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Atherstone RFC First XV 65

Barton under Needwood 0

ATHERSTONE RFC showed scant regard for their higher league opposition with an imperious display of rugby.

The opposition were deprived of possession and territory as the home side dominated set pieces despite the atrocious weather conditions.

The Atherstone forwards were quick to assert themselves in the scrummage, taking three balls against the head within the opening five minutes of the game. The last of these created the first try with Nick Cameron receiving George Bartlam's pass and powering his way over the line for an unconverted try.

Atherstone's second try also came from the scrum as Bob Greenway picked up and sliced through the defence to score the first of his three tries. Cameron converted.

Almost from the restart, Atherstone were on the scoreboard again as Dan King caught the ball cleanly deep in his own half from a Barton clearance kick, stepped on the gas and flew over the line for a converted try.

As the Atherstone forwards continued to command the scrummage, another ball against the head provided the platform for the fourth try of the match, scored by James Bagnall and converted by Cameron.

Textbook scrummaging provided Greenway with his second try as he kept the ball at his feet while his colleagues were expertly guided to the line by scrum-half Bartlam for a 29-0 half-time lead.

As the rain showed no signs of letting up, neither did the home side as they started the second half with an outstanding score from John Perry, who stormed through the opposition to score a converted try under the posts.

A catch and drive from a line out on the five-metre line saw Nick Bartlam getting his name on the scoresheet with an unconverted try.

John Ley's break took Atherstone back into an attacking position and, after the forwards rucked impressively, the ball was recycled to King, who scored a try to make it 48-0.

Cleaning up loose ball from the scrum, Bagnall then dodged the defence to score an unconverted try before Greenway completed his hat-trick and Cameron added his fifth conversion.

Paul Guy had the final say. Once again a driving scrum saw him over the line for an unconverted try, bringing the final score to 65-0.

Atherstone First XV v Old Wheatleyans (League, away). S Cooke, P Guy, M Lewis, J Redman, S White, D Powell, G McCabe, B Greenway, G Bartlam, N Cameron, D Cooke, J Perry, R Webster, J Bagnall, D King, N Bartlam, Tom Chetwynd. Meet Club House at 12.30pm. Call George on 07876 685342 for more details.

Atherstone Second XV v TBA. Players available should call Eddie Arnold on 07590 076284 or Andy Burton on 07974 144998. Meet club house 12.30pm.