Barkers’ Butts 13 – Silhillians 20

The Sils returned to third place in Midlands 2 South(West) on Saturday with a hard-fought win over Barkers’ Butts at The Bob Coward Memorial Ground.
Honours had been shared in the league last year with one victory apiece, and with two precious points again on offer, both sides looked eager to draw first blood on this blustery winter afternoon.
As always, the home team enjoyed the support of a large vocal crowd, and their blistering start to the game had the Sils on the back foot from the off. Making good use of their mobile back-row, Barkers’ set up camp in the Sils’ twenty-two for the majority of the first twenty minutes, and it was only a succession of last-ditch tackles from full-back Harry Law that prevented the home side an early score. Barkers’ did finally manage to break the deadlock with a penalty in the front of the posts – the result of a high-tackle by Sils’ scrum-half Ian Chetland that was to ensure a ten-minute spell in the bin.
Reduced to fourteen men, the Sils visibly upped their game, and were rewarded for their determination with the first try of the afternoon. An excellent passage of play off the line-out saw Cameron Law and skipper Peter Nicholls coming into the line at pace, their strong runs providing the Sils pack with the platform to drive right at the middle of the Barkers’ defence. This, in turn, created space out wide for the backs, and when the ball was shipped out at speed it gave centre Si Doherty the opportunity to get behind the Barkers’ back-line. With winger Nic Powell in support, a simple draw and pass allowed the Sils’ no.11 to stretch his legs and add to his growing number of tries this year, finishing the move with the home defence trailing in his wake. Dave Grey’s conversion made it 7-3 to the visitors.
The Sils were to double their tally soon after, with some intelligent kicking from Grey pinning Barkers’ back in their half right from the kick-off. Some tight-in drives from the pack were to again stretch the home defence, and when the ball was recycled in the midfield an excellent line from the returning Tom Manise allowed the flanker to ghost through unopposed to score under the posts. 14-3 at half-time.
Barkers’ were certainly not going to go down on their home turf without a fight, and as expected the backlash came right from the kick-off in the form of a series of driving mauls. Pinning the Sils in the corner against the wind, a succession of pick-and-go’s were successfully countered by the visitors’ excellent defence. After a period of sustained attack, the Barkers’ no.6 finally found some space down the blind-side to cross in the corner. This was to be repeated several minutes later, again on the back of Barkers’ effective rolling maul, leaving the score 14-13 to the Sils, though with the momentum turning decidedly against them.
With the home crowd sensing the prospect of a close victory against their local rivals, the Sils promptly dug their heels in and proceeded to boss the set-piece. This was particularly evident at the scrum, an area of dominance in the later stages where earlier Barkers’ had looked to have the upper hand. Marching their way up the pitch with some direct running, the visitors forced a penalty within range that Dave Grey coolly slotted to extend the lead to four points. This was followed by another period of concerted pressure by the Sils pack, the home side now themselves a man down following a late tackle on winger Powell by former-Silhillian Chris Cove. Though flanker Joe Brawn was soon after denied a try by the linesman, Barkers were to concede yet another penalty within range. With three minutes left on the clock, Grey moved his tally to ten points for the day and the Sils’ lead to seven. Solid defence in the closing stages ensured a superb result and another two league points for the Sils. 20-13 at the final whistle and a job well done.
The Sils are at home to the in-form Bedworth next week. All welcome.