Great win for Grove RFC to open their league season.

Despite a shaky first half which ended with Beaconsfield 8 : 11 in front Grove went on to overwhelm their opponents and win this opening league fixture by 44 : 16

Grove started strongly but playing into a strong wind meant that every mistake or turnover from possesion turned into good field position from the Beacs fly half Nick Tappin, who kicked well all afternoon. Beacs got on the scoresheet first with a penalty and then an opportunist try from centre John Bondoc following a mix up between Chris Clare and Tom Harrington. Grove got back on terms with a penalty from fly half Roger Sevier followed by an unconverted try from debutant winger Harry Carr, who scored a classic wingers try diving into the corner. Before the break Beaconsfield scored another penalty to give themselves the half time lead 8-11

Grove had to re-arrange their side at half time with both Roger Sevier and Chris Clare lost to injuries but were then 'on fire' from the restart. First centre Ben Nicholl then Harry Carr, now playing full back in place of Clare, went over for tries, both converted by captain Nick Sevier, to make the score 22-11. Beaconsfield hit back with a sustained period of pressure which resulted in a deserved but unconverted forwards try from flanker Ken Kavanagh for 22-16. After this it was all Grove for the rest of the match with substitute lock Rob Weaving and flankers James Kerr and Jamie Fredericks running riot although it was Nick Sevier who went over the line for Grove's next try which he also converted to make the score 29-16. Grove's pack were really dominant pushing Beaconsfield off their own scrum ball time and time again. New signing Joe Bellinger, now playing in the centre, was awesome and it was not long before returning player and substitute wing Tom Clipsham was able to score in the corner taking Grove into an unassailable position of 34 : 11 in front. Outstanding prop Richard Keen, newly returned from Brighton RFC, was next on the scoresheet with a great try to cap a personally superb game. Finally Harry Carr completed his hat trick with a great try, to end the game with Grove running out convincing winners at 44 : 16. All in all, it was a convincing performance from a young untried side, and bodes well for the future that they took all but one of the chances to score, making 7 tries in total

Grove scorers
Harry Carr 3, Nick Sevier, Tom Clipsham, Richard Keen, Ben Nicholl
Conversions Nick Sevier 3
Penalty Roger Sevier
Grove team
Wallbridge, Dixey, Keen, Miles, Chapman, Fredericks, Kerr, Bellinger, Needlekoff, R Sevier, Harrington, Nicholl, N Sevier, Carr, Clare
Reps – North, Weaving, Clipsham