MATCH REPORT - Nailsea & Backwell 20 - 14 Hornets II's
The top of the table clash was as advertised as the two top teams in Somerset Premier put their undefeated records on the line at West End Park.
Playing down the slope in the first half, the Ravens showed their superior forward power with a pushover scrum which Tom Crossman touched down and was converted by Alex Jones.
The half was dominated by the Ravens with penalties for poor discipline and back chat hurting the visitors who were seemingly struggling to adapt. The second try came after Scrum Half, Joe Reed, put in a 60m touch finding kick from a penalty. The Forwards drove over with Sam Cook the beneficiary of the driving maul.
Jones converted again and the Ravens knew they wanted to maximise their scoring opportunities as the wind and rain came down.
Reed and Jones were putting in some creative attacking kicks which made the Hornets defence think. After Jones kicked a penalty, it was one of Jones’ brilliant attacking kicks that was knocked on over the line on the stroke of half time. The score was 17-0 at the break.
Hornets came out of the blocks flying and replied early on through their dynamic prop Mua Inoke with a devastating finish out wide, converted by Connor Davidson.
Nailsea played up the slope much better than their opposition and from a penalty, Alex Jones made the score 20-7 going into the final quarter.
Hornets never stopped and with quality quick ball and good hands it was Davidson who went over and converted his own try. At 20-14 the last ten minutes were managed well by replacement Scrum Half, Jamie Sullivan, who used all his experience to guide the Ravens pack to the finish line.
Next week N&B 1sts round off the year at home to St Bernadettes.
The video from the Hornets game will be posted later today!
Match Report Credit- Tony Hill
