Old Centralians 76 - Marlborough 12
Last Saturday, the 1st XV went over the border into Gloucestershire to play the return leg of the league series against Old Centralians. The game had to be played at Hartpury College due to Old Cents ground not being suitable due to the recent bad weather.
Last time both teams met was back in November on the Common where Marlborough won by just one point. This game was to be played on a well used all weather pitch, very different conditions to those which Marlborough has become so successful on all throughout February – mud and more mud.
Old Cents gave the 1st XV a master class, they were just too good for the boys. They played a very fast, aggressive, attacking rugby on a hard pitch. Marlborough are certainly not known as soft team, but this time they came the worse off with three players having to visit A & E. Just as the team was starting to get back together after a very long spell with numerous injuries, it looks like the run of good luck has been drawn to an abrupt end.
Though the final score was Old Cents 76 – Marlborough 1st XV 12, Marlborough did have some good phases of play, managed to turnover ball at times and executed two very nice tries, it just wasn’t enough. The boys have a week off to give them a chance to get over the disappointment and to draw a line under the game and move on. There are still four games left to play until the end of the season and aim is to win them but definitely no more injuries.
