Milton Keynes 1st XV vs Grove RFC 1st XV

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

Counties 1 Tribute Southern North League Match
Date: 16th December 2023
Kick Off: 14:00
Venue: Milton Keynes RFC, Emerson Valley Sports Pavilion, Bowland Dr, Emerson Valley, Milton Keynes MK4 2DN

*Starting Squad*
1. Joe Cooper
2. Tom McCarthy
3. George Hook
4. Lawrence Birkhead
5. Elliot Martin
6.James Monks
7. Luke Mathews
8. Tom Wilson
9. Ollie Nicholl
10. Jorge Everson
11. Tom Godfrey
12. Rob Tyreman
13.Matt Callaway
14. Dylan Reeve
15. Billy Haist

*Replacements*
16. Tom Fearn
17. Dave Hales
18. Jack Burton

1st Half Summary
For the last fixture of 2023 for the 1st XV, we travelled to Milton Keynes RFC as a team on a coach. The conditions were cloudy, wet under foot and a strong cross field wind. The team named by Milton Keynes was a much changed side compared to our fixture at Cane Lane and stood as a different challenge for Grove.

9 Mins - Rob Tyreman penalised for being off feet at the ruck just outside Grove’s 22. Milton Keynes opt to kick at the posts and convert. Score: 3-0

18 Mins - From just inside Grove’s half, Milton Keynes break the defensive line and with numbers offload through the hands to go in and score by the posts. Conversion attempt good. Score: 10-0

20 Mins - Billy Haist collects the ball from a Milton Keynes kick over the top and beats multiple Milton Keynes players on the outside to get Grove up to the Milton Keynes 10 yard line. Score: 10-0

24 Mins - Milton Keynes knock on. From the base of the scrum Ollie Nicholl finds Jorge Everson. Jorge Everson let’s fly a flat pass to Rob Tyreman who was travelling at pace and breaks through the Milton Keynes defensive line to go in and score. Ollie Nicholl adds the extras. Score: 10-7

HT Score: Milton Keynes 1st XV 10-7 Grove RFC 1st XV

2nd Half Summary

44 Mins - Milton Keynes knock the ball on at their own 22. From the scrum Grove move the ball quickly through the hands out to the right wing finding Dylan Reeve. He is tackled and brought down on the edge of the 22, Grove then change the direction moving the ball quickly back to the left to Billy Haist who at pace powers over the line to score a try. Ollie Nicholl conversion is good. Score: 10-14

46 Mins - Milton Keynes put Grove under pressure on their own 22 with multiple carries from the forwards. Luke Mathews relives the pressure by getting over the ball following an isolated tackle to win a penalty for Grove. Ollie Nicholls take the opportunity to kick long and get Grove up into Milton Keynes half. Score: 10-14

49 Mins - Grove get themselves on the front foot high up the pitch as Luke Mathews gets over the ball again 5 yards outside the Milton Keynes 22. Grove opt to kick at the posts. Ollie Nicholl’s penalty attempt was good to add 3 points to our score. Score: 10-17

60 Mins - Elliot Martin carries hard and straight into the tackle and offloads to George Hook on his right shoulder. This is then replicated by George Hook who offloads to Thomas McCarthy inside the Milton Keynes 22. Dave Hales then receives the final offload from Thomas McCarthy and under pressure from Milton Keynes players power over the line under the posts to score the try. A great moment celebrated like winning a cup with the long serving Dave Hales scoring his first try for Grove 1st XV. Ollie Nicholl conversion kick good. Score: 10-24

64 Mins - Milton Keynes put it through the hands quickly toward the right hand corner putting Grove under huge pressure. Billy Haist and Jack Burton stand tall defensively and wrap up the attacker over the try line to hold the ball up, stopping the Milton Keynes attack in its tracks. Score: 10-24

67 Mins - Jorge Everson is given a yellow card for tipping a Milton Keynes player past the horizontal in a tackle on our own 5 yard line. Score: 10-24

75 Mins - Luke Mathews kicks the ball in behind the Milton Keynes defensive line into their 22, Billy Haist chases with his characteristic pace. He collects the ball and while being tackled reaches out to put the ball down and score. Ollie Nicholl conversion missed. Score: 10-29

79 Mins - Milton Keynes score as one of there forwards brakes the Grove defensive line travelling a pace to score to the left of the posts. Conversion attempt good. Score: 17-29

80 Mins - Dave Hales kicks it out after Milton Keynes lose it forward from the hands to bring an end to the game.

FT Score: Milton Keynes 1st XV 17-29 Grove RFC 1st XV

Tries: Rob Tyreman, Billy Haist x2, Dave Hales
Conv: Ollie Nicholl x3
Pens: Ollie Nicholl

Quarters
20: 10-0
HT: 10-7
60: 10-17
FT: 17-29

Opponents:
Tries: 2
Conv: 2
Pens: 1

League Position: 4th

MOM: Tom Wilson - 8