Silhillians v Nuneaton

This week Sils entertained a Nuneaton side on the 1st team pitch a bit daunting to some but a fantastic occasion for others. Nuns kicked off with the 1st action of the half ending with a knock on from Sils scrum to Nuns, which Nuns won showing at this early stage that the forwards were going to have a battle on there hands, Nuns rucking and scrumming was proving better when a couple of lineouts to either side going to there opponents. Some poor handling by Sils led to the 1st try of the game to Nuns allowing the centre to break free and score in the corner. Conversion Missed. The restart had a bit of a too and fro feel to it with possession being conceded by both teams. Eventually Sills won a penalty in which Ross managed to break through a couple of tackles and with some good support work from the backs managed to feed out to Luke who scored in the corner, from a long way out the conversion fell short. The re-start had Nuns wining scrums and lineouts until a high Tackle gave Nuns a penalty within kicking distance and was dispatched easily by the Nuns kicker adding another 3 points to there score. Sils at the restart didn’t know what had hit them as the Nuns centre collected the ball straight from the Kick and proceeded to run the length of the pitch to score unchallenged under the posts with an easy conversion. The last part of the half saw Sills battle well without much reward a few more scrums won by Nuns and some hard work by the backs to stop any further scores from Nuns to go in at Half time 5 – 15 down.

Half Time 5 – 15

The second half saw Sils having made a couple of changes kick off which eventually after some pressure from Sils ended with a scrum to Nuns after a knock on by Sils, the scrum had to be reset, this time Sils got it right and won the scrum convincingly, to end up with the ever ready Ross to break free with support from Haani to go over in the corner, conversion missed again just falling short from Luke a very long way out. The front row combined at the restart with Joe A picking up pushing forward feeding Noah taking it to ground but well supported by a much more spirited Pack, with some great rucking leading to the backs getting the ball out along the line with all involved before the ball eventually ending in Sam H’s hands who went over the line for Sils 3rd try of the game, this time a well taken kick from Luke converted. A good pick up and run from Fred again led to the ball being fed out along the line again to the now ever supporting back line, which almost immediately ended with another try to Sils from Luke who scored his 2nd of the game, No conversion. Sils now on top and commanding the game saw some more good rucking and a lovely attacking kick over the top from Jacob chased by Sam H and Nathan put pressure on the Nuns back which ended in what appeared to be a try for Kyle being stopped just short of the line in a ruck situation that Scott picked up of the back to score his try at the foot of the post. Easy conversion for Luke. Sils were well in control now and with some further good rucking from the forwards and supporting play from the backs the ball ended going wide for Kyle to go (flying) over in the corner. No conversion. Sils decided to make a few changes and at the restart the ball went dead ending up with a scrum to Sils to only be penalised when they had 2 Hookers fighting to get in between the props. Penalty Nuns. Sils soon regained possession with Haani running the full length of the pitch to score his 2nd of the game under the posts, easily dispatched by Luke. It seemed that Haani was now becoming unstoppable until what looked like another certain try was pulled back for a dangerous hand off. The resulting penalty eventually coming back to Sils with some good work from Jacob supported by Luke who’s little kick ended coming of Nuns for a lineout to Sils which was won well ending up with Noah who’s good run at the breakdown saw the backs going from one side of the pitch to other ending with Sam H having the ball and with a lovely Jinking run went over under the posts. Converted by Luke. Nuneaton though hadn’t given up and after a couple of scrums won in concession they broke free to score there 3rd try of the game under the post, converted well. The last few minutes of the game had a break by Luke chipping over the top only for the Nuns back to return the kick which ended up with Jacob and Noah linking well and feeding out along the line where Henry C gathered and went over for his only try of the game, conversion missed. This was definitely a game of two half’s at which Sils heads never went down and must have been something to do with the team talk at half time. A great game to watch and credit needs to go out to The Nuneaton squad who didn’t give up at any time throughout the second half, well done all involved for such an entertaining game of Rugby on the 1st team pitch.

Full Time 53 – 22

RA