Edwardians 12 - Droitwich 48

Saturday 10th November 2007

Droitwich continued their fine run of form with a comfortable 48 points to twelve victory at strugglers Edwardians on Saturday, with four tries from Ross Coombes being the highlight.

Droitwich entered the game buoyant after last week’s fine display against Sutton Coldfield and had only two changes to the starting line up, with Harry Riley replacing the injured Matt Jupp and Ben Thomas coming into the front row for his first start of the league campaign.

From the very start Droitwich showed their intention to run the ball, with their three quarters looking especially dangerous. Ground was consistently made with Matt Blackmore and fellow centre Jon Critchlow all going close.

The home side defended well, but were forced to stray off-side in front of their posts for Duncan Hughes to open the scoring with a penalty.

More good handling saw Hughes make a break, feed winger Craig Mortlemans who put Coombes over for his first.

Good approach work by No. 8 Jon Andrews saw Jon Critchlow change the angle and scorch over to increase the lead. Mortlemans rounded off a clinical move soon afterwards to score. Hughes added both conversions.

On the stroke of half-time Sean Walker made good ground to find Coombes in support to dive over for his second.

At 27 points to nil the game appeared to be over at the interval, but Edwardians started the second period strongly to go over for a deserved score to reduce the lead. Droitwich were struggling to keep the momentum going and the inevitable errors were made, not before Coombes completed his hat-trick with the try of the game. Gathering deep in his own half he beat three men, before chipping ahead, winning the race to touch down. Again Hughes converted.

Steve Poke had to leave the field injured so Coombes moved from full-back to scrum-half and after excellent work by Nick Godfrey and James Shewell Droitwich threatened the line, before Andrews took the ball up the blind-side to feed Coombes to go over for his fourth. The home side hit back with another try after poor line-out work by Droitwich near their own line.

The game ended as it began with the Spa side creating pressure, Hughes went close, as did captain Dean Goddard, before Blackmore ran an intelligent line to power over under the posts.

This was a satisfying day for Droitwich, although they never produced the level of ruby they had the week before.

Prop forward James Shewell echoed this sentiment after the game, “We probably tried to play a bit too much rugby today instead of just sticking to the basics. But to come away from home and win so well is especially pleasing.”

Section Navigation