Melbourne lose to strong Paviors 3s

Melbourne 2nds travelled (for a change) to lead leaders Paviors, we had lost pretty heavily at home to them, and knew they were a pretty good outfit (best we had played this year)

We had a few players missing, but as they had all given prior notice it was possible to draft in replacements, Ian Masters turning out for the first time this year, Webbe and Ed Whittam off the colts,. Nathan the Auditor from Deloittes, and the welcome return of the new larger Scott Swannick.

We were missing a bit of bulk up front, but we were all pretty mobile, Tim Awbery and the new slim line Pip Day up front Booko 2nd row and Jack Pearce and Josh Rice back Row

Will Cresswell, Dale Bilson, Rich Woodburn, Tommy Line and Phil Jones made up the rest.

The paviors team had a quite a few familiar faces (though some of the obscured by beards) 66% of their back three look like catweazle (out of the 70's). Paviors are a pretty friendly bunch.

We played down hill for the first half and there was little wind, in a good pitch. The game kicked off, it soon became clear that Paviors were a bit heavier than Melbourne and that they also played pretty free flowing rugby, passing the ball quickly and not resorting to lots of mauls etc. In the scum Melbourne were really under the cosh and we were loosing our own ball. But in patches melbourne broke out and were the faster team. Booko made a series of very good tackles, the line outs were pretty even and it looked like the game would be pretty even.

Paviors had the bulk of the pocession for the first qtr and just had extra bulk, even when they were tackled they would trundle on for a few more yards and then re-cylcle. Iain Masters went on in the front row and although we were still under pressure , Tim, Pip and Ian managed to get the ball back and Jack Pearce was heroic picking up the ball at no 8 and saving the day. Jordan Sparkes was everywhere and did not lose the ball going into contact once.

The line out was pretty even but frustratingly we did not challenge a couple of times, but with Booko and Al we had two decent jumpers

Webbe on his 18th birthday tackled like Crazy. But after 16 minutes the Paviors pressure told and they scored from close in 7-0

There then followed a period of Melbourne pressure we had the ball we disrupted Paviors, had plenty of good breaks and had 2 penalties (both missed) it would have been dissapointing not to score but we did, in the end fast hands saw Ed Whittsun pop up in midfiled , sell a dummy, ignore a 3 man overlap and Dale Bilson picked up and scored 7-5. I guess with the missed kicks we cild have been leading and it felt like we had a chance . 25 minutes gone

Phil Jones came on for Scott and made a few big hits

Then came Melbourne slackest period of the game,. things were pretty even when a Melbourne kick landed in the hands of the fullback catweazle, who ran it back, we missed a series of tackles and then it was re-cylcled and we missed a load more and paviors scored 12-5

The final 5 minutes of the half was pretty one way traffic with some heroic defending by Melbourne, really Paviors should have scored but great holding up by the two smallest players on the pitch, Will and Webbe prevented a try and there were plenty of other rear guard heroics 12-5 at half time.

The 2nd half started and was really a repeat of the last 5 minutes of the first half, brave defense but the weight and power of Paviors was too much, where last year we had the pace to outrun teams and we could count on some one in the opposition being so inept that giving them the ball was not an issue, this year and especially against a team like Paviors you can not rely on errors.

After 5 minutes they scored again 19-5 and again after 20 minutes 24-5

There was then a period of 15 minutes where Melbourne through everything at Paviors, its was fair to say the ref was on our side and we won a lot of penalties but we tried running from everywhere, Tommy Line out paced lots of paviors players though quite often sideways and Nathan had a few good runs, Webbe was now at scrum half and he was playing very well. Melbourne really gave it a go and were unlucky to score, it is probably testiment to paviors class that they coped pretty well and did not lose it with the ref.

After 36 minutes Dale made a decisive break made 40 yards and slipped the ball to Tommy Line to score 24-12. It was probably too late to win, but we had proved a point and showed a lot of courage.

One of the highlights of the last 10 minutes was Scott playing on the wing and being very effective, and the opposition winger was clearly worried he may land on him

Paviors turned up the pressure for the last few minutes and scored with the last play in added time to make it a 31-12

I know we lost but lots of positives from the game, TIm and Pip put a real shift in, in the front row and were pretty mobile, Booko learnt how to tackle, everyone was positive and no ones effort can be faulted, 5 or 6 weeks a go when Jack played no 8 behind a retreating scrum it we was not great now he bossed it. Scot and Phil [played very well in the centres and Ed and Webbe can easily step up to senior rugby. It was great to have Ian Masters back he held stuff together well.

Talking to Paviors after game they are a team with 10 or so regualar players and a 4th team to pull in when needed, I could really see how in 12 months of so Melbourne could be in the same position and be top of the league

MVP. Webbe very good on his birthday but sadly for the 2nd week it has to go to Jack Pearce he was everywhere and looked the best player on the pitch

Next week home to East Retford!!