Match Reports

Vets 55 v 7 Hanford 1sts

The unbeaten Longton Vets ground out a superb 9 try fest against a spirited Hanford 1st XV on the first game at frosty Trentham Fields for 6 weeks.

The Vets started the game with only one non vet in the lineup, the front row of Wilsh, Fester and Pickering were always on the front foot, driving the scrum forward, GT and Walker ably leaning on, and the back row of Mongy, Jez and the evergreen Bails were all over the park knocking the Hanford forwards off the ball.

Scrum half Wilson belayed his years and kept Matt Glaze supplied with clean ball, centres Chovsky and Cartlidge slicing through at every opportunity, supported by the back three of Griff, O'Neil and full back Blurt. With Andy Robb and Tom Nixon starting the second half, followed by youngsters Griffiths and Brassington making their debuts in senior rugby. 

Longton scored first, with the forwrards pressuring, the backs carved out an opening for Cartlidge to ghost over, with the conversion, 7-0. After Chovsky added one, and Cartlidge scoring his second, Hanford took a quick penalty near the posts, with only Ben Walker making a tackle, they touched down under the posts for an easy conversion, 15-7 at half time.

The second half turned into a procession with three other backs scoring tries, a total 40 unanswered points. A high point was the number of times flanker Rich Bails, standing at four in the lineout took opposition ball to set up the next attack for the backs or a driving maul from the forwards.

Centre Steve Cartlidge managed to get his fourth try before the end, but we still await the customary jug.

A week off next week for the victorious Vets to rest their weary bones, Ashbourne Vets away being the next fixture.

Scorers 

Steve Cartlidge x 4, Matt Glaze x 2,  Craig Blurton x 1, Robert Krywckyj x 1, 

Brian Griffiths x 1

Graeme Wilson x 5 conversions 

NP