Dropped balls costly for 2’s ….

With many 2’s regulars assisting the 1’s a much depleted 2’s side was supplemented by a few colts and 3rd team regulars. Inevitably variation in experience and unfamiliarity with structure led to some lack of cohesion; Nonetheless Field managed some decent rugby against a strong side.

Field kicked off to the Home team and after some scrappy initial play from both sides were to apply sufficient pressure to force a penalty with Blumlein ( who could not make the trip with the 1’s ) kicking and taking the points. Nomads who were well drilled at the line out stole the ball and used their resultant possession well before their 15 broke the line and forced a missed tackle to put them ahead.

Initially Field did well enough at the scrum to retain possession and create chances from the same. With Fields line out functioning well the resultant pressure led to a penalty for them and with a tap and go from the 9 the ball moved swiftly across the backs only for the final pass to be dropped on the wing, the first of three such chances for the visitors during the course of the game that went begging. After a warning from the ref to both sides about ill discipline at the break down it was Nomads who won the arm wrestle in that department with Field all too often failing to secure, or compete well enough, giving too much possession away. Nomads exploiting such possession and using their pace were to score another three tries.

Field responded well and elements of structured play and mini breaks by Bremner, Blumlein and Mayell took Field to within a few yards of the Nomads try line and a well timed delivery from the base of the ruck saw Groves ( M.O.M.) power over to score. Further such pressure enabled a similar opportunity for Field on the other side of the pitch that saw first Cox, then Groves try the same manoeuvre before White finally forced the ball over to score. Half time score advantage to the home side who led 24 - 15.

Nomads got off to a quick start in the second half and substitutions for Field created new opportunities but did leave the pack lighter and scrums were now a dominant weapon for Nomads who were to push Field back irrespective of whose put in it was. Lack of line speed in a defensive structure and missed tackles for Field were to tell and Nomads who exhibited the exact opposite characteristics were to push ahead again.

The young colts, with debutantes Janku and Johnstone, acquitted themselves very well as did the other unfamiliar faces such as Babbage for Field, although it was the experienced Blumlien who weaved through the men by the try line to add the final try for the visitors. Final score Nomads 45 Field 20. In the post match get together each team paid tribute to the other with regards to a good contest with one of the Nomads recounting that "if your guys could catch we would have been in a lot of trouble" that perhaps showed how much closer a contest it was than the score line might indicate.