Hat-Trick Hero Harry The Pick Of The Bunch

It had been a tough couple of weeks for the Maroon Marauders. Having pulled through ‘that cup game’ at Spartans and toughed out difficult conditions at Leamington, the visit of sixth-placed Malvern didn’t appear to offer much respite. But in relatively favourable January conditions, Sils saw out Try January in style, scoring seven tries to ease past a ballsy away outfit.

Sils have been busy in the January transfer window. Alex Mulcahy made his full debut having impressed last week, whilst Ed Atkins – signed from Stourbridge Lions for an undisclosed fee – was on the bench, bolstering Sils’ second row and back row options. Tom Manise, Ollie Trace and Matt Lee remained on the treatment table, but captain Olly Beech was back in the fold, and Pete Nicholls returned to fight fires at the breakdown and add experience to the pack.

The home side seized the initiative, kicking off towards the clubhouse and defending well in the early stages to win a penalty, slotted by Tom Lee. Beauden Beech didn’t take long to announce his return, latching on to a well-executed set piece move and rounding the fullback to cross for Sils’ first try on 8 minutes. Converted. 10-0.

Minutes later, Malvern got their half of the scoreboard ticking with a penalty, but their advances were quickly halted by the first of three medium-range scores for fly-half Harry Pick. Somehow juggling Tom Lee’s pass without being swallowed by the onrushing defence, he weaved his way through a gap and galloped in. Tom Lee’s blossoming relationship with the upright continued, but that was quickly forgotten as he finished off some tidy work by the Sils pack following a kick to the corner and catch-and-drive lineout. Ed ‘the shed’ Atkins had replaced Jimmer Hibbard and impressed, busying himself around the park with some positive tackles and ruck work.

Malvern’s midfield nightmares continued as Harry Pick wasted little time in adding a second. Again, he broke through the disjointed defence and jinked around the fullback to dot down under the sticks. 29-6 up with a bonus point in the bag on 33 minutes made ominous viewing for the away side but, despite the scoreline, Malvern were a handful in attack, running the ball at every opportunity and stretching Sils across the wide Copt Heath pitch. They were rewarded just before the break when their openside flanker made the most of the space to skip a few tackles and hurtle in from inside his own half for an impressive score. Half time – 29-13.

In the second half, Malvern could have caused more problems for Sils but their adventurous game plan was to be their downfall. Their attempts to run the ball out of their own 22 were easily matched by the organised home defence, and the eventual clearance attempts missed touch, giving Sils the opportunity to counter from close range. Dan Super made the most of one such instance for his second try in as many weeks. Tom Lee converted via the post, and was involved again shortly after, assisting Nick Elliott who crashed over from predictable distance. In true front 5 style, Elliott marked his efforts with a rest on the sideline, as Jimmer Hibbard re-joined. Mark Parry’s decent shift on a good day for the Sils scrum was also rewarded with a switch for Joe Pick. Tim Trace shifted in from 6 to prop and held up well, much to the irritation of his opposite man.

As the game ebbed towards its now inevitable conclusion, there was just time for Harry Pick to write the headline. Malvern attacked again, but the ball squirted out of a ruck and Ben Trenchard gathered before setting off down the touchline. He was caught but threw it inside to Pick, who had the legs to finish for his third.

Sils enjoy a well-earned week off next week – the first of two in February – before a trip to Nuneaton Old Edwardians in the second leg of the Bog Seat. In the meantime, training continues as a season-defining March draws closer.