Seconds open SCMT with a win against Colts

The seconds ran out 61-12 winners against the Colts in the first of the Simon Chandler matches for this season, but again the Colts can take plenty from their performance as they fought right to the end.

The first half was very scrappy, with a lot of loose play, but the seconds opened the scoring a few minutes in, Richard Hile stealing the ball from Colts fly-half Joe Smith after pressure was put on the Colts scrum 5 yards out. Within the first ten minutes the lead was doubled, Carl Gardner breaking down the blindside and offloading in the tackle for Kit Hughes to score. The 2nds forwards were making good ground despite resolute Colts defence , with Man-of-the-match Callum Murdoch in particular making numerous breaks, one of which led to the ball being shipped wide for Andy Dunn to score the 2nds third try. The Colts then got themselves back into the game, capitalising on a mistake in midfield by the 2nds, the ball was spun wide and Matt Ceresa outpaced the covering defence to score. Just before halftime the lead was extended again with Murdoch barrelling over from close range, Gardner converting for a 22-5 half time scoreline.

With a couple of changes made at half-time the 2nds started to play the ball wide at every opportunity, and good supporting play led to further tries from Hughes, Hile and Richard Atkinson. Luke Jones then pulled another back for the Colts, using the boot to good effect to score an opportunistic try, which he also converted. Murdoch added his second, driving through from twenty yards out, with Alec Bailey adding the conversion before Gareth Jones used his pace and strength to add another. The last two tries came from the ball being passed out to the wing early, first Ben Challinor broke round the outside to score in the corner, before Challinor again broke and offloaded to Mark Stone.

2nds team: James O’Reilly, Callum Murdoch, Matt Bacon; Sam Yabsley, Kit Hughes; Richard Hile, Richard Atkinson (John Morris), Leon Gardner (Geraint Cooper); Carl Gardner (Gareth Jones), Alec Bailey; Will Luscombe (Ray Smart), Andy Rigden; Mark Stone (Ben Challinor), Andy Dunn (Tim Jeffrey), Aaron Le Masurier (Mark Stone).

2nds scorers : Tries – Callum Murdoch 2, Richard Hile 2, Kit Hughes 2, Andy Dunn, Richard Atkinson, Gareth Jones, Ben Challinor, Mark Stone; Conversion – Carl Gardner, Alec Bailey, Andy Rigden