Cobden Hill outfit see off Basildon

Intermediate Cup

Tabard 18 Basildon 6

TABARD played really well for the opening 30 minutes of their Cup Game against Basildon on Saturday and built up a lead that they then managed to hang on until the end of the game and were rewarded with victory.

From the kick off it looked as though Basildon were the team in the driving seat but things turned round after the first scrum when Basildon found themselves being pushed back at a rate of knots.

This marked the turning point and, from the next scrum, with just six minutes on the clock Tabard heeled well. Stand-off, Tryfan Edwards, saw space in front of him and surged through, as he was halted he fed centre Gerry Arasa, who continued the break before giving the scoring pass to his other centre, Henry Mitchell, who accelerated away for the score. Scrum half Harry Gough converted and Tabard were seven points ahead.

Tabard then continued their excellent period with some good runs and ball handling but the only reward was a penalty goal from Gough when Basildon were caught offside. Tabard were still in the driving seat however and their reward this time was another try. From a line out the forwards drove purposefully for the line and as they crossed over prop Bill Lake was on hand to claim the touch down. This marked the end of Tabard’s ascendancy and Basildon came into the game with a penalty goal, kicked by centre Johnson, to bring up the half time score of 15 points to 3 in Tabard’s favour.

In the second half the game became a good one for the spectators with both sides playing hard and having their chances but to no avail. Early on Basildon had another penalty goal, kicked by Johnson and Tabard crossed the line after a kick and chase but the referee ruled the ball had not been grounded properly by Tabard’s speedy wing, Shane Austin.

Tabard completed the scoring with a penalty from replacement centre Jack Reilly on 70 minutes and this was enough to give Tabard victory by 18 points to six.

Next week Tabard resume their league campaign against Hemel Hempstead away, kick off 2.30pm.

Tabard: Hopcroft, Austin, Mitchell (Reilly 58), Arasa, Lewis, Edwards, Gough, B Lake, McKenzie, W Lake, Hall, Calnan, O’Neill (Hart 54), Ruston, O’Connor.