Grove (54) vs. Marlborough (14)

With Marlborough being unable to field a full squad of registered players this match was played as a ‘friendly’ with Grove automatically receiving 5 points, regardless of the actual result. In the event, Grove would have gained five points anyway as they comprehensively defeated their opponents, scoring eight trys, four conversions and two penalties.

Wing Harry Carr opened the scoring with a try out wide for Grove but the lead was short lived as Marlborough struck back with a converted try to take the lead 5 : 7. Grove went back in front thanks to a try from No. 8 Ben Nicholl and conversion from fly half Dave Maryon but again the lead was reversed when Marlborough scored another converted try and went 12 : 14 ahead. Grove continued to attack and were rewarded when Carr went over for his second try of the day on the stroke of half time so the score at the interval was 17 : 14 to Grove.

Maryon increased Grove’s lead to 23 : 14 with two successful penalty kicks early in the second half before one of the Marlborough props received a yellow card. Carr had two more strong runs at the line but was taken into touch both times. Flanker Alex Morgan then was on hand to take a pass from Carr, following another great run by the winger, and touched down for his debut 1st team try. With the conversion missed the score moved to 28 : 14. Next it was Maryon’s turn to shine when he fired a quicksilver inside pass to the marauding Carr who stormed to the line for his ‘hat trick’ try. Maryon’s successful conversion took the score to 35 : 14 and Grove were ‘out of sight’. Simon Peel came on from the bench for flanker Carl Alder and next it was centre Tom Harrington who scored for Grove following a penalty, quickly taken by scrum half Owen Gustafson, who then saw the ball shipped through the hands of hooker Jimmy Wallbridge and lock Paul Miles before a superb pass from the forward found the on-rushing centre. The score thus moved to 40 : 14. Fellow centre Guy Nicholl was next on the scoresheet following a rampaging run at the line and Maryon’s conversion took the score to 47 : 14. Not finished yet Ben Nicholl then picked up and with a long run to the line touched down for his second try of the day. The conversion kick from Maryon, produced the 54 : 14 result but not before Ben Nicholl was substituted by Jack Horrocks.

Grove 2nds had an emphatic 51 : 0 home win over Maidenhead 4th's (Scorers awaited)

Grove 3rd's rounded off a great day at Cane Lane beating Reading 4th's 71 : 5.

Scorers as follows:-
• Roger Sevier (4 trys + 8 conversions)
• Dario Parris (3 trys)
• Alex Boyd (2 trys)
• Richard Straijs(Try)
• Richard Anstis(Try)