Melbourne 3's 20 - 06 Chesterfield Panthers 2's

In stark contrast to last weeks availability, this week’s Pennant team was fully loaded and keen for a runout on the back of the successful result against Newark 3’s. Coaches Mark Blair and Geraint Davies were in attendance, along with experienced rugby guru Lee Whitmore, due to the Cup game cancellation. Unfortunately the warm up quickly became a training session, due to players struggling to master the basics. Once everyone got on the same page the run throughs started to show some promise, and the 3PM KO quickly came around.

Melbourne kicked into the wind, Declan Wileman received the ball, but knocked on to set up the first scrum. Melbourne were quick to try and assert some dominance with a large pack and some experience in the front row. With ball in play, Melbourne were allowed to run at the visitors defence on many occasions, but the Panthers managed to keep them out before heading into the opposition’s territory. The Panther’s pressure eventually forced a penalty in line with the posts, Dan Wilson slotting the shot.
0-3

The Panthers got sloppy with repeated penalties, mainly hands in the scrum and not retreating, Melbourne were gifted 30 metres, and it didn’t take long for them to score. Mother Nature denying them the conversion.
5-3

Coach Mark Blair gave some advice from the sidelines “The team that gives away the least penalties will win today!”
Nathan Newton demonstrated his fast feet ability with a run down the wing before dropping the ball under the posts, only to go to receive a yellow card shortly after for not retreating at a penalty and tackling the player who took the quick tap.
Melbourne quickly took advantage of this and scored again, this time in the left hand corner.
10-3

Panthers attempted to reassert some dominance in this half, slowing the game down before receiving a penalty 35 metres out. A confident Dan Wilson insisting on the kick and with a wind assist slotting through the posts.
10-6

Panthers taking the points as a confidence boost, today’s tighthead prop received the kick and broke the gain line. Panthers moved up and up the park, hoovering up the Melbourne penalties, the stern but fair ref had no problem marching them back for backchat, the Panthers were in a promising position, a quick tap to Paul Giller offloading to the tighthead, offloading to Isaac Tuckley, before receiving another penalty. Another tap and go, the tighthead crashing just half a metre from the try line, before the ball was knocked on to close the half.
10-6

The second half bought about more of the same, more mistakes, more penalties. Melbourne taking advantage, got a shot at goal to open up the scoreline.
13-6.

Still a try and a conversion in it, there was all to play for, a real opportunity showed promise, with one prop putting the other into space, only to suffer a knock on.
Melbourne responded with a kick and chase, putting a fast runner under our posts, but fortunately knocking on.
Substitutions bought on some fresh legs, and gave a better spring in our step, but it seemed to be too little too late. Melbourne running a try in by the sticks.
20-6

Melbourne continued to pile on the pressure, but Liam Chappell managed to hold up their attempt at crashing over the line again. Super substitute Rich Keeling showed a lot of promise with a few line breaks but with tiring support it never developed into enough.
With a bit of last minute hand bags between Steven Hatt and his opposite number the game came to an end.

A high spirited and relatively friendly game in all, but a poor demonstration of what we are capable of. Unfortunately the negatives outshone our positives today, sloppy persistent penalties and poor handling let us down. As for the positives, our work rate at times was great and there was a demonstration of our ability to break the gain line against a bigger physical team.

There’s only one solution lads, TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN!

1. Daniel Sellars - Worked exceptionally hard today, outplaying people 10 years younger.
2. Isaac Tuckley - Tackled everything that moved.
3. Adam Rodgers - Played in 3 different positions, made some good yards and a couple of charge downs but frustrated at times.
4. Liam Ward - Exceptional power, will be unstoppable once he fully learns the game.
5. Declan Wileman - Looked frustrated at times,
6. Liam Chappell - Another one with great work rate. MOTM for being everywhere all the time. DOD for attempting a clearance kick.
7. Greg Fritchley - Should’ve known better when giving away penalties but his rucking was great.
8. Paul Giller - Switched from 8 to centre, a couple of good runs but took a knock to the ribs.
9. Jack Large - Back from injury and had a great game at scrum half, just needs a louder voice to boss the forwards around more.
10. Alex Tustin (C) - Dictated the game for a while but not his best performance, went off injured in the second half.
11. Nathan Newton - Not as many impressive runs as 2 weeks ago, but tackled well on his wing.
12. Dan Wilson - Some good kicking today and an impressive penalty kick, dictated the back line in Tustin’s absence, more to show in coming weeks.
13. Sam Martin - Looked one of the better players today, strong and stable.
14. Steven Hatt - Needs to improve his tackling, but was quick with ball in hand and worked hard at the breakdown.
15. Ben Tustin - Looked frustrated at full back, showed promise in the tackle.
16. Liam Frith - Forever improving, decent scrummaging and throwing.
17. Martin Tingay - Helped stabilised the scrums in the later stages of the game.
18. Lewis Chapman - Very underrated, delivered well when on in the later part of the second half.
19. Grant Teagle - Continues to do what he does well with an aggressive style from the mild mannered man.
20. Richard Keeling - Another one of the better players today, his experience shows and looked well with ball in hand.