Grove 15 Newbury Stags 0

 Grove maintained their unbeaten home record on Saturday by grinding out a victory against a spirited Newbury side.

Despite controlling large portions of the game, in terms of territory and possession, the home side failed to dispatch a Newbury side that travelled with a bare 15 players at their disposal. Grove put great pressure on both the scrum and lineout resulting in a surfeit of possession, which a surprisingly stuttering backline failed to convert into the points which were plainly there to be taken.

 The visitors should have taken an early lead but failed to convert a penalty within kickable range, and the home side slowly took control from there on in.

 Good forward work both in the loose and tight, resulted in prop Richard Keen going over in the corner for an unconverted try and an easy penalty kick was then also missed by Grove.

 Both Grove and Newbury were reduced to 14 men 5 minutes before the interval when the visiting flanker and Grove second row Zack Grant were sin binned.

After the break, Grove continued to look for the killer blow to dispatch the opposition, and were guilty of trying too hard at times, with the backline squandering a great deal of ball. In fact all the possession and territory was rewarded with a single drop goal, sharply taken by full back Dave Maryon

 As the half progressed, Grove winger Mattie Lewis had to leave the field with a thigh strain, resulting in a reorganisation of the backline which meant centre Jamie Burns moving to the wing. This brought an almost instant reward, when he rounded the opposition defence and simply beat them for pace to score a well taken try which Nick Sevier easily converted.

 Grove continued to dominate, but failed to find a way through a determined and committed Newbury defence.

The home side can be pleased with the result, but whilst wining on Saturday, Grove will need to improve if they are to continue to mount a challenge in a very competitive league this season