Grove RFC 1st XV vs Milton Keynes 1st XX

Grove 1st XV Vs Milton Keynes 1st XV - Match Day Report

Counties 1 Tribute Southern North League Match
Date: 16th September 2023
Kick Off: 15:00
Venue: Cane Lane

Starting XV:
1. Dave Hales
2. Tom McCarthy
3. George Hook
4. Sam Cooper
5.Elliot Martin
6. Brad Tailford
7. Alex Harris
8. Mark Roberts
9. Ollie Nicholl
10. Charlie Roberts
11. Will Nicol
12. Seb Titcombe
13. Rob Tyreman
14. Dylan Reeve
15. Luke Mathews

Replacements
16. Joe Cooper
17. Brad Tailored
18. Sam Christensen

First Half Overview
Early exchange of possession results in Charlie Roberts kicking long for a 50-22. From a quick line out, Grove apply early pressure resulting in a penalty. Scrum to Grove. A huge dominant scrum from Grove leads to them getting over the line at the back of the Scrum for Mark to put it down at the base. Charlie narrowly missed the conversion.

On the 5th minute Charlie kick deep into Milton Keynes 22 to again put pressure on. Leads to another Scrum 5 yards out. A quick offload from the base from Mark Roberts to Ollie Nicholl. Ollie Nicholl with a quick inside step to score a 2nd try for Grove.

From Milton Keynes kick off, Charlie Roberts kicks long and Milton Keynes put it through the hands to gain territory 10 yards inside Grove’s half. The pressure built puts Grove’s defence against the cosh, they are rewarded with a penalty. Opting for a kick at the posts, which narrowly goes wide past the left hand upright.

Milton Keynes catch and return the ball long into Grove’s 22, under pressure Ollie Nicholl puts boot to ball to get it away. After a few changes in possession it lands as a Grove line out around the halfway. Grove gift possession to Milton Keynes as it isn’t thrown straight. From the Milton Keynes line-out they get it wide but the pass goes forward close to the touch line.

Scrum to Grove which they dominate again. Quick ball through hands get it out to Dylan Reeves, who runs it up into Milton Keynes 22. A loose Grove pass into Milton Keynes hands give them the opportunity to gain quick territory. At pace they progress towards Grove’s half but Will Nicol put on the after burners to get back and make the tackle focusing Milton Keynes into error with them losing it forward in the contact.

Grove return from another solid scrum and gain up to the halfway. Milton Keynes break the line and Ollie Nicholls makes a tackle deamed high. For which he receives a yellow card and 10 minutes on the touchline. Milton Keynes take the opportunity to kick up to Grove’s 22.

From the first contact after the line-out Sam Christensen gets his frame over the ball to win Grove a pen. We don’t manage to find touch and Milton Keynes return well getting through the phases to gain yards into Grove’s half. Advantage was given to Milton Keynes for Tom McCarthy not getting back onside from the previous phases. The ref gave Milton Keynes the opportunity to make something happen but after a few phases deemed no advantage gained and it is brought back. Milton Keynes opt to kick to touch to gain quick territory.

Milton Keynes release the ball to the backs who push through a quick few phases but lose it forward in the contact. Scrum to Grove. Charlie Roberts kicks long and Milton Keynes return it in kind finding touch. From Grove possession they gain territory deep into Milton Keynes half with another 50/22 from Charlie Roberts. After a brief pause for a head injury, line out to Grove. The ball is thrown to the back of the lineout to Alex Harris. Mark Roberts then pops to Rob Tyreman who powers through Milton Keynes defence to get over the line for Grove’s 3rd try. Charlie Roberts missed the conversion.

Milton Keynes retain the ball from the kickoff but Mark Roberts gets over the ball to win Grove a penalty to win back possession. Charlie Roberts kicks long but fails to find touch from the pen and Milton Keynes run it through Grove’s defensive line to get up inside Grove’s 22. Grove penalised for not rolling away at the ruck, Milton Keynes opt for a kick at the posts and put it straight down the middle to put points on the board.

Grove won the ball high up and a storming drive from Dave Hales gains Grove good yards but lost forward 5 yards out. Scrum to Milton Keynes. Free kick awarded to Milton Keynes for an early push. Milton Keynes kick it up towards halfway to relieve the pressure Grove had put on them. Lineout to Grove, which was deemed to have been not thrown straight. Scrum Milton Keynes. Freekick awarded to Grove as Milton Keynes put in wasn’t correct. Ollie Nicholl takes a tap and go pushing Grove through the phases. Good carries from Mark Roberts, Charlie Roberts, Dave Hales & Rob Tyreman gets Grove 10 yards out. Milton Keynes penalised for not rolling away. Grove opt for the scrum. From the base it is put in the hands of 13 who runs diagonally through Milton Keynes line to score close to the post. Ollie Nicholl puts the conversion over.

