MELLISH 3^rd XV       5 Pts

V

EAST RETFORD 2^nd XV     48 Pts

On a day more suited for skiing than rugby Retford 2nds travelled to Nottingham for a league game against the well drilled side of Mellish.

On arrival it was found out that they had no front row so the scrums were to be un- contested.  With this in mind and a rousing team talk from Captain Keith Dalby, Retford knew they had to play a fast flowing game and from the kick of that’s just what they did.

With the forwards doing the hard yards then allowing the backs room to do their moves resulting in a try for James Warwick-Adkins fresh from his travels. It was a further ten minutes into the game before the visitors got chance to extend their lead through the lightning pace of Dave Ruziicka duly converted be Steve Henderson.

Even with a twelve nil lead Mellish always continued to fight and were dangerous on the counter only to be met by a strong Retford defence. After thirty minutes Retford found a second gear and two quick tries were scored by Steve Henderson and Tyse Hodgson both converted by the ever present Steve Henderson.

Retford went into the break twenty six points to nil up but this could easily of been more but for the two identical tries scored by Daniel Styring but both disallowed as the referee couldn’t see due to the dense fog.

With Retford thinking they had the game sown up they took their foot off the gas and Mellish scored a well deserved try, This only seemed to spark Retford into a frenzy of outstanding rugby that would make even Martin Johnson jealous with tries coming thick and fast from Simon Palmer and number two for Henderson and the subs both Kurt Spencer and Stew Parkin adding to the tally with Henderson converting on.

The team can take great heart from this performance and hopefully carry this for into next week’s game against Market Rasen Man of the Match went to Steve Henderson for the backs for all round good play and a brace of tries and Man of the Match to Daniel Styring for the forwards for his excellent line out work and mobility around the park and a special mention to Declan Jones for his winning debut in a Retford shirt.

Donkey goes jointly to Craig Hammond for not knowing when to open his door and Ian Clarkson  for not knowing when to stop his car