SCOUTS 2nds 32 ON’s 2nds 20

 

December 5th 2009

Scouts 2^nd’s produced their best performance of the season with a much changed side from the week before due to several injuries.  Although the ON’s were a well drilled side running the ball well from all areas of the pitch the Scouts defence held strong with each player being fully committed and playing their part.  Once again the Scouts were pleased to include several colts in the team and they all had outstanding performances, which is a great sign for the future. Other excellent performances came from Ian Barber in the second row and veteran Sparky Holiday in the back row.  Although the first half was an even contest the Scouts showed their experience up front in the second half which gave the backs an excellent platform and plenty of ball to ensure that by the end of the game the Scouts proved to be worthy winners of this Wells Bombardier Merit Table match in a hard fought contest.  Tries came from Danny Bayes,Mark Franklin and Sam French. French converted all three plus three penalties to give himself a match haul of twenty points.

 

 TOWCESTRIANS 22 SCOUTS 36

Scouts 2nds 17 Wellingborough 2nds 22

 

November 28th 2009

 

Following on from an excellent performance away at Peterborough the week before the Old Scouts failed to gain any momentum, and put together any phases of play in a game that proved to be very frustrating for both sides.  Although the Old Scouts secured plenty of ball in the set piece they failed to capitalize on this possession.  In a very ‘stop - start game’ with no control of the breakdown area both sides received numerous penalties with Ian Barber receiving 10 minutes in the sin bin for apparently handling on the floor in a ruck.  In summary this will be a game that both sides will choose to forget.  Tries came from Guy Blundell, Chris Varygas and Jason Inwood with one conversion from Shaun Boyson.  In a season where the 2^nd team have performed reasonably well they must do better if they are going to compete in a tough local derby against ON’s this weekend.

 

 

November 7th 2009

 

Scorers : Ross Digby, Sparky, Niall Hefford, Phil Jones, Mark Franklin, Simmo (all 1 try each), Simmo 3 cons.

 

Lucky 13 for Scouts.......

Scouts enjoyed a good away win at Towcester, playing 60 minutesthe of the game with just 13 players.

With many of the Scouts pack resembling the appearance of the average 'Russian Boxer', they proved far too strong up front for Towcester and dominated in all areas.

Scouts started the game with 14 players, due to an injury to Nick Peters in the warm up, then with just 20minutes played they lost full back Dave Wright, thus resulting in all players having to put in extra effort, to compensate for the missing players.

The 'ever youthfull' Sparky distributed quality ball to the backs, in his new found position of scrum half, allowing the Scouts backs to move forward with ease.

After 15minutes Ross Digby opened the scoring, following a drive from a close range line out. Towcester fought straight back and equalised within as many minutes, but this followed with tries from Sparky and Phil Jones, to take Scouts into half time with a slender lead.

Then after the break, Scouts forwards took the game to Towcester, and their dominance proved to be too much for Tows with three quick tries in the first 15minutes of the second half from Mark Franklin, Simmo and Niall Hefford. As the game continued, Scouts defence held strong and it wasn;t until the last 5minutes or so, that Towcester finally realised that if they ran the ball wide, they had a overlap each time, this giving them 2 late tries, but it was too late and the 13 Scouts players held on to a well deserved win.

Flanker Chris Varygas also found his 'new position' at full back, keeping the opposition and his team mates guessing as to what he was going to do next !

 

DUNSTABLIANS 2nds 17   SCOUTS 2NDS 20 

 

October 31st 2009 - French says 'Au Revoir' to Dunstable

 

Colts fly half Sam French enjoyed a good afternoons rugby by picking up 15 of his sides 20 points, in an excellent win for Scouts 2nds away to Dunstable.

Under the excellent captaincy of the ever youthfull Mark 'sparky' Holliday as regular captains Jason Inwood (away socialising again) and Steve Hayes (pulled up to 1st team) were away, Scouts got off to the perfect start with an early try from colts centre Phil Harrison, who ran in under the posts following a good break from Ben Clayson, converted by French.

Then a short lapse of concentration, allowed Dunstable back into the game with 2 quick tries, the 2nd of which saw veteran winger Guy Blundell left for dead out wide, by the much younger Dunstable winger. 

Scouts forwards pressed hard up front and took control of the game thus resulting in French kicking a couple of penalties to keep Scouts within just a point of their hosts.

Then on the stroke of half time, French took a perfect interception from just inside his own half, which he duely converted, taking Scouts into half time 20-14 in front.

The second half saw Scouts defend well and restrict Dunstable to just one scoring penalty, which they converted midway through the half, leaving Scouts hanging onto a slender lead, which they managed to do.

Colts scrum half Mathew Brown played an exceptional game allowing Scouts young / pacey backs (except Guy) to enjoy good ball all afternoon.

With the team containing a variety of ages from young, old, very old and extremely old players proved to be a successful recipe, as all players played their part in a good away win.

 

SCOUTS 2nds 72   MILTON KEYNES 2^nds 8

 

Scouts 2^nd team got back to winning ways in the Merit table with a comfortable win over MK with tries coming from Guy Blundel 1, Nick Peters 1, Tom Greesley 1, Toby Smallwood 2, Arran Ashmore 1, James Sargison 3 and captain Jason Inwood 1,

 

It was very important that the team got a win with two heavy defeats over recent weeks.  With a mixture of young and old players the Old scouts started the game at great pace which they maintained throughout keeping M’Keynes on the back foot from the start.  With the pack providing the backs with plenty of ball from solid set pieces the backs were able to run in several well worked team tries.

 

Excellent performances came from James Sargison in the backrow and Ian Mellor at scrumhalf (definitely ones to watch).  Not forgetting Ian Barber who bravely played the whole 80 mins with a cold!! Thanks Ian.

 

LEIGHTON BUZZARD 2NDS 36 SCOUTS 2NDS 8

 

September 26th 2009

 

The home side capitalized on Scouts mistakes and ran out comfortable winners by scoring five tries, four conversions and a penalty.

Tom Chambers converted a penalty for Scouts late in the first half and Nick Peters scored a consolation try in the dying minutes of the game.

Scrum half Ian Mellor, in his first game for over three years, showed the spirit that was arguably lacking elsewhere by covering across to make a last ditch tackle in the corner and save a further try in the last minute.

 

SCOUTS 2NDS 52  BIGGLESWADE 1STS 10

 

Scouts 2nd’s entertained Biggleswade 1^st team and won 52-10.  Once again it was a solid performance by the forwards giving the backs clean ball to be able to run in 8 tries. Although all the team played well veterans Jon Ward and John Wright had excellent games with Richard Slinn scoring twice and giving another excellent performance in the centre.  It was also great to welcome Alan Ferguson in to the side after joining the club this week from Lenzie RFC in Scotland.  Alan gave the side balance at full back and had a great day with his boot collecting a total of 22 points with two tries and six conversions.  Other tries came from skipper Jason Inwood, Ben Clayson and Marc Simmonds [2] with the visitors scoring two consolation tries near the end. Next week the team travel to Luton which will prove to be a much tougher contest.

 

 

BEDFORD ATH Dev XV 21 SCOUTS 2nds 41

 

September 5th 2009

 

The Old Scouts fielded a team of young, old and very old players.  Although the Scouts were a little rusty several of the tries were created by excellent passages of play coming from a solid platform up front.  Both Richard Slinn and Tom Allin put in excellent performances in their debut performances in the team and are promising prospects for the club.