AEI 12

Southam 22

 Heavily impacted by injury a much changed team from last week started well with great scrummaging forcing Southam off there own ball repeatedly. Ten minutes into the game, after a shaky start, scrum half Andy Machon was able to feed good ball out the line through equally shaky centres to find wing Lee Clark who outpaced his opposite number to go near enough under the post to allow Richard Pinks to convert his try. AEI visibly relaxed after with the seven point lead but then a change in Southam’s front row allowed Southam to regain composure. Poor mid field tackling allowed the Southam centres room to move and then to score under the posts to level the score ten minutes before half time. Three minute to the break and again Southam broke to score wide for a unconverted try, half time score 7 –12.

Southam started the second half fighting and despite, as a result of their repeated infringements, allowing AEI to gain ground with free kicks they were able to prevent any of the AEI backline doing any damage. A midfield ruckus resulted in the Southam prop being sent off and from the resulting kick AEI attacked the line, rolling the maul several time until eventually AEI scum half Andy Machon broke off the side to reach out for a unconverted try. With sixteen minutes left AEI were keen to push forward as quickly as possible however Southam were equally determined to spoil and in end, after a mild moment of panic near the line, Southam picked up a loose ball to scramble over the line sealing the game with five minutes on the clock. This was not the last score however as a twenty two drop out went into mid field with AEI full back off the pitch Southam picked up one more try for a full time score 12 – 22 Southam.

The Jolly Abbott Man of match title went to Pinky who said did not say much due one too many high tackles.