Melbourne come from behind to beat Ashfield 2s

Depending on what Chesterfield do this is either the final or penultimate game of our pennant season, we had drawn with Ashfield earlier in the season, and so we felt this would be a close game. The firsts had no game so this was exected ot be an easy team to pull together but in the end we travelled with bare 15 including elderly penaly giver Dave Lowson and Club Chairman Pete Ilott playing his first game in 18 months. This was a shame as the other 13 players were pretty good, with Pip, Tim Awbery and Chris Manfield front Row, Chris WIllaims 2nd row, and a back row of Matt Smith, Chris Purse and Sparksie. The backs were Fossie, Tommy Line, Dan the Colt, Dale, Pete, Nathan Bishop and Booko who should have been in the 2nd row.

Ashfield have the same style of changing rooms as us, (porter cabins) but do have a very nice new ground. the Ashfield team look larger than us and a bit older and had a huge man with a beard playing for them.

We played with the wind in first half, but we still expected to be under pressure in the tight and probably need to keep the ball away from the Ashfield forwards

All in all, things went ok , we held our own scrums and our line out worked well (with some old school calls). we tackeld well and probably had the better of the territory, there were some good breaks, noticeably by Dan, but we did have a bad habit of becoming isolated. We also seemed to have a few moment where players wanted to score an individaul try rather than pass. Highlights of the half was a catch and turn by booko, but he put a foot in touch. Chris Purse was unlucky to knock on a couple of times when he looked to break clear.

Ashfield have a pretty old school style of rucking and there were plenty of boots, and offences at the break down, which mainly resulted in Melbourne penalties

Ashfield however were the first to score, with a huge back, who was bigger than any Melbourne Player in either of our teams running a great line to cut inside and score under the posts from 22 meters out.

At half time we were a little surprised that we had not scored, but some of the team felt we would win as Ashfield appeared to be slowing a bit. 7-0 to Ashfield

In the 2nd half the wind had probably change direction so it blew across the pitch and gave no team an advantage.

Melbourne did better in the 2nd half, if not territorially but in our ability to make clean line breaks, we continued to mix things ups with quick penalties etc and from one of these we managed to put 3 or 4 phases together and Dan the Colt went over for his first seniro try. 7-7 coversion by Dale.

Within 3 minues we were ahead further Jordan making a break on the wing and almost making it to the line, only to pass to Booko, who passed to Dale to score. 14-7.

We then probably entered the most important persiod of the game, Ashfield gave it a go, and camped on our line, winning lots of scrums and penalties. and almost scoring a couple of times. The Melbourne scrum held firm and some great last ditch tackles including a banger from Chris WIlliams kept Ashfield out and after 10 minutes of so we cleared our line after we won a srum against the head.

Very soon after we scored again, Fossie scoring an amazing solo try, running and dipping and dodging all the way across the pitch and some 50 yards to score. 21-7.

Melbourne had to hold our for about 20 miutes to win and again Ashfield came at us, they rolled replacments and had a constant steam of props to bring on. Again they had a lot of pressure and probably did score from a 5 meter penalty but were denied by the very polite ref.

With 7 to go Melbourne buckled when a very large played ran over Smitthie to score 21-14

It was unlikely that Ashfield would score twice as it had taken then 20 minutes of close range pressure to score but another score was a possibilty. It was not to be

As soon as we restarted good pressure saw a number of phases and Dan the colt went in again in the corner. followed by a great kick by Dale 28-14. Immediatly from the Ashfield restart Chris Purse got the ball and it was his turn to run the length of the pitch and score with a great solo effort. 35-14.

Melbourne held out for the last 3 minutes to win.

Good game of rugby, and good fun, we were lucky to get away with a bare 15 and one injury etc could have seen us lose

Pretty good performance by all, but MVP goes to Dan the Colt , two tries and a lot of strength.

Next week possibly Chesterfield