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Sat 06 Apr 2024 · Counties 3 Surrey
Old Emanuel
1st Team
7
91
Tries: H Longden, C Poynter (2), C Healy (3), R Byrne, S Druce, W Ferguson, J StirrupConversions: S Druce (13)
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Neil SINCLAIR7 Apr - 14:48
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Met secure promotion with 13 try romp
The Met Police capped a wonderful League season with a resounding victory at Old Emanuel to confirm the runners-up spot and promotion to League Two. The very heavy going at the Raynes Park ground was no hindrance to the rampant Met who, apart from a 12 minute period in the second quarter, put on something of an end of season festival performance.
Head Coach Graham Shaw had set the 1st XV squad a number of targets for the final match of the season: no additions to the 8 yellow cards already recorded, 4 tries and a bonus point, 40 points to be scored and, of course, promotion. He can be very proud of the response. The fourth try was touched down by skipper Cormac Healy in the sixteenth minute on his way to a hat-trick; the scoreboard notched up the Met's 40th point when Rory Byrne bulldozed over with a rhino-like charge in the 35th minute; and promotion was secured long before the referee blew the final whistle. Despite something of a bundle with 10 minutes remaining, the referee kept all his cards in his pocket.
If there was to be any criticism of the Met's performance it could only be that, in a bakers' dozen of tries, neither of the wingers had the ball in their hands in Emanuel's 22. With centres Healy and Olly Newton scoring hat-tricks, and full-back Ciaran Poynter claiming two, the coaching team will spot where the problem lies! As Newton said, there was a strong case of "white line fever"; ever stalwart hooker Chris Padman was guilty of a thirty yard run. He may have thrown in a sidestep or two, or perhaps his knees gave way.
Old Emanuel stuck to their task, and special mention must go to their open-side Chris Couling who battled non-stop and had a great tussle with his opposite number Will Ferguson. The home team's try in the 75th minute was a frustration for the Met and their supporters but at least the Met retaliated with a final try of their own to re-establish the moral high ground.
Met notched up 13 tries in all, Huw Longden, Will Ferguson, Joe Stirrup and Sam Druce augmenting the aforementioned. Druce's try topped another outstanding game for the Met's outside half. Kicking all 13 conversions, despite the gusting wind, the try took Druce to 205 points for the season, an astonishing return with a successful kicking percentage of 97.5%. That would merit selection in any team in the world this season!
The Met can now look forward to their 101st season being in Surrey 2. With some judicious recruitment during the summer months, the Met should have little to fear regarding survival in the higher echelon.
Head Coach Graham Shaw had set the 1st XV squad a number of targets for the final match of the season: no additions to the 8 yellow cards already recorded, 4 tries and a bonus point, 40 points to be scored and, of course, promotion. He can be very proud of the response. The fourth try was touched down by skipper Cormac Healy in the sixteenth minute on his way to a hat-trick; the scoreboard notched up the Met's 40th point when Rory Byrne bulldozed over with a rhino-like charge in the 35th minute; and promotion was secured long before the referee blew the final whistle. Despite something of a bundle with 10 minutes remaining, the referee kept all his cards in his pocket.
If there was to be any criticism of the Met's performance it could only be that, in a bakers' dozen of tries, neither of the wingers had the ball in their hands in Emanuel's 22. With centres Healy and Olly Newton scoring hat-tricks, and full-back Ciaran Poynter claiming two, the coaching team will spot where the problem lies! As Newton said, there was a strong case of "white line fever"; ever stalwart hooker Chris Padman was guilty of a thirty yard run. He may have thrown in a sidestep or two, or perhaps his knees gave way.
Old Emanuel stuck to their task, and special mention must go to their open-side Chris Couling who battled non-stop and had a great tussle with his opposite number Will Ferguson. The home team's try in the 75th minute was a frustration for the Met and their supporters but at least the Met retaliated with a final try of their own to re-establish the moral high ground.
Met notched up 13 tries in all, Huw Longden, Will Ferguson, Joe Stirrup and Sam Druce augmenting the aforementioned. Druce's try topped another outstanding game for the Met's outside half. Kicking all 13 conversions, despite the gusting wind, the try took Druce to 205 points for the season, an astonishing return with a successful kicking percentage of 97.5%. That would merit selection in any team in the world this season!
The Met can now look forward to their 101st season being in Surrey 2. With some judicious recruitment during the summer months, the Met should have little to fear regarding survival in the higher echelon.
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