Friday night lights….!

This was a telling performance from 1871 and whilst by no means the league campaign is finished, as there are still two games to go before the league season is complete, it is clear about the intent of the 2^nd XV to solidify themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

Be clinical, have intent and to have fun were the three things outlined pre-match and with the opportunity to seal the league, there wasn’t much more drive needed.

From the kick-off the intent showed, as 1871 started fast and hard and after 6 minutes Albert Stoute (2) opened the scoring after going over from a lineout maul and Harrison Slater (10) also opened his account by converting.

5 minutes later Aidan Jones (8) went over from a scrum penalty, with Harrison Slater again taking the extras.

At 13 minutes, Kavan Fitzpatrick (7) scored what was clearly the try of the night.  Old Streetonians attempted to clear, but the ball was recovered and run back by Danny O’Sullivan (13), from 10mtrs off the 1871 try line, he accelerated and stepped players easily and broke a tackle, going through the 1871 22mtr line, over the 10mtr line, then the half-way line and almost up to the Old Streetonians 10mtr line, before he drew a defender and passed to Harrison Slater who charged on and basketball popped the ball to Kavan, who did not need to break stride, then continued to accelerate away from the remaining defenders to score in the corner.  No conversion to round that score off.

Old Streetonians, showed that they were not just there to make up the numbers and intercepted and 1871 pass to run the ball in and score un-opposed.  Old Streetonians then put up a bit of battle, for 15 minutes, but were not able to capitalise on the 1871 penalties during this period and at 32 minutes Dan O’Mahony (3) crashed over to score after 1871 taped a penalty and a quick recycle phase of the ball was taken.  No conversion.  3 minutes later Marquis Daly-Vidal (14) scored after an 1871 scrum win and the defence were stretched.  Harrison Slater too the extra points, then just before the end of the half, at 39 minutes, David Vater (5) used his power well and crashed over the try line after 1871 executed a series of pick and go plays.  Harrison Slater once again took the extra points.

2^nd half was not quite one way traffic, but the half started just as the first half did, with Albert Stoute scoring first, this time after 15 minutes, as he quick tapped a penalty and crashed over to score.  No conversion.

At 21 minutes Junior Peni (18) scored from the back of a lineout maul and again No conversion.  At 28 minutes Jack Feeney (19) was on the back of a lineout penalty maul to score and this time Harrison Slater converted the extra points.

The final score came from a quick bit of thinking and a bit of extra brawn from Junior Peni who scored his brace, who carried the ball hard into contact and broke through tackles then seeing a gap ran through it and handed off the final defender to run around and score under the posts.  Harrison Slater took the 2 points.

1871 crowned league champions, as none of the other teams in the league will be able to reach the current 1871 score of 98 points.

There are still two league games to go, so there is still work to be done, as the challenge is not to be beaten.

Let’s do this…