Hayward Hat-trick Hero!
AEI started poorly on a wet and windy Kettering
afternoon, going three tries to nil down after 20 minutes and losing out
to
Kettering's well drilled pack. Inspiration came
from stand-in 'stand-off' Mark McDog breaking through and feeding ever
young Nick 'Haircut 100' Hayward to score and
re-assert AEI's pride.
The second half started with the AEI team
working in unison, scoring three quick tries from Rob Goode and Haircut
over
for another two. Kettering gave a spirited
defence, only for McDog to score a late breakaway try.
[I take no reponsibility for this - this was a team effort in the bar after the match! TC]
No report as I was away.
No report as I was away.
No report as I was away.
Tailenders progressed to the next round of the Clonmell Cup at the expense of a valiant AEI side. Tailenders notched two early tries and the writing seemed to be on the wall, but AEI quickly hit back as Neil Morgan scored in the corner following some good play in the backs. However, Tailenders nous saw them suck in the AEI defence again and again leaving big overlaps in the backs, from which they eventually scored two more tries before half time.
AEI's best spell of pressure came in the first fifteen minutes of the second half as both pack and backs went close, but Tailenders proved they could defend as well as attack. Three more Tailenders tries followed but the biggest cheer from the 50 strong crowd was for a surging break near the end from AEI's Mark McDonough, only for hush to descend as he was hauled down 20m from the line. Many thought that the final score flattered Tailenders but in the end their better all round handling and forward play won the day.
With two players making their AEI debuts, many players playing out of position and three AEI players playing for the opposition, this match took on the air of a trial match. AEI were unusually quick out of the blocks as Paul Eaton scored two tries in the first five minutes. When Stevie Neal lumbered over for AEI's third try not long afterwards you could see the lust for tries light up in many players eyes. This, of course, was counter productive and AEI's team play desintegrated allowing Long Buckby back into the match.
Only when Long Buckby scored their second try just after half time did AEI eventually pull themselves together again. Stack Stephens extended their lead, scampering in between the posts following a scrum 10m out. Long Buckby pulled back another try and then No 8 Andy Sullivan scored a fine pushover try for AEI following excellent work by the pack. Before the end Long Buckby scored again before Sullivan rounded things off with another AEI try. Finally, Neil Corbett stepped up to score his 6th conversion to maintain his 100% record.
OLs eventually emerged the victors in this hard fought and closely contested local derby. AEI's much changed team competed well and the pack scrummaged magnificently throughout, but ultimately it was a combination of OLs youth and better second phase possession that won them the match.
The only score in the first half was a converted OLs try following a couple of missed tackles by AEI. AEI then started the second half strongly and after a spell of forward pressure close to the OLs line, the ball eventually reached Paul Thompson who scored between the posts. As the half wore on, OLs came back into the game and then went further ahead following a hotly-disputed quickly taken line-out. With the AEI heads down, OLs quickly scored again but AEI raised themselves for the final ten minutes and stand-in fly-half Mark McDonough grabbed a try at the death.
AEI's excellent start to the season continued with a good display against a disciplined Warwick team. The hailstorm which greeted the start of the match made conditions tricky and the game was dominated by numerous scrums and lineouts in the first 20 minutes. Eventually, after some early escapades with the wet ball, an AEI move in the centres finally came off and Paul Thompson raced in to score. Then, just before half-time, AEI increased their lead when flanker Terry Bott popped up to score from 5m out following a spell of forward pressure.
AEI made a couple of changes in the second half but kept up their momentum and pressure. Paul Thompson scored his second try after some poor Warwick tackling, Terry Bott scored a second conversion and finally replacement Nick Elliott crashed through to score to put the result beyond doubt. Warwick rallied towards the end and scored a consolation try but this could not take away from a very satisfying AEI performance.
Following on from the closely contested trial match with St Andrews, the first game of the season provided AEI with less stern opposition. Paul Thompson started off as he finished last season with an early try. This was followed by tries from Andy Sullivan, Rich Pinks (2) and Thompson again plus two conversions from Mark McDonough which gave AEI a 29-0 lead at the break.
With the slope and some AEI complacency in their favour, Onley started the second half well and their speed on the counter attack unnerved AEI on a number of occasions. However, tries from Gary Storer and Mark McDonough (converted by Terry Bott and Neil Waddoups respectively) eventually put AEI back on track. Onley pulled back a well deserved try near the end before Paul Thompson rounded off his hat-trick in his usual style.
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