Back
CREAM OF THE MET RISES TO THE TOP
Neil SINCLAIR14 Nov 2017 - 20:30
Share via
Seventh consecutive bonus point win moves Police clear of pack
The Met Police made some clean air between themselves and the chasing pack at the top of Surrey 3, following a hard fought 31-17 victory against Worth Old Boys. Old Caterhamians continue to improve their points for and against differential, but it is the Boys In Blue who are racking up the bonus points, having scored four tries or more in all seven games this season. The clash at the end of this month between the top two clubs is now a "must win game" for the Caterham outfit if they want to stay in the title fight into the New Year.
The Police welcomed Worth Old Boys (WOBs) to Imber Court and were quickly in to their stride, despite having had some problems mustering a full match day squad. It was clearly going to be an attritional, somewhat dour affair as WOBs did their best to contend with the Met's forward superiority. It was a bitterly cold Armistice afternoon but WOBs were clearly feeling the heat in the scrum and they were struggling to secure their own ball. It was surely a mark of the Police dominance that Ash Davies found himself on the score sheet - a rose between two thorns, as it turned out. With tries from Cormac Healy and Chris Holloway all converted by JJ Connelly, it seemed that the Met could run away with the game and achieve a "shut-out" into the bargain. But they were to be the victims of their own success.
With WOBs front row in disarray, it was inevitable that they would collect injuries and so it was. With insufficient front row replacements, the scrums were reduced to uncontested affairs and suddenly the WOBs possession stats began to improve. With the Met winning less ball and unable to pressurise the visitors' back row and half-backs, WOBs clawed their way back into the game. But it was too little too late, and a further converted try for Healy and a penalty for Connelly, the Met were home and dry and the vital bonus point secured in the 31-17 scoreline
A couple of weeks off from League action will give the Met time to re-group and establish a plan for over-coming free-scoring OC and confirming their position as front-runners.
The Police welcomed Worth Old Boys (WOBs) to Imber Court and were quickly in to their stride, despite having had some problems mustering a full match day squad. It was clearly going to be an attritional, somewhat dour affair as WOBs did their best to contend with the Met's forward superiority. It was a bitterly cold Armistice afternoon but WOBs were clearly feeling the heat in the scrum and they were struggling to secure their own ball. It was surely a mark of the Police dominance that Ash Davies found himself on the score sheet - a rose between two thorns, as it turned out. With tries from Cormac Healy and Chris Holloway all converted by JJ Connelly, it seemed that the Met could run away with the game and achieve a "shut-out" into the bargain. But they were to be the victims of their own success.
With WOBs front row in disarray, it was inevitable that they would collect injuries and so it was. With insufficient front row replacements, the scrums were reduced to uncontested affairs and suddenly the WOBs possession stats began to improve. With the Met winning less ball and unable to pressurise the visitors' back row and half-backs, WOBs clawed their way back into the game. But it was too little too late, and a further converted try for Healy and a penalty for Connelly, the Met were home and dry and the vital bonus point secured in the 31-17 scoreline
A couple of weeks off from League action will give the Met time to re-group and establish a plan for over-coming free-scoring OC and confirming their position as front-runners.
Further reading