1st Team
Matches
Sat 23 Sep 2017  ·  Surrey 3
Metropolitan Police Rugby Club
1st Team
Tries: C Healy (3), N Stein, J Pace, J Connolly, C Holloway (3), B Pace (2), J O'SullivanConversions: J Connolly (7)
69
21
Merton
Met Take The Game Back To Basics

Met Take The Game Back To Basics

Neil SINCLAIR26 Sep 2017 - 16:38
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Emphatic home win puts Police on the road to promotion ambition

The Met opened their season account against their old foes of Merton writes Gilbert Ball The clubs have played each other first for the last three seasons in a row. This year, The Met had first tilt from their home ground, Imber Court.
The result, as in all previous encounters, was a win for The Met, but in a far more emphatic style. The last words from departed coach Richard Hicks was to take the game back to the basics and start again. Do the phases we know well and build form there. And, this is exactly what The Met did.
With a few new faces augmenting the ‘Old Guard’, it made for a cracking team effort. It was not long until Bradley PACE got The Met off the mark with a strong run about 10-15 metres out and after fighting of a handful of tackles, wrestled himself over the line. This calmed a few nerves on the pitch; the crowd had their beers and sandwiches to calm theirs.
The crowd did not have to wait too long for the next celebration and it came from none other than the try machine of 2016/17, Chris HOLLOWAY. With a fourteen point lead in no time at all, complacency set in allowing Merton to take hold of the game. Small mistakes cost The Met territory and possession and Merton used their large forwards and strong running to score a try of their own.
The set back galvanised The Met and they responded with two further tries from the ever present and strong running of Cormac HEALY swiftly followed by a darting run from all of one meter out by evergreen front row Nick STEIN. The half was finished off by the other PACE brother Joel, leaving the score line at The Met 33 v Merton 14.
The second half continued the cracking display of solid rugby from The Met, resulting in a further seven tries for the home side. This included a hat trick from Cormac HEALY and Chris HOLLOWAY. Though there appeared to be no sign of a jug or two in the bar afterwards… It was heard that HOLLOWAY refused due to the amount of carbs found within a jug.
The Met will be extremely happy with their first outing of the season having had no previous run-out as an XV. A few mistakes and over eagerness causing Met to be caught in front of the back foot too often, this was a good display of rugby with much to build on and some areas to improve as the season un-folds. Nevertheless, the Met will have to take the season one game at a time if they are to achieve that promotion target.
One discrepancy is that of the ref’s scorecard and the Chat page of scorers done by Lee DORMAN. The ref had the game 69-21 and the team chat had it 74-21.

Next week The Met travel to newly promoted Old Glynonians.
Scorers
Christopher HOLLOWAY – 3 Tries
Cormac HELAY – 3 Tries
Bradley PACE – 2 Tries
Nick STEIN – 1 Try
Joel PACE- 1 Try
Jamie O’SULLIVAN – 1 Try
JJ CONNOLLY – 1 Try and 7 Conversions

Match details

Match date

Sat 23 Sep 2017

Kickoff

15:00

Meet time

13:00

Location

Competition

Surrey 3

League position

4
Merton
5
Metropolitan Police
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - Met Friendly
Shirt Sponsor - Renzacci UK
Kit Supplier - Raging Bull
MPRFC Sports Ground - Imber Court
Club Sponsor - Powerhouse Fitness