Wotton-under-Edge 7 Pilning 0
WOTTON successfully avenged this season's earlier defeat at the hands of in-form Pilning with an impressive team performance in blustery and bitter conditions on Saturday.
Standing in second place in Gloucestershire South Two, and on the back of several fine victories, Pilning arrived at Katharine Lady Berkeley's School as the favourites in this clash. However, a cohesive and gutsy performance by Wotton meant that they left the pitch victorious, to move within two points of Pilning in third place.
While Pilning edged the scrum, Wotton controlled the lineout and this led to an intriguing and finely balanced contest. Pilning pushed hard in the first quarter and spent much of it camped in Wotton's half, although Wotton defended stoutly thanks to the masterful Bernie, conducting the rolling mauls, and the hefty boot of fly half Ollie Boyle.
Newcomer Rob Marlow had a baptism of fire as scrum half for Wotton, but proved to be a reliable conduit for releasing some of the pressure.
Wotton captain Justin Barton marshalled his troops to use attack as the best form of defence at every opportunity and Wotton rallied to the cause, progressively stifling Pilning's flow and making ground themselves.
Brown and Roe provided substantial support in the front row, while the industrious Hull, Padgett and Needs cleaned up around the rucks and mauls. After a long absence, Needs in particular put in some big hits. To temper the defensive effort when Pilning did get the ball out along the line were Wotton's backs, Henshaw, Sparey and Settersfield.
The first half effectively ended as a highly entertaining stalemate. This was epitomised by the fact that both captains opted to kick penalties from difficult positions. Each side had two such penalties in the first half, with neither of them able to capitalise.
In the second half it became evident that it would take an unusual turn of events to break the cycle and this happened ten minutes into the second period when Pilning were awarded a penalty 25 yards out in front of the posts.
The kick was missed and from the restart Wotton's Bernie regained possession and made a 40-yard run into the Pilning half, evading several tackles. Second phase was set up and the ball came to Boyle, who made an audacious crossfield punt.
Although a Pilning winger was first to the ball, he dropped the catch over the line and Wotton's Andy Wytchard pounced to touch down for the try. Crosbee converted and Pilning were left chasing the game.
Wotton found themselves in a tense battle for the last 30 minutes of the game that contained a couple of key moments. One such moment was when Piling's full back broke through Wotton's defensive line, only to be uprooted five yards from the try line by his opposite number, Shaun Crosbee.
Eventually, Wotton held on to what proved to be victory, as the referee decided that time was up in this intense encounter.
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