EDF Energy Cup Second Round St Albans 50 Mersea Island 7 ST ALBANS romped into the Third Round of the EDF Energy Cup with a 50-7 win over Mersea Island. This season both clubs have struggled in their respective leagues, with Saints winning their first le
EDF Energy Cup Second Round
St Albans 50 Mersea Island 7
ST ALBANS romped into the Third Round of the EDF Energy Cup with a 50-7 win over Mersea Island.
This season both clubs have struggled in their respective leagues, with Saints winning their first league game only last week, but that win seems to have inspired a new found confidence and belief.
Foul play from the visitors led to the first points of the day, a well struck penalty from full-back Mark Kentish. Saints were soon 8-0 to the good following a wonderful team try. The forwards creating quick ball, before veteran scrum-half Morete unleashed his backs and some sublime handling culminated in a try for wing Ed Coy.
However, although Saints continued to dominate all they had to show before half-time was a further penalty and a try, both from Kentish.
Unfortunately the home side had their customary 10 minute rest immediately after the break, thus allowing Mersea Island some momentum.
A catch and drive saw the ball taken over the line by the visitors' prop, who appeared to drop the ball. The referee was unsighted but moving round saw the player on top of the ball and awarded the try.
This disappointment seemed to galvanise the home side and for the final 25 minutes they showed their true potential.
First Coy skipped in for his second try, then new boy Phil Tsingari scored with a fantastic individual effort. Receiving the ball just across the halfway line, he dummied first outside then in, finally bursting through the last despairing tackle to casually touch down under the posts. The conversions and two further penalties from Kentish took the scoreboard to 36-7.
As the game neared its conclusion, there was still time for the Saints chalk up 50 points.
From a passage of broken play a speculative kick into the Saints half was fielded by Kentish. His quick thinking, noticing the opposition were way out of position, resulted in him kicking towards their posts and chasing his own kick. He duly won the race to the ball for his second try.
The final try of the day was scored by Brenton Lemiere, coming on as replacement flanker to seal a very impressive win.
Kentish had a personal tally of 30 points against his name and for the first time this season, it was the backs that outscored the forwards although credit must go to the pack who secured quick ball.
This second successive victory will raise the Saints spirits ahead of their trip to Chiswick this weekend.
St Albans: Kentish, Coy, Dickinson, Alderton, Tsingari, Stevenson, Morete, M Huddleston, Callan, O'Leary, C Huddleston, Sayers, Styles, Bickle, Joubert. Reps, Weldon, Lemiere, Still, Grover.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here