North Bristol RFC v Old Elizabethans 1st XV
19th October 2024

The 1st XV squad travelled to North Bristol RFC in a game that counted for both the league fixture and the 2nd round of the Bristol Combination Vase, whilst the Es’ Thundercats entertained Chepstow RFC 2nd XV at Home (Hallen).

1s Thundercats squad: Pete Beale, Pushan, Andy Adams, Archie Walker, Dan Taylor, Cuan Arnold, Rob Munro, Ben Alexander, Ollie Clapp, Dom Swann, Sam Hudson, Andrew Warren, Robbie, Thomas Crawford, Ned Lockwood

Thundercats had a very difficult encounter and the final score was TCs 12 - 54 Chepstow 2nd XV

1st XV SQUAD: Greg Foord, Fergus Blyth, Jack Houlder, Tom Bendall, Adam Skyner, Tom Dunbavin, Will Tobin, Will Mortimore, Tom Cole, Monty Nash, Ollie Lunt, Scott Tomlins, Pat Dore, Rhys Sweet, Alex CS, Angus Clifford, George Hollingberry and Joe Watkins.

Great to see Will Mortimore and George Hollingberry back from injury and Tom Dunbavin and Joe Watkins in their first games of the season.

Es were very excited to unveil their new 1st XV kit provided by new Team Sponsor: ‘Veezu’. For the Club the pre-match league position heading into this game suggested a high level of importance in the result.

Writing Match Reports is easy when things are going well but not so easy when things are not! If therefore, any of the reports sound a little negative, one has to remember that it is what is seen from a spectator’s perspective but we should always take into account that this will not necessarily capture the effort and hard work that the players are putting in! That said, with a further 9 changes in the squad from last week, supporters were questioning how consistency could be applied.

MATCH REPORT:
Es started this latest challenge brightly and after about 5-10 minutes Es nearly took the lead after some good work from Will Tobin, with Will Mortimore nearly scoring but putting a foot in touch. The young Referee was proving to be hot on high tackles. The lead came after a good break by Pat Dore almost resulting in a try and North Bristol were reduced to 14 men after a high tackle and Es took advantage with Monty Nash scoring a well worked try, not converted (0-5).

The lead lasted a minute or two as North Bristol breached the normally secure Blue Wall twice in as many minutes with two converted tries, the second a well worked effort from the North Bristol No 9 chipping through twice before scoring, despite being down to 14 men (14-5).

Es scrum was struggling, not securing 100% of our own ball and being penalised heavily by the Referee, and such a 5m scrum ended with North Bristol scoring a converted try out wide (19-5).

Shortly after North Bristol suffered another Yellow Card and Es capitalised with a good Adam Skyner catch and drive from a 5m lineout, with a try to Will Tobin, not converted (19-10).

Once again though North Bristol bounced back with a try under the posts and a conversion (26-10) despite still being a man down!

Es then earned a penalty 30m out and from the resulting line out Es recovered the ball and Monty Nash kicked through to score his second try which he duly converted (26-17).

Half Time score (North Bristol 26 -17 Old Elizabethans).

Despite Es losing they were still well in touch and based on last week’s second half performance the Es support were still positive! Joe Watkins on!

Some really good work involving Will Tobin, Will Mortimore, Monty Nash and Rhys Sweet then saw Greg Foord charging forward and scrum half Tom Cole picked up from the resulting ruck and squeezed round the defence for a good try and conversion from Monty Nash (26-24).

Almost immediately from the restart North Bristol restored their two score lead with another easy try and conversion (33-24).

The game continued to Yo-Yo with Es scoring again through Ollie Lunt but not converted (33-29).

Es had once again clawed themselves back to within one score but North Bristol were again next to score via a penalty kick (36-29).

Es’ scrum continued to be penalised but one bright spot was the combination of Will Tobin and Will Mortimore working well together. Morty put in a great tackle but further penalties saw North Bristol increase their lead again via another penalty kick (39-29).

Tobin and Morty again combined well and Will Mortimore scored a good try not converted (39-34).

Es lost the ball a number of times choosing to kick through rather than keeping the ball in hand. Es were latterly heavily penalised and North Bristol scored another try (not converted) plus a Penalty Kick finishing with a Full Time score of (47-34).

In reality Es had been outplayed all afternoon and never looked like getting a win. Something is not quite working for Es at the moment and what had been billed as a must win match was never really in Es’ grasp. The hard work from some very good players will come good soon but at the moment it feels like Es are staring down the barrel of a gun at the foot of the table with a tough home fixture next Saturday vs high flying Dursley RFC. Let’s get behind the lads and continue to cheer them on!

FINAL SCORE: North Bristol 47 – 34 Old Elizabethans

Man of the Match:  Tom Cole

Spectators Man of the Match:  Will Tobin

SCORERS:
Tries: Monty Nash (2), Will Tobin, Tom Cole, Ollie Lunt, Will Mortimore
Conversions: Monty Nash (2)

Full League Table and Fixture List below

Report by: Paul ‘Blakey’ Barrington

CLICK for the Old Elizabethans RFC website