MEDIA CAN'T SUBDUE MET

The Met started the New Year with a bonus point victory and secure bragging rights at the top of the table. The convincing scoreline flattered the Police who spent the first half working off the Christmas pudding and upsetting the referee. London Media, who had picked up just one victory prior to Christmas, certainly made the Met work hard for the points. A ferocious opening by the Media from a dreadful Met kick-off should have brought them some reward but for their wayward passing in the final third. It took the Met nearly 10 minutes to make a first incursion into Media's half. It should have resulted in a score for the Police as several charges were repelled, Druce eventually slotting a penalty to open the scoring.
It looked like the Met had weathered the Media storm but it was a false dawn. From the restart, the Met were again pinned back and Media made plenty of yards, particularly through the powerful running of Sam Watson. The constant pressure forced the Met into several infringements, not helped by several uncharacteristically poor clearance kicks from Druce and some clumsy handling all over the pitch. Inevitably, Media eventually found some space, outflanking the ragged Met defence for right winger Archie Shires to score in the corner.
Media continued to dominate the territory and the Met's desperation saw the penalty count against them rack up. Ferguson was the first to wear out the referee's patience, being sent to the sin bin for an allegedly dangerous tackle. 8 minutes later, Dylan Richards followed his back row colleague into the bin but it was a testament to the Met's teamwork that Media were unable to profit from the numerical advantage. It was also a reflection on the hard work front row Borries, Bolton and Broadhead contributed to at least neutralising any set-piece advantage Media tried to establish.
Changing ends with a two-point deficit, the Met would have been anticipating the hair-dryer treatment along with the half-time oranges. It certainly worked. Despite having to replace Broadhead, the Police immediately established territorial advantage and were rarely to concede it for the remainder of the match. With Joe Stirrup controlling both attack and defence behind an increasingly dominant pack, it took less than 10 minutes for blindside flanker George Wright to open the Met's try account, powering over the line for a converted try after a well-worked forward drive.
Media then conceded two 5 metre penalties as they struggled to contain the rampant Police. A penalty try and/or a red card would surely have been forthcoming if Jack Doswell-Lowe hadn't turned the pressure into points to which Druce added two points. With Druce finding his control and accuracy in midfield, the Police were camped in the Media half. Stirrup and Healy were always quick to snuff out every counter and a couple of sharp breaks by the scrum-half led to the Met backs having an overload on the left and Jack Scott shrugged off three despairing cover tackles to put the game out of Media's reach. To fully deflate Media aspirations, Druce added a long-range penalty.
The Met now went in search of the bonus point from a fourth try and it was fitting that man of the match Joe Stirrup took the honour, Druce adding the conversion to complete his 12 point contribution and confirm the season's double against Media.
Ultimately a satisfying outcome for the Police although the coaching staff will be hoping the squad can quickly restore the early-season composure in time for visit of second-placed Old Georgians next week. The Met will be keen to avenge their sole League reverse, suffered in October.