dominated scrum, with Grant putting the cherry on top with a conversion.
Sadly, the good times were short-lived. Weir received an enforced break, leaving thirteen men on the field. Callum returned to the field only for Ben Fulton to be requested to take his own enforced ten-minute break – back to thirteen men on the pitch – not ideal for a clash of this type. The expectation would have been for the visitors to maximise their advantage.
Marlborough’s defence was relentless and on point. But after seventy-one minutes, Stow did finally breach the Marlborough line to score a converted try.
Final Score: Marlborough 31 – Stow-on-the-Wold 7.
Marlborough may have come off as the victors from this clash, but the issue of receiving three yellows in the second half is not conducive—more work to be done on the training ground during the week, as explained by Team Manager, Dave Pittams.
Pittams went on to acknowledge the positives; “again an extremely dominant display by the Marlborough forwards. The two new caps, Richard West and Adam Neal, slotted into the team seamlessly. With Richard at 10, this now frees up Will Reeve to play in his natural position, at 15, where he had a fantastic game“.
“Man of the match” went to Weir Filikitonga, who had an extremely impressive game at outside centre.
Next week, the 1st XV are again at home in another tantalising clash on the Common. Witney, who currently hold second position in the league table after leapfrogging Stow on Saturday. Marlborough have won and lost against Witney previously, so this is going to be another exciting clash. Much work needs to be done during this week at training, but the boys are relishing the challenge. Can Marlborough maintain their 100% winning strike rate, or is Witney the team to change the tide for Marlborough? So much to look forward to this coming Saturday.
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