Report:
Melbourne travelled to Bosworth with both sides showing good pre-season form. Having previously shared the spoils last season, with both sides winning their home ties, a tight and competitive match was expected.

Talk before the game was focused on whether we had remembered the kit, balls, bottles and pads as is customary these days but alas the players did themselves proud.

With crowds drawing round the pitch the eagerness for the new season, its promises and rewards, could be felt by all.

A number of absentees and injuries forced changes to the squad presenting some real opportunities and challenges for all positions and the players within them. League debuts for Joe Nicholson, Dan Cox and Andy Martin were handed out, as a real quality and depth to our squad presents itself for the season ahead.

Kick-off
With the whistle sounded Melbourne pressured their kick. Once again the 'bulk' of the bosworth squad was an obvious strength and a clear focus of their play but Melbourne applied pressure from the first minute harassing the opposition ball carriers and causing them to look ragged in defence when attacking.

A penalty was awarded to Melbourne in the 3rd minute for holding on but with a cross wind against him Holden failed to convert.

Melbourne continued to rally and probe Bosworth's defensive line and it looked to have wobbled when a fine passing sequence cut them open seeing Pearce being put through with the line ahead of him, only for an unfortunate knock on from the second row.

Melbournes discipline was key in the early stages as the clear size difference in packs was an obvious advantage at scrum time. However, the green machine focused on the simples and played well. Another penalty was awarded centrally but again Holden failed to add the points to what had been a dominant early period.

Composure was key. Melbourne were happy to hold onto the ball and build phases. Sure enough the possession and territory was rewarded when a scything arced run by Bobby H releasing Tommy 'twinkle toes' Howard who then reversed the pass back to Bobby in his support. Twinkle toes cut a line once again and a deft offload sent the speedy winger through as he rounded the fullback and swan dived over the line for the opening try which Holden converted.

Melbourne's forwards had fronted up well and kept creating a good platform for the backline. Furthermore, the defence managed to stop Bosworths gargantuan eight, not unlike Vadim Cobilas, from having any real impact.

Hollingsworth, Day and Judge making real impacts both in defence and attack capped a fine team display with snowy linking the play well.

On 34 minutes the tides changed as Melbourne began to loose structure allowing Bosworth to play their favoured foward dominated game which they heavily relied on. A lineout in Melbourne's twenty-two was well disrupted only for an attempted jackal tackle to be turned into a rolling maul for a simple drive over the tryline for a 7-7 scoreline.

A change of personnel was enforced shortly after, with Fisher making way for Stuart due to injury.

Things went from bad to worse for the Green's, who had looked comfortably in contol for the first 30 minutes, as a mistimed tap back resulted in good possession changing hands and a fortunate bounce, kick and try being awarded (12-7).

Howard suffered a knock and was replaced by Martin whose fine pre-season form resulted in his first senior league debut for the youngster.

Momentum had left Melbourne and the threat of the weighty Bosworths pack resulted in a simple, and expected, crash ball from close range. Giving a scoreline of 17 - 7 after 44 minutes.

The second half was a mix of gutsy frustration and resilience. Bosworth were 'pumped' and looking to take the game beyond Melbourne's reach. The common site of their coach walking onto the pitch at every moment when there was a pause or set piece was almost as common a site as the metronomic pass of Bosworths backs to the big eight who despite what looked to be a nasty concussion, which resulted in him leaving the pitch, soon returned to continue to try to win the match with his crash balls but Melbourne had been prepared and the half time talk highlighted that the game remained in reach and with focus on the basics could be turned around on its head.

Bosworth tried to bully and force the physical edge of their game upon Melbourne. Even their substitutes were bigger and heavier than the players they replaced adding more bulk to their mauls and scrum.

Stringer replaced Pearce with Devon switching to backrow.

Physicality was aplenty with "Big Hit" Day, Bobby, Coyne, Stuart and Devon making notable defensive efforts. Gradually Melbourne turned the tide with their defensive efforts having resisted Bosworths waves of attack. An unintended debut temporarily disrupted proceedings a Jack Russell took to the pitch until both owner and lead could be located ending a short cameo.

A play down the blind side took Martin beyond Bosworths 10 and as the defence pressured a deft chip put Foster through to hack on and chase with a superb grounding effort by the wing which was converted by Holden 17 - 14 as the green machine clawed for the lead and victory.

Bosworth began to tire and as they tried to force things gave a penalty away for offside just inside their own half. With the wind blowing and distance against him Holden stepped up and delievered the goods to tie the score 17-17.

As the clock ticked on and on and on and on (played about 50 mins second half) the game opened up with both sides trying to secure points by either way of a penalty or try with neither finding that gilt edged chance.

With the last play of the game the ball almost fell for a breakaway run but alas it was not meant to be. A draw was probably a fair reflection of the two halves and the gutsyness and spirit of the Melbourne squad is a pleasing attribute to the team ahead of a long season.

Final Score 17 - 17

Some impressive performances inc. Bobby, Snowy, Devon and Coyne at the fore but the spirited Day pips the MoM award with another solid contribution for the full eighty.

As a team we felt there is more to give and were not wholly or even partly satisfied with our performance and will drive our standards up ahead of the next league fixture.We continue to look ahead with optimism and acknowledge that we face some difficult fixtures ahead but we do enjoy a challenge.