Marlborough (6) vs. Grove (81)

Grove demolished basement boys Marlborough with ‘Man on a Mission’ Harry Carr scoring 6 tries from a total of 13 scored by the team overall. With 8 of these trys converted this was Grove’s biggest points haul this season and saw them move up a place to 3rd in the table. It also took Carr to the position of highest 1st team try scorer this season, ahead of Guy Nicholl who previously looked to be running away with the accolade.

Marlborough took advantage of some sloppy play by Grove at the start of the game and within 4 minutes were 6 : 0 in front, thanks to two long range penalties from their superb kicker. After that however the floodgates opened against them and both forwards and backs for Grove really began to click. First to score was centre Tom Harrington, followed by a hat trick of tries and with it the bonus point, from wing Harry Carr. The last of these trys was converted by fly half Dave Maryon to take the score to 6 : 22. Full back Gareth Hudson was next to score a try with Carr then adding another and centre Dave Johnson finishing off a first half haul of 7 tries, Maryon’s conversion taking the half time score to 6 : 39.

In the second half, with both slope and wind advantage, Grove really began to open up and almost immediately added to their score thanks to a try from No. 8 Joe Bellinger, converted by Maryon. Within minutes flanker Matt Young was on the scoresheet with a try converted by Maryon and then Carr added his fifth and sixth of the day both also converted by Maryon. It was then left to wing Guy Nicholl to finish off with two trys of his own, again both converted by Maryon and the final score of 6 : 81 was reached.

Although not the sternest of tests this had been a good run out for Grove allowing both forwards and backs to demonstrate their flair and some adventurous tactics which might not have been possible in a tighter game.

Despite being overwhelmed in virtually every department by their visitors Marlborough never stopped playing and for the last fifteen minutes of the game attacked Grove with ferocity causing the visitors to have to defend strongly. In particular the Marlborough place kicker had a good day, at one point hitting the upright with a penalty kick from halfway and virtually on the touch line with the ball still rising at the time!

Grove 2nds went down 24 : 12 to Maidenhead 4th with Grove’s scores coming from Kit Tinker and Ryan Gordon trys plus a conversion from Lucas Hill.

Grove 3rds won a decisive 41 : 10 league victory against Reading Abbey 3rds with points coming from Steve Coad (2 x trys), Stewart Sherwood (2 x trys), Ben Law (try), Tom McCarthy (try), Roger Sevier (try + 2 conversions) and Phil Clare (conversion).