Windsor 1st XV v Grove

 

 

Windsor travelled up to Grove looking to cement their position in the top four, whilst their hosts were keen for a win which would put some distance between them and the relegation zone.

 

With a number of players unavailable once again Windsor started with a changed back line with Neal Kennedy starting a fly half and Gary Morgan coming into centre.
 

Within the first ten minutes Windsor showed that their intention was to move the ball as quickly as possible and use their mobile pack to it’s full advantage. With young prop Lee Rawlins taking a pass just on halfway he proceeded to bull doze his way through the first defender making good ground before offloading to winger Jono Sandiland. He in returned passed inside to skipper Ed Bell and it was only some desperate defending that prevented the try. Soon after from great defence in midfield Windsor turned over Grove ball and a swift pass out to Taki gave him the opportunity to show his pace, which he did in style to score under the posts. With Neal Kennedy converting Windsor went into a well deserved lead 7:0. 

 

Grove quickly applied their own pressure and caused Windsor to knock on. From the resulting scrum half Grove’s inside centred crashed through to score, which once converted, took the score to 7:7.

 

Windsor’s own response was immediate when great work by flanker Martin Gosling at a Grove line out saw Windsor get the ball. Quick hands by centres Nunn & Morgan fed winger Sandilands who proceeded to beat three defenders from half way. Kennedy again converted putting Windsor ahead 14:7.

 

Straight from the restart prop Sean Kelly fielded the ball and passed out to Jono Sandilands. He in return passed to Gary Morgan who linked inside with scrum half Tom Lawrance who in return fed Paul Nunn to score the best team try of the game. With the try converted by Kennedy, Windsor extended their lead to 21:7.

 

Just before halftime Windsor had a further opportunity to extend their lead when following a great break by fullback Ben Harvey from his own 22, Jono Sandilands was tackled just short of the line.

 

The second half started with Grove pressing hard to get back into the game and they were soon rewarded when Windsor conceded a penalty for not releasing which was converted taking the score to 21:10.

 

Windsor were continuing to move the ball well and after a great move by the backs Sandilands backed himself to outpace the defence, however after kicking through he was tackled without the ball, penalty try!. With the conversion going over the score moved onto 28:10.

 

With the game nearly over Windsor suffered a number of injuries and then with Ray Cox being yellow carded, and no more subs available, Windsor were reduced to just 13 players. Grove quickly capitalised on their greater numbers by scoring from a 5 metre scrum. With the conversion surprisingly being missed the score was 28:15.

 

 

Windsor were not finished yet and were quickly back on the attack and from a kick over the defence and with the ball bouncing into his hands, Tony Hurst, scored another try, which went unconverted, making the final score 33:15.

 

 For his hard hitting defensive work and incisive running the Willmett Solicitors Man of the Match was centre Paul Nunn