Cleethorpes, Saturday 17^th November, Away, Won 7-17

Royces packed their bucket and spade and headed for the coast in Round 4 of the EDF National Junior Vase. As has become the norm the team contained a couple of changes, but a strong looking team took to the ‘beju’ pitch looking to make it three victories in a row.

Cleethorpes started the better and spent some time in the Royces half in the opening 10 minutes, but Royces withstood the early pressure and used their dominance in the set piece to set up camp in the Cleethorpes half. A series of rolling mauls saw Royces edge ever closer to the Cleethorpes line but a combination of resolute defence and poor decision making ensured the visitors remained off the scoresheet.  Stand in skipper Poole missed a couple of penalty kicks at goal during this period. Royces lost centre Sean Canty with what looked like a serious leg knee injury and had to re-shuffle an already stretched back line. As the game progressed and with Cleethorpes “different” defensive mauling technique they lost a player to the sin bin for use of a fist but were back to full numbers when just before the half time whistle Royces finally made the pressure count with Dan Sanderson squeezing over in the corner. Conversion missed, half time 5-0.

The second half saw Royces playing up the slope. The game continued in much the same vein as the first. The game came to life with 15 minutes left with Adam King receiving the ball on the 10 metre line, bouncing off would be tacklers before being hauled down in the 22. Quick recycling of the ball and it was fed out to the wing allowing Sanderson to touch down in the corner. Poole found his kicking boots and the score was 12-0.

From the resulting restart Royces went to sleep for 5 minutes, switching off from a lineout to allow Cleethorpes to show good hands to touch down in the corner. Sensing time was at premium and needing one more score, an excellent drop kick conversion from out wide made the score 12-7. Royces knew what was required and from the restart, after regaining control of the ball, a series of pick and drives by the forwards took them forward into the 22. The ball was passed out with Sanderson offloading in the tackle for Lawrence Betty to score. The conversion was missed, 17-7.  Royces recycled from the kick off and found touch to bring the game to an end.

A pleasing away win, which sees Royces progress into Round 5 of the EDF National Junior Vase, a step closer to Twickenham. Draw for Round 5 on rfu.com Tuesday evening.

Next up for Royces away to Nottingham Casuals in the League.

Team :- Jon Peacock, John Scott, Duncan Myres, Sean Canty, Ed Barker, Lawrence Betty, Dave Poole, I Ranft, L Daigneault, Ian Hildebrand, Andy Taylor, Callum Elliott, Ian Baker, Alex Gill, Dan Sanderson. Subs :- Adam King, Warren Greenway

Report by :- Andy “80 minute” Taylor