PRIDE & PASSION SEES GREEN & GOLD DELIVER TOP PERFORMANCE

Following a long challenging, yet hugely rewarding, season Melbourne welcomed Dudley Kingswinford to Cockshutt Lane. Sitting third from bottom with DK in second place and chasing both a home play-off or top spot if Burton slipped in their final fixture.

Melbourne have learnt many lessons this season, not least the importance of bonus points and not letting wins slip so easily. With that to mind Melbourne had the unenviable task of seeking victory against a side that won 59-0 in the reverse fixture.

Enforced changes saw Gary Lakin replace Joe Nicholson, Jordan Goddard replace Harry Stephenson and finally James Lockhart replace Will Judge (despite the former suffering a chest infection).

It will be a struggle to replicate in words the display observed by those at the MSP yesterday afternoon - the green and golds took the game by the scruff of the neck and did what few had done to DK both leading 14-0 for most of the match but also in stifling there game plan and obvious abilities on the ball.

The support at "passionfields" the new ordained name by president Dave Smith was at its irrepressible, boisterous and rumbustious best - fog horns, face paint and shredded vocal chords present a plenty!

In short summary - the first half was all about Mebourne's ability to manage the game and ball retention with wide play at its finest. Captain Euan Holden getting the first of their two converted scores to take a 7-0 lead. This should have been extended when Tony Day touched down following excellent phase play but was (wrongly) adjudged to have knocked on at grounding the ball.

The epitome of Mebourne's performance was in the defence as they strangled the life out of DK snuffing out their main threats with great conciseness.

The second half saw Melbourne extend their lead through Sam Hancock's fine score and the green and gold holding a 14-0 lead for much of the game. However, given their heroic efforts and Dudley's need for points the game began to turn with Mebourne's defence being the only form of play for the final fifteen minutes. It was in the final fifteen that Dudley snuck their first try as they went wide to wide numerous times without luck so changed their tactics and had short runners off the lively scrumhalf. The green&gold efforts were additionally thwarted by the only yellow card of the game (to Sam Hancock - his first ever!) for killing the ball in a ruck and the home side had to face the final ten minutes with 14 men. Within minutes DK scored almost an identical second converted score to take it to 14-14.

With the final few minutes seeming to run into tens of minutes (and numerous requests for time checks), and many hearts in mouths, DK did what they have done so well all season and found a way to win. Cruelly, it was in the last play of the game that once again from a series of short carries that visitors eventually snuck over the line, following a real gutsy defensive display, to take their tally of tries to three and take the game 14-19.

WHAT A GAME - despite the loss Melbourne did everyone proud and achieved their aim of securing Midlands 1 status with a losing bonus point.

YC - Sam Hancock
TRIES - HOLDEN & HANCOCK
CONV. - HOLDEN (2)
MOTM - Jack Fisher