Melbourne score bonus point win

By Matt Derbyshire

Melbourne hosted a visiting Spalding – whom by their own admission had had no league success thus far in the season. However, Melbourne players and coaches had seen the results and were prepared to face a team who had only narrowly lost to some of the stronger teams in the league.

Once again further changes were afoot with yet more injuries to an already ravaged team as Iliffe, Foster and Cresswell were now also crocked. However, as is the Melbourne way those walking wounded were an ever present on the sidelines cheering on the Green Army. Debuts were also aplenty with Lamin, Marchbank and Crombie coming into the final 18.

The forecast for the weekend was a little gloomy and it was expected that the match would be played in conditions with a 76% chance of precipitation and so it proved. Spalding chose to field the kick.

Melbourne started eagerly with good enthusiasm yet found themselves quickly penalised at the breakdown. Spalding chose to kick to touch setting a lineout 10 metres from the try line. Melbourne competed well to take the ball and clear any potential threat from the visitors. Melbourne began to take control of the game and gained the upper hand. Mistakes crept into the game, not helped by the weather and greasy surface but Melbourne often built good phases with an unforced error halting any momentum. Melbourne’s pack were playing one of their best games of the season seeing numerous turnovers in the set piece and loose play it was a scrum against the head that Melbourne picked up their first score as the No.8 took an intelligent line off the scrum to touch down wide of the posts.

Melbourne, had the territory and possession but failed to convert this in the opening twenty minutes with a series of missed penalties and unforced errors. Typically the opposition scored from nowhere and Spalding won their own lineout which led to a breakaway try despite what looked like a clear offside/bloke from the Spalding second row at the ruck. This was unconverted and levelled the scores.

Melbourne restored their lead 10 minutes later with a good three quarter move leading to Melbourne newcomer Nick Crombie scoring his first try of the season.

Five minutes before half time Spalding delivered a second blow against the run of play as their winger ran the ball deep into the opposition’s half through a series of weak tackles before being grounded yet the ball was retained Spalding drove over near the corner flag and with an excellent conversion.

Melbourne upped the intensity and kicked on looking to close out mistakes and seek some reward for the performance they were putting in. Fifteen minutes into the second half Melbourne turned over possession in the blind side channel and Melbourne’s captain gratefully scored under the posts for a converted try

Melbourne continued to press their advantage and debutant Marchbank’s first input into the game was to turnover the ball inside Melbourne’s 10m line leading to a neat backline play with Stuart scoring in the corner.

Melbourne’s fifth try was courtesy of Howard who later had to leave the pitch due to a suspected broken nose following numerous attempts during the game by Spalding’s defence to remove the ‘nippy’ wingers head from his neck.

Next up is the short journey to Stamford – who are looking rejuvenated and like one of, if not the, form side of the league presently.