Tabard fightback falls just short
Tabard still searching for first win of the new season
London League 2 North West
Old Haberdashers 19
Tabard 13
TABARD put in a good performance against a strong Old Haberdashers side on Saturday but, despite a tremendous second half fight back, they still found a win elusive.
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Haberdashers have been promoted for three successive seasons and this is in part due to the size and physicality of their team. They put a lot of pressure on Tabard in the opening quarter but the Tabard defence was sound if not strictly legal as Haberdashers went ahead with two penalties from their full-back Brown.
After the initial onslaught Tabard steadied themselves and began to take the game to their opponents with both centres, Neil Hopcroft and Reece Lewis, having good upfield breaks, especially from Lewis who almost made a solo run in from the halfway line. For their pressure Tabard were rewarded with a penalty kicked by scrum-half Harry Gough.
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Haberdashers were still very much the stronger side and when the hard worked Tabard defence was punished with a yellow card Haberdashers were able to capitalise and after an onslaught on the Tabard line the home side were awarded a penalty try after Tabard pulled the maul down. Brown converted. Tabard responded however and an injury time penalty from Gough meant that the teams turned round with Tabard losing 16-6.
In the second half the opening quarter was a much more even affair and Haberdashers were only rewarded with another penalty kicked by Brown. In the final quarter Tabard flung everything they had into an unmitigated onslaught on the Haberdashers’ line.
Now it was Haberdashers’ turn to defend by fair means or foul and a yellow card for the hosts gave Tabard the edge. Another infringement allowed Tabard to run the short penalty through No.8, Cam O’Connor, who passed to prop Bill Lake in support. The other Tabard forwards drove Lake over the tryline for the score which Gough converted to bring Tabard to within six points. However, despite a valiant assault the game came to its conclusion and Tabard were left defeated.
Next week Tabard are at home to Fullerians, kick off 3pm.
Tabard: Jenkins, Davis, Hopcroft, Lewis, Mitchell, Edwards, Gough, Lake, McKenzie (O’Neill 65m), Walliker, Hall, Calnan, Ruston, Stoba, O’Connor.
* Other result: Old Albanians 5 Tabard 2nd XV 27.
