Last weekend Pavs welcomed Nuneaton RFC to The Stump in round 15 of the Midlands Premier competition. The reciprocal away fixture was a very close affair with victory being cruelly snatched from Pavs’ grasp in the dying seconds of the game. With this in mind, this was sure to be a game to be relished by both supporters and players.
Pavs fielded a somewhat “reorganised” side with hooker Callum Mason coming in for the injured Kieran Wells, Steve Allen moving on to the front row for the injured Adam Stirling and fit again Oliie Collingham returning on the back row. In the backs George Billam returned from his sojourn in Aus. whilst Matt Molyneux made a quick recovery from what initially looked like a very nasty injury. Alex Garden slipped into inside centre with Jonty Green taking a seat on the bench.
First contacts were abrasive with neither side securing consistent field position. After ten minutes, Nuns took the lead via a centrally placed penalty. This seemed to galvanise Pavs into action and for the next ten minutes they camped in and around Nuns final third. After twenty two minutes Nuns were judged to be offside in front of their posts and the scrum half sent for a ten minutes rest. Pavs eschewed the opportunity to draw level for a more positive approach and went for the scrum. Pavs drove to the line time after time, but stalwart Nuns defence kept them out. Eventually, Nuns were able to scramble the ball back and kick for touch. From the ensuing lineout Pavs forwards drove fully thirty metres before hooker Callum Mason touched down to put Pavs into the lead at 5-3. For the rest of the half honours were shared, but Nuns retook the lead with two more penalties to end proceedings in the lead at 9-5.
After the break things went a little awry for Pavs when they turned the ball over whilst committed to attack. Nuns moved the ball quickly through the hands, and with skilful interplay out wide, touched down to extend their lead to 14-5 on forty three minutes. Pavs now knew they had to fight to get back into the game. With a vociferous crowd behind them, Pavs upped the pace. A number attacks resulted in wing Alex Barton cutting a fine line through the centre to score and with the Billam extras narrow then Nuns’ lead to 14-12. From the kick off, Pavs kept up the pressure, moving the ball width to width waiting the right moment to go for the line. On seventy minutes and with Nuns conceding an increasing number of penalties, Pavs attacked down the right hand side before moving the ball quickly left for Matt Molyneux to sprint in and finish the move with an Ashton like dive in front of the home support. Pavs were now in the lead at 17-14 with ten minutes left. This has come to be a nervy time for the home side, but it is a measure of how farthey are maturing as a side that they were able to see out this period by pragmatic decision making and realising that they do not have to run the ball all of the time. The final whistle gave them the win and a valuable four points.
Post match the side were justifiably excited by a fabulous comeback. Just as importantly coach Nathan Eggleshaw was immensely pleased by how they handled the closing minutes of the game. From a supporter’s perspective an excellent game of rugby enjoyed by all. Pavs now take a break from league rugby, returning on February 8thto play Peterborough Lions away. On the cup front on Wednesday 29thJanuary the squad play Lincoln RFC at home in the NLD competition, kick off 7.15.
Onwards ………………………
Nige Youl
Team Manager
