27-point defeat for Tabard
London Two North West
Stevenage 36 Tabard 9
TABARD found Stevenage just too strong on Saturday as they were defeated by 36 points to nine.
Although Tabard played well, nothing seemed to go right, while Stevenage were able to throw the ball around without error and thus forge a win.
Tabard started on top and it looked as though they might take the game to Stevenage especially after a penalty, from stand-off Jack Reilly, put Tabard three points up in the third minute. However, an early yellow card to Tabard enabled Stevenage to wrest the initiative and they showed their forceful running with a well taken try by scrum-half Bird. The game then settled into a rhythm of both sides attacking but being stopped before another penalty by Reilly put Tabard ahead again.
Just before half time Stevenage put together a run from deep which carried them over the line with flanker Smith touching down and stand-off Roberts converting to put Stevenage in front at the interval.
After the break Reilly narrowed the gap with an early penalty but then disaster struck. Stevenage scored two tries in two minutes, both coming from breaks down the touchline and, although Tabard tackled hard, Stevenage kept the ball alive and ended up scoring, the first from wing Burrell and the second from flanker Banner, with Roberts converting the second.
Although Tabard battled on, especially in the tight scrums where the heavier Stevenage pack was pushed back, they could not convert possession into points. Both Tabard centres Peter Sleath and Tryfan Edwards broke through and wing Stephen Jenkins enjoyed some good runs but each time the Stevenage defence held.
In contrast, another Stevenage attack up the touchline was able to penetrate the Tabard defence again and Banner claimed his second try.
As the game entered the final quarter the pattern was the same, Tabard finding their attacks thwarted whereas Stevenage were able to continually run at Tabard, with the pressure finally telling when Bird went over for his second try of the game when he chased a kick ahead, the try was converted by Shumba.
Next week Tabard are at home to Old Haberdashers, kick off 2.15 pm.
Tabard: Hopcroft, Jenkins, Sleath, Edwards, Arasa, Reilly, Gough, Lake, Hart, Lake, Hall, Calnan, Westaway, Stoba (Kenny 48), O’Connor.
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