Clinical Tabard move to the summit after surviving Medicals rally

London League Two NW Tabard 22 Imperial Medicals 20 TABARD kept their unbeaten record with a win against Imperial Medicals on Saturday but it was a close run affair with Tabard resisting a late surge by the Medics. Medicals were an extremely efficient sid

London League Two NW

Tabard 22 Imperial Medicals 20

TABARD kept their unbeaten record with a win against Imperial Medicals on Saturday but it was a close run affair with Tabard resisting a late surge by the Medics.

Medicals were an extremely efficient side but Tabard had the edge in the set scrums which was sufficient to deprive Medicals of the good ball they needed but the victory was largely down to Tabard's defence which was exemplary throughout, especially in the centre with Gerald Arasa and Keiran Murphy tackling like demons.

The game started tentatively with Medicals showing their attacking flair and Tabard demonstrating their remorseless defence.

Medicals gained their reward for persistence with two penalty goals kicked by their centre Neville.

Tabard however, did not give up and, as they pressurised Medicals' stand off, Jack Reilly opened the Tabard account with a beautifully taken drop goal.

Reilly then added a try after Kieran Murphy had burst through the Medicals defence and managed to ship the ball out as he was finally brought down, the ball then came back inside to Reilly who went under the posts giving him an easy conversion.

Tabard stretched their lead with another great try. Virtually against the run of play number eight, Scott Stoba, picked up at the base of the scrum and set up a blind side attack, full back Stephen Jenkins came into the line and then wing Michael Thomas made the ground before passing to flanker Ashley Hall for the score which Reilly converted to give Tabard the lead at the break by 17 points to six.

Medicals had much the better of the second half but the Tabard defence was outstanding and, as the Medicals attacks faltered, Tabard had a good period but just could not cross the line.

That was until a probing kick from Reilly forced a hurried clearance kick from the Medicals. The ball was kept alive by Tabard and Arasa and Reilly made the incursions through the Medicals defence and Jenkins took the final pass for the score.

With 10 minutes to go, Medicals proved they were not going to be a walkover and threw everything at Tabard.

Their constant pressure was rewarded with a try when their stand off Codrington went over, following a lineout, with Neville adding the conversion.

Then with three minutes to go Medicals second row Fisher-Black was over after a forward drive in the corner and Neville slotted the conversion from the corner to reduce the Tabard lead to just two points.

There was then a spell of heart stopping rugby before the final whistle but Tabard held on.

Next Week Tabard are at their Cobden Hill, Radlett, home where they entertain UCS Old Boys (KO 3pm).

Tabard's second team also had a victory beating Old Albanian 17-10.

Tabard: Jenkins, Thomas, K Murphy, Arasa, Roberts, Reilly, A Murphy, Lake (Bill), O'Neill, Lake (Wilf), Kidd, O'Connor, Barrow, Hall (Miller), Stoba.