25th November 2006

MELTON RFC 24 MARKET BOSWORTH 17

MELTON, refreshed from their enforced lay-off, took on a mobile Bosworth side and in a pulsating match which was always in the  balance, came away with a deserved win.
Rather disappointingly the visitors arrived unable to scrummage because of no experienced hooker which immediately put Melton’s front row of Dave Meakin, Alan Wade and Dave Simons on the back foot. They refused any offers of help from the home side and of course scrums were uncontested so obviously the visitors moved the ball wide at every opportunity.
Melton opened the scoring from the kick-of after a forward-orientated driving maul from which Adam Lambert gleefully scampered his way over and ace kicker Sam Clemons added the  conversion for a 7-0 lead.
The visitors used the wind and slope to good effect and despite some outstanding last-ditch defence from Ben Shouler, Dan Belcher and Mark Aley, Bosworth were bound to score, firstly from a converted try, followed swiftly by a penalty, and finally a penalty try which was rather harshly awarded for a high tackle as the carrier was falling over.
Surviving with only a 17-7 reversal at the break, Melton’s tactics were simple – kick the ball with the trusty boots of Clemons, Aley and scrum-half Andy Stockdale into the corners, keep it high in the forwards and crash the ball close in the centres. They carried out this plan to a man and were rewarded with two excellent tries and several near misses.
The first try came courtesy of a catch and drive from a line-out and man-of-the-match Roger Uttley plundered the touchdown, Clemons adding the conversion.
Wayne Brookes took some excellent lines of running, Paul Eggleston galloped on to the ball and Paul Moore was outstanding in the loose, all being involved after Alan Wade stole the ball at a ruck from a bewildered young Bosworth player. Dave Meakin rounded off the turnover with a try from close range and the unflappable Clemons made it three from three and a 21-17 advantage.
In the last 10 minutes a spirited Bosworth side ran everything but Melton held firm and sealed the victory with an Aley penalty after a thumping tackle from a fit again Adam Underwood.