A number of the team travelled down there in less then elegant style in Williams new ‘I’ve been head hunted, but now have a worse’ company car, but despite the rough ride were still up for the muddy battle that lie ahead.
Tadley fielded the same starting line up that won last weeks tough encounter, but with Alex ‘I can dance all night in Bath, but can’t play rugby still 4 weeks later’ Pike still out injured, they did welcome back Mark Davies and Gordon Grierson to bolster the Tadley bench.
With the pitch churning up more by the minute and the wind looking like it was going to play a major part in the outcome, the game was always going to be a tight affair with only a few points or a lucky bounce deciding the winning team.
Tadley started by far the stronger and arguably should have taken the lead in the game with the forwards dominating the early battle for supremacy, however against the run of play a hopeful kick through from their flanker and a lack of communication between the back line, lead to a 5 metre scrum which in turn lead to a 7 point score.
To the visiting side’s credit they came back strongly with some excellent forwards play, despite many of the pack mimicking the backs and acting as a second back line, which lead to Bailey fighting for the ball as the extra forward which he made apparent with his traditional rant at this pack, halfway through the first half.
The impressive Alex Godfrey’s pin pinpoint lineout throwing in and his 100% hit ratio, even enabled skipper Murray to lay the ball back to scrum half Bailey contrasting with his normal effort of passing direct to the opposition hooker, leading the way to a scrum on the Sherborne’s 5-metre line. A then set move enabled the clubs’ leading try scorer Andy Williams to once again crash over from close range. Dennison then converted to even the game at 7-7 and break through the 100-point barrier for the season.
A trade of 3 points a piece before ½ time meant the second half kicked off with the game level pegging, however a massive wind would mean Sherborne were kicking off favourites to take the 2 points and meaning that Toby ‘Milky hands’ Smith would find it near on impossible to hang onto any ball that came his way.
Tadley fought hard that second half and despite excellent work from substitute Grierson could not breach the oppositions line, with their best scoring opportunity ball going to floor as Bailey’s indecisive break failed to capitalise on a possible 5 points.
Despite Tadley peppering Sherborne’s line it was the home team that took the lead with a penalty and then in the dying dark minutes scored a breakaway try to take the game 20-10.
A frustrating result for Tadley as the general consensus was the win for the taking with perhaps any glimmer of hope they could still gain promotion going with it.
However a new week beckons along with a fresh challenge with that of the high flying Winborne as they visit Red Lane for the 1st’s next home fixture on Saturday 13th December.
Man of Match: - Rob Murray
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