Opening Day Victory Puts Sils On Top

Sils got their 2009/10 season off to a flying start with an impressive first-day victory away to local rivals Berkswell & Balsall.

On a late-summer afternoon suited to quick, expansive rugby, a focused Sils side applied the best elements from their pre-season training and were ahead 5-0 after just two minutes. Having turned over the home side at the set-piece, skipper Lee ‘Window’ Jones (pictured) was on hand to finish following a superb break by scrum-half debutant Si Bright, ably supported by fly-half Dave Grey.

Two minutes later Sils were 12-0 up, centre Si Doherty finding space on the outside following quick hands in the midfield. B&B were to hit back with a well-taken try, making the most of a lucky bounce after a speculative kick-through to leave the score at 12-5 after just ten minutes. A successful penalty attempt, however, increased Sils’ lead to 15-5, which was to be extended shortly after. Following a period of sustained pressure by the Sils pack, some excellent link-up play in the opposition twenty-two led to winger Paul Hollier crossing near the corner for a well-taken try. Another successful conversion made it 22-5.

The next ten minutes saw B&B camped in the Sils’ half, though any chance of converting pressure into points was stopped in its tracks by a succession of aggressive tackles. Second-rows Adam McGuinness and James Hibbard epitomised the commitment on show with a worrying clash of heads after a crunching double hit, putting them out of the game as B&B pushed on, desperate to leave the Sils twenty-two with points. Seconds later, however, centre Si Clarke’s superb turnover tackle in midfield was followed by a clearance kick into space. With B&B caught on the hop, Paul Hollier raced down the slope to gather the ball, side-stepping the opposing full-back in the process before sprinting the length of the pitch to score under the posts for his second try of the day. 29-5 at half-time.

The second forty was a far more closely contested affair. B&B made good use of the slope with some well-judged kicks that forced the Sils back three onto the back-foot. Veteran full-back Jim Roper and league debutant Rich Kirby showed cool heads, however, and some strong counter-attacking runs up the wing saw B&B attempt to play it through the hands instead. A well-worked try by the home pack after fifty-five minutes narrowed the margin to 29-10, only for Dave Grey to apply the coup de grace after some superb flowing rugby by the Sils. Two excellently struck penalties took his personal tally to fifteen points for the afternoon, extending the lead in the final minutes. 35-10 the final score.

Sils play Stafford RUFC away in the Cup next week, and will certainly look to build on this promising start,