AEI's remarkable start to the season continued with a hard-fought win against a strong Towcester side. For the first time this season, the ground was wet enough for mud to stick to the boots, and early on it seemed like the AEI front five should have chosen longer studs as they went backwards in the scrums. However, the early match torpor that has characterised AEI's game recently was missing, and they gradually took control.
As the forwards found their feet, AEI went ahead when, from a solid scrum, the ball was spun out through the backs for winger Rich Pinks to score. A second try was not long in coming as Mark McDonough took a quick penalty, 20m from the line, and barged his way over to score. Towcestrians replied with a penalty before half time and AEI led 14-3 at the interval.
The second half saw AEI retain the upper hand, hooker Richard Stephens repeatedly took balls against the head in the scrums, and soon both centres were on the scoresheet. Firstly, Nick Elliott burst through a gap in the defence to touch down between the posts. Secondly, Paul Thompson made up for earlier lack of hand-eye co-ordination, this time running straighter than the Roman road through Towcester itself and crashing through the tackles to score.
Rich Pinks claimed his second try of the match (and fifth in three games since returning to the wing) after a mistake by the Towcester backs, and in the last minute, fly-half Paul Eaton scored in the corner after a break by ubiquitous flanker Matt Foley.
Not for the first time this season, AEI were slow off the mark and spent the first ten minutes defending deep in their own half. So when Rich Pinks scored after 10 minutes, following a typically strong run by Paul Thompson, it was very much against the run of play. The game remained tight throughout much of the first half, but the visitors heads noticably dropped after Graham Wood and Mark McDonough scored two tries in quick succession.
Now AEI's tails were up and they started to enjoy themselves, playing their natural, running game. A series of incisive moves in the backs, combined with excellent support play, led to further tries from Andy Sullivan (2), Paul Thompson (2), Tony Chronnell (2) and Graham Wood scoring two more to claim an expensive hat-trick. Nick Elliott, making a welcome return to the team, slotted home five conversions.
After a week off, AEI bounced back into action with a resounding victory over the Saracens. However it took an early try from the visitors to wake up AEI from their Thursday night hangovers.
After this early shock, the AEI pack dominated in the scrums and the rucks, with the only black mark being in the line-out where jumping pratice seemed to be let down by the over-application of vaseline to the fingers. Flanker Andy Clark, who scored the first try and could easily have had two more, was outstanding throughout and it was surprising that No.8 Andy Sullivan was the only other forward to score.
It was in the backs however, where an injection of youth and pace caused some of the older legs to move a shade faster, that AEI showed glimpses of things to come. With three players making their debut for the club, things were occasionally dis-jointed but all three debutants: centre Matt Foley (two tries), full-back Tony Farrow (one try) and fly-half Paul Eaton (three conversions), got their name on the scoresheet. Rich Pinks, the erstwhile full-back returning to his rightful position on the wing, also scored two tries.
In the end a victory for AEI, their fifth in six games, was never in doubt and the overall performance augured well for the future.
West Leicester cancelled the game on the morning of the match.
A resurgant AEI continued their excellent start to the season with another win to take their seasons tally to four wins out of five. After early pressure from Old Warwickians, AEI took the lead after Warwickians conceeded a penalty close to their line. The ball was spun out through the backs for second row 'Jocky' Corbett to pop up on the wing to score. Mark McDonough completed the conversion.
The game developed well with good tackling from both sides and both Mark McDonough and debutant Andy McKeran went close for AEI. Eventually AEI went further ahead with winger Nathan Yeung having a sudden rush of blood to the head, sprinting past two defenders and scoring in the corner.
The second half saw a try for AEI by Mark McDonough before a try for Old Warwickians threatened a late comeback. However, AEI defended well to complete a deserved victory.
A last minute try by Paul Thompson won the match for AEI who, after an excellent start, had threatened to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The game started well for AEI when after only five minutes Stevie Neal took the ball in the lineout, Dave Pritchard drove on and set up Mark McDonough for a try which he himself converted. With a stong wind at their backs, AEI now took control and further tries from Graham Wood, Mike Burnard and Paul Thompson saw them leading 24-0 after only 25 minutes. Complacency then took over and AEI conceeded two soft tries before half-time.
The second half was an end to end affair after Long Buckby had taken the lead with two more early tries. Mark McDonough restored AEIs lead with a try from a rolling maul only for Long Buckby to bounce back. This set up a tense finish and with a minute to go and Long Buckby camped within the AEI 22 the omens did not look good. However, justice was done when the ever youthful Stack Stephens released Paul Thompson (fresh from his exploits on the international Gaelic football fields of Dublin) to run the length of the pitch to score.
A hard fought local derby saw AEI loose their 100% record for the season. The game, played on a narrow, rock hard pitch, was dominated throughout by a superior OLs team who were obviously determined to win. Much credit goes to the AEI pack who, despite the early loss of prop Dave Pritchard (returning after nine months out through injury), more than held their own in the scrums. However, superior rucking and mauling skills combined with frequent overlaps in the backs saw OLs lead 17-0 at halftime.
The second half provided a change in scenery and a different 22m line for AEI to defend. OLs continued their policy of attacking down the blind side or through the pack, despite obvious overlaps on the open side. Midway through the half, AEI lost fly-half Gary Storer with a dislocated and broken thumb and, at this stage, it would have been easy for them to give in to the pressure. However, the re-shuffled side held on and but for a combination of commited AEI takling, the small pitch, and the failure of OLs to use their backs the score could well have been greater.
AEI continued their winning season in a close-fought, exciting match. In the
first ten minutes Kettering looked in control with a bigger pack and a quick
set of backs. The tenacity of the AEI defence ensured that the early storm was
weathered without conceding points. Despite being at a weight disadvantage, the
AEI pack now started to make an impression in the scrums, with hooker Richard
Stephens taking a number of balls against the head. Combined with improving
work in rucks and mauls, the home team denied the visitors possession. The
pack's hard work was paid-off by winger Tom King bursting over the line off the
back of a well-drilled maul to put AEI ahead at half-time.
After the break, Kettering fought back. While the AEI soaked up much of the
pressure, an ill-judged late tackle, and the subsequent quick penalty caught
the home side lagging and Kettering had levelled the scores. It was AEI's turn
to apply pressure now, while Kettering showed their mettle in defence. A long
sequence of scrummages near the Kettering goal line brought the AEI close to a
second score several times, but they just could not convert the chances.
Finally, however, the pressure told. Another move off the back of a maul saw
Tim Sargent and Tim Sly roll around the side, swivelling and spinning through
the defenders and over the line.
Overall a refulgent display from two equally matched teams, a pleasure to watch
and to play in.
RIS.
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