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MET SENDS OUT WARNING TO SURREY 3
Neil SINCLAIR26 Sep 2017 - 07:00
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Opening day try fest shows Police mean business
On a gloriously hot September afternoon, the Met Police opened their season's account with an emphatic win at Imber Court.
The pitch was immaculate, the Met were proudly unveiling their new RFU Accreditation, and a sadly sparse crowd was entertained by 80 minutes of exciting, open rugby. The powerful running of Met three-quarters was in evidence almost from the kick-off as Chris Holloway sprinted through the Merton defence from the half-way line to open the scoring.
Merton offered a spirited response and managed to stay in touch despite allowing the Police to build up a fourteen point lead. The Met always looked like they could unleash their missiles but the Merton pack kept finding its way back towards the Mets' try line, ably assisted by the adventurous counter-attacking of full-back Sarpong.
But the real turning point came from a bizarre and noble incident, some 7 minutes before half-time. As the Met mounted another surge into Merton's half, the ball appeared to fly forward off a Police arm. The referee was apparently unsighted so play continued resulting in a Merton player interfering from an offside position. As the ref played advantage, JJ Connolly coolly dropped a goal to put the Met well clear. As Merton's assembled coaching staff bayed for the Ref's head, the Met's number 7, Lance Bolton, approached the referee and Merton skipper to explain that a blatant knock-on had been missed and that the points should not stand. Several minutes debate followed and it was eventually decided to restart with a scrum from where the knock-on occurred. It was a marvellous interlude, and a true testament to the spirit of rugby that is so envied by other winter sports. Sadly for Merton, the Met pack drove them of the put-in and Cormac Healy scored adjacent to the posts! It was a slightly ironic denouement, perhaps proving the rule "Be careful what you wish for"!
Another score before half-time and the game was all but won. Merton did manage another try of their own, but a Healy hat-trick and also three for Holloway amongst a total of 12 Police tries ensured the Met ran out convincing 74-19 winners and laid down a massive notice to the rest of Surrey 3.
Next Saturday sees the Police travel to new boys Old Glynonians who will be looking to recover from a 49-10 defeat at Old Ruts.
The pitch was immaculate, the Met were proudly unveiling their new RFU Accreditation, and a sadly sparse crowd was entertained by 80 minutes of exciting, open rugby. The powerful running of Met three-quarters was in evidence almost from the kick-off as Chris Holloway sprinted through the Merton defence from the half-way line to open the scoring.
Merton offered a spirited response and managed to stay in touch despite allowing the Police to build up a fourteen point lead. The Met always looked like they could unleash their missiles but the Merton pack kept finding its way back towards the Mets' try line, ably assisted by the adventurous counter-attacking of full-back Sarpong.
But the real turning point came from a bizarre and noble incident, some 7 minutes before half-time. As the Met mounted another surge into Merton's half, the ball appeared to fly forward off a Police arm. The referee was apparently unsighted so play continued resulting in a Merton player interfering from an offside position. As the ref played advantage, JJ Connolly coolly dropped a goal to put the Met well clear. As Merton's assembled coaching staff bayed for the Ref's head, the Met's number 7, Lance Bolton, approached the referee and Merton skipper to explain that a blatant knock-on had been missed and that the points should not stand. Several minutes debate followed and it was eventually decided to restart with a scrum from where the knock-on occurred. It was a marvellous interlude, and a true testament to the spirit of rugby that is so envied by other winter sports. Sadly for Merton, the Met pack drove them of the put-in and Cormac Healy scored adjacent to the posts! It was a slightly ironic denouement, perhaps proving the rule "Be careful what you wish for"!
Another score before half-time and the game was all but won. Merton did manage another try of their own, but a Healy hat-trick and also three for Holloway amongst a total of 12 Police tries ensured the Met ran out convincing 74-19 winners and laid down a massive notice to the rest of Surrey 3.
Next Saturday sees the Police travel to new boys Old Glynonians who will be looking to recover from a 49-10 defeat at Old Ruts.
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