Try spree earns Tabs win

London Three North West Tabard 32 Twickenham 10 IN another hard-fought game at Cobden Hill on Saturday, Tabard s tenacity paid off as they finally scored some quick tries to give them a well-deserved 32-10 victory over Twickenham. Right from the start i

London Three North West

Tabard 32

Twickenham 10

IN another hard-fought game at Cobden Hill on Saturday, Tabard's tenacity paid off as they finally scored some quick tries to give them a well-deserved 32-10 victory over Twickenham.

Right from the start it was obvious that the game was going to be hard and testing on both defences and that the referee was not going to have a particularly good game. However, both sides fought hard and for a long time the outcome was in doubt, with Tabard playing their controlled rugby and putting in bone-jarring tackles and Twickenham trying to force their way through incessantly.

After a dogged start, Twickenham opened the scoring with a try from their flanker Clarke. Continually pressurising the Tabard line, Twickenham ran a short penalty and, although the initial thrust was held up, they recycled and the try was taken with their stand off Astbury adding the conversion. Ten minutes later, Astbury added a penalty and Tabard were 10 points adrift.

With less than five minutes until half time, Tabard scored a great try. After several phases of recycling the ball, it was passed out. Stand off Jack Reilly sent a long miss pass to winger Phil Cooper who managed to run round the first line of defence before drawing in the full back and giving centre Joe Cunningham the perfect scoring pass. Reilly added the conversion.

In the final minute of the half, Tabard got a bonus. Twickenham had a rare fumble and Reilly was on hand to kick and chase the ball over the line for the touchdown, giving Tabard the lead.

In the second half the game was as tough as ever but Tabard were on the scoreboard quickly with a penalty from Reilly after Twickenham were caught offside. Just over halfway through the half, Tabard's relentless efforts through the centre paid off when Cunningham once again scythed through a bewildered defence to score under the posts, giving Reilly an easy conversion.

Although Tabard were now ahead, Twickenham looked like scoring several times but Tabs' tackling never let them down and, with three minutes to go, another Reilly penalty put them more than two scores ahead.

In the last minute, the ball went loose behind the Twickenham ruck and Tabard number eight, Scott Stoba, pounced on the ball and streaked towards the line. Although Stoba was pulled down short, centre Mike Thomas took the scoring pass for another great try which Reilly converted to give Tabard the victory at 32-10.

This week Tabard are away to Finchley and on Sunday Tabard Colts play Woodford in the third round of the National Knock Out Cup.

Tabard: Roberts, Cooper, Thomas, Cunningham, Ashcroft, Reilly, Murphy, Collette, Ray (Gough, 64), Baker, Montague, Sio, O'Connor, Matheson and Stoba.