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NEW YEAR BONUS FOR MET

NEW YEAR BONUS FOR MET

Neil SINCLAIR19 Jan 2018 - 17:30
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Tenth Bonus point win puts Met 11 points clear

A tenth straight bonus point win, combined with other League 3 results, saw the Met extend their lead at the top of the table to 11 points.

The Metropolitan Police Rugby Football Club has started January notoriously badly in recent years, lack of games and practise over the festive season combined with too many (mince) pies has usually resulted in some form of upset for the Old Bill. This season, the Club appears to have a better and more determined attitude.

The January weather conditions were perfect: no wind, no rain, reasonably firm pitch. From the first whistle The Met looked like that they had not had an Xmas break at all. Both backs and forward quickly got up a full head of steam and Rory Byrne was across the line for an early try.

Galvanised by the reverse, Old Glyns were straight up and at the home side, forcing handling error and turnover ruck ball. Flying in the face of all wisdom, a kick to nothing from the turnover sent the ball into The Met’s 22 and a fortuitous bounce did a rugby ball ever bounce otherwise - ed enabled Old Glyns winger to pounce on the ball to bring the difference back to 2 points in Mets' favour.

The game became finely balanced, play hovering around halfway. Neither side were able to secure their ruck ball and the scrum count must have neared record proportions. Eventually Met strung together half a dozen phases and stretched the defence for Kyle Richards to touch down and sending the Met into half-time 12-5 to the good.

Neither side managed to establish territorial advantage in the second half but with strong individual runners The Met managed to break the defence twice more. Steve Routledge, on his return to the wing after being seconded to the pack's back five for the past two seasons, crossed for the Met's third and try machine Chris Holloway secured the bonus point with his contribution some 15 minutes from time. The Met repulsed a barrage from the visitors for the final ten minutes, the Police lines holding firm as seems to the new norm for this well-drilled side.

It was a good test for the New Year and puts the Met in fine fettle for the visit to Croydon RFC on the 27th January 2018.

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