Saturday 10th October 2009 - Swindon 18 - 22 Grove

Centre Jamie Burns scored a marvellous hat trick of tries with fly half Roger Sevier converting two and scoring a penalty
to edge out home side Swindon 18 : 22 on Saturday. This was despite Grove missing some 6 first choice players for the
match.
Away league confrontations with Swindon over the last few seasons have shown that they are never an easy side to beat
at Greenbridge Road and this match proved no exception with the lead changing hands a number of times during the game.
Swindon started well and it was clear from the outset that their pack was as big and strong as ever and indeed they took
a 3:0 lead from a penalty after just five minutes. Within ten minutes the scores were levelled however, when Sevier slotted
a long range penalty for Grove. Swindon replied in kind and went 6:3 ahead shortly after but Swindon's pack were now
beginning to dominate their opposite numbers in both scrums and lines out. Grove always looked dangerous once the ball
was moved to their backs and Burns side stepped his way to the first of his tries to nudge Grove into a 6:8 lead following
a great line break by full back John Barrett. Just before half time Swindon missed the chance to go ahead when a penalty
kick went wide of the posts. On the stroke of half time Grove lost centre Jason Evans to a hamstring pull.Evans was replaced by Simon Cramp who went to the wing position with Zach Grant moving into centre for the 2nd half.
A Sevier penalty attempt from the half way line 5 minutes into the half went just wide and the resultant knock on from the
defenders attempted run out of defence went unpunished. Grove lost prop Richard Keen to a head injury at this point with
Gary Eltham coming on to prop the other side of the scrum from his twin brother. Then Swindon scored a try down the right
wing, which was the result of 3 missed tackles and some controversy on the sideline over a possible foot in touch. The
conversion attempt was missed from wide out, but Swindon were back in the lead at 11:8. In an attempt to level the scores
Sevier made another very long range penalty attempt at goal but this again was just wide of the mark. Sevier was unlucky
again when a quick tap penalty by Mackenzie enabled the fly half to break through the Swindon defence and go clear for
the try line only to be called back by the referee in order to have the penalty re-taken. Then with just ten minutes remaining
Burns scored his second try following superb inter-passing build up by all of the Grove backs and in particular great running
from Barrett and a neat inside ball from winger Harrington,Sevier's conversion putting Grove into an 11:15 lead. The Swindon pack then came into their own, mauling Grove back
several metres from a lineout before feeding their backs, who put the inside centre in for a try under the posts after some
mazy individual running. Their conversion put Swindon back into what looked like a winning position of 18:15 but not to
be outdone and with only 90 seconds left on the clock, Burns scored his hat-trick try after a very alert and quick break
by Grant had taken the visitors right to the Swindon try line and another slick passing move had put Burns clear. Sevier's
touch line conversion meant the home side needed at least a try to win and with virtually no time left they were unable to
score and victory from an unlikely position was secured.This had been a very tough match for both sides but the close win enabled Grove to stay top of the league by virtue of
having scored more points than Witney. Both sides remain unbeaten but level on points difference.Grove team
T Eltham, Goldsworthy, Keen (G Eltham), Maryon, Chapman (Brooks), Kerr, Nicholl, Frdericks, Mackenzie, Sevier,
Grant, Evans (Cramp), Burns, Harrington, Barrett
Reps - G Eltham, Brooks, CrampScorers
Tries: Burns (3), Conversions: Sevier (2), Penalty: Sevier.