From Milton Keynes kickoff, Ollie Nicholl kicks long, Milton Keynes return and after a few phases play is driven up to outside Grove’s 22. Ollie Nicholl gets his hands on the ball to turn it over and regain possession. Mark Roberts make the decision to put it out into touch to bring the half to a close.

A very dominant first half from Grove who controlled the territory and put Milton Keynes under huge pressure throughout the period. With Milton Keynes taking off one of there props injured minutes before the end of the half and them not having a replacement. Scrum’s for the rest of the match will be uncontested, which was disappointing for Grove as they have dominated this set piece throughout the half.

HT Score: Grove 1st XV 20-3 Milton Keynes 1st XV

Second Half Overview:
Ollie Nicholl kicks short to allow Grove a chance to get their hands on the ball, but Milton Keynes collect and recycle. From a lineout Milton Keynes loses possession, Mark Roberts collects and kicks deep into Milton Keynes 22. Knock on by Milton Keynes. Scrum to Grove. Mark Roberts picks and distributes to the backs, who get it through the hands. Rob Tyreman runs a direct line to break through Milton Keynes defence his 3rd try of the game. Charlie Roberts narrowly misses the conversion attempt.

Mark Roberts cleanly takes the kick off and drives Grove forward. After a few phases, Grove get the ball wide and give Will Nicol the chance to run but he runs into a solid Milton Keynes defence. Grove lose it forward in the contact. Scrum to Milton Keynes. Milton Keynes use the boot to kick it through but tidied up nicely by Luke Matthews. Good carries from Charlie Roberts and Will Nicol get Grove up the pitch. Milton Keynes take possession of the ball and from the resulting phases Sam Cooper is sin binned for a high tackle and gets 10 minutes on the side line. Milton Keynes kick into touch on Grove’s 22.

Grove steal the lineout followed by Dave Hales and Alex Harris carry well to get Grove up the field. Grove work it through the hands and spread wide to Luke Matthews & Dylan Reeves. Milton Keynes defence stands strong so Grove bring the ball back in field, lost forward off Rob Tyreman. Scrum to Milton Keynes. After a few quick changes of possession it is knocked on by Grove. Scrum to Milton Keynes.

Grove get it through the phases upping the tempo to build pressure on Milton Keynes with good solid carries forwards. Leading to the ball being thrown long from the midfield to Will Nicol on the wing and he beats his man to put it down. To top it off he pull one out the bag to convert his own try from the touch line.

From a Grove lineout they carry well through the midfield to gain yards. Grove however give away a penalty to relieve the pressure. Milton Keynes kick into Grove’s 22. Both teams exchange possession multiple times as the handling standard slips for both sides for a short period. Scrum to Grove in middle of their own half. Mark Roberts picks from the bases and give the ball to Charlie Roberts who loses the ball forward in contact. Scrum to Milton Keynes.

Milton Keynes then have a sustained period of possession that sees them up to 10 yards out, they are put into touch giving Grove a lineout with the pressure on them to retain possession. Tom McCarthy put an arrow to Brad Tailford in the air. Grove kick to clear. Milton Keynes work the phases across the pitch and break the line on the far side to score in the corner for their 1st try of the game.

Will Nicol chases well from kick off to put the pressure on the catcher. This put Milton Keynes on the back foot and Grove win a penalty resulting in a scrum just outside the 22. Alex Harris carries well but slips in the step. Tom McCarthy carries it towards the try line but is stripped in contact but Milton Keynes don’t get far as George Hook gets over the ball to win possession back.

Scrum to Grove. Grove get it through the hands quickly from the base of the scrum. And get it out to Will Nicol who gets round the outside of Milton Keynes defensive line to score in the corner. Will Nicol has another shot at converting his try but doesn’t get the required distance and misses the conversion.

Sam Cooper pumps the legs after collecting from the kick off. Grove spread wide leading to Milton Keynes penalised for a high tackle. Grove kick just outside Milton Keynes 22. From the lineout Grove retain possession but after a few passes lost forward of Mark Roberts out stretched hands. Scrum to Milton Keynes. They break the line from a kick and put Luke Matthews under pressure but he handles it well. Grove build a few phases to look to clear but before they get boot to ball Milton Keynes penalised for being off their feet at the ruck.

Grove work their way up the pitch through a series carries. Into the 22 Tom McCarthy carries well with an offload to George Hook, who powers through a clutch of Milton Keynes players to score a try. Will Nicol misses the conversion attempt. And the ref blows the whistle to bring the game to a close.

A brilliant bounce back result by Grove in there first home game of the season after last weeks defeat to Windsor. This result put Grove in 4th position in the table on 10 points with a tough away fixture to Oxford Harlequins II next Saturday.

Tries:
Mark Roberts
Ollie Nicholl
Rob Tyreman x3
Will Nicholl x2
George Hook

Conv:
Ollie Nicholl
Will Nichol

20: 10-0
HT: 20-3
60: 34-3
FT: 44-10

MOM: Elliot Martin

Result : Grove 1st XV 44-10 Milton Keynes 1st XV