Sat 24 Sep 2022
Old Freemen’s managed an excellent five point win at Browns Lane but still allowed the opposition two late scores to clinch two losing bonus points.
Conditions and both sides’ appetite to move the ball about meant the ingredients were all in place for an avalanche of tries, but for so long only Freemen’s played their part.
An early penalty put Effingham ahead, but Luke Butcher levelled the score after fifteen minutes for an offside offence. A try from the Effingham hooker from a well worked line out catch and drive took them ahead again which was cancelled out by a well worked try for Max Davies. A sweeping move involving James Thompson and Seb Haddock gave Davies the opportunity to score wide out. 8-8 at half time.
Freemen’s began the second half in a frenzy with tries from Ollie Crouch from a line-out and Luke Hunter following an inside pass in the twenty-two, both converted by Butcher, 22-8. Tom Abrahams added a fourth try after fifty-five minutes after a penalty kick from Jim Wilson into the corner allowed the away side to dictate play which should have put the game to bed.
Nick Etherington scored a spectacular solo try with a kick and chase to register Freemen’s fifth and final try. Butcher converted, 36-8. With the game seemingly won, Freemen’s gifted Effingham two late tries and the points that they didn’t look like taking for most of the game.
The Effingham right wing, who created opportunities all afternoon, made a lightning break offloading in the Freemen’s twenty-two for the no10 to score under the posts which he converted. Freemen’s then decided to gift the home side a fourth try and bonus point with eight minutes remaining. Following pressure on the Freemen’s line and continued penalties, the referee decided to award a penalty try to the home side, 36-22. A poor defensive kick allowed the Effingham right wing to run the ball back with the outside centre scoring a fourth try and gaining a bonus point.
Luke Butcher missed a late penalty which would have made the score line more realistic based on the balance of play.
Team: Moodie I, Tabaqchali, Crouch (c), Thompson, Parisi, Bell D, Hunter (c), Etherington, Sidwell, Wilson, Bell J, Butcher, Haddock, Davies, Fisher. subs: Moodie A, Duke, Catlow
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