Southern Counties Cup – Qtr Final -- Saturday 21st November - Grove 12, Milton Keynes 13

Grove exited the Southern Counties Intermediate Cup at the quarter-final stage after allowing Milton
Keynes back into a match they could have closed out. Having led 12-3 at the break, Grove
took their foot off the gas and the visitors' pack punished them with two well-worked tries. Fly half Roger Sevier, whose wild pass had contributed much to Milton Keynes' second try,
had a chance to sneak victory for Grove with a penalty deep into stoppage time. But his effort
drifted wide and the hosts were unable to get out of jail. Grove may prefer to have got a sloppy display out of the system in the cup so they can maintain
their promotion push in Southern Counties North. Milton Keynes' well-drilled pack were a force
throughout the match and they began well despite playing into the wind. They took a deserved
lead on 16 minutes with a penalty from full back James Dean.

Grove won a messy line-out on 22 minutes and spun the ball over to the right where centre Jamie
Burns was able to finish well. Burns's try showed Grove's greater firepower in the backs, but
they were never fully able to cut loose. The same player made a try-saving tackle after 29 minutes,
then Milton Keynes had lock Mark Austin sin-binned for dissent. Burns's centre partner Nick Sevier
ran in a superb solo try on 38 minutes after receiving the ball on halfway and accelerating through
Keynes' helpless defence. His brother Roger Sevier converted and there looked every chance Grove
would build on their lead. Visiting scrum half Daniel Pearson came into the game after the break, but Dean's errant boot stopped
them reducing the arrears. Nick Sevier had to pick up and clear well after his scrum half Dave Maryon
threw a poor pass. Milton Keynes were now dominant up front, especially in the scrums, and scored on 63 minutes when
loose-head prop Richard Hill ploughed over following some good handling. Ten minutes later, and
after some sustained pressure stemming from Roger Sevier's injudicious pass, replacement tight-head
prop Neil Forton touched down from a powerful driving maul. Grove had slightly more urgency after
this, but did not help themselves when prop Gary Eltham was sin-binned. Indeed, Hill was held
up as he sought his second try. Referee Keith Latham added on nine minutes for stoppages, but Grove's only chance came and went
as Roger Sevier's penalty drifted wide. Grove: Hayes, Lane (Cramp 60), N Sevier, Burns, Harrington, R Sevier, D Maryon, T Eltham, Proctor,
(Sherwood 40), G Eltham, S Maryon (capt),(Brooks 79), Fredericks (Mack 80), Kerr, G Nicholl, B Nicholl
(Brooks) [blood] 48-55). Referee: K Latham (Oxfordshire). Grove Man-of-the-Match: N Sevier.