Match Report: Pilgrims v Beccehamians

Pilgrims 48

Beccehamians 10

By Dan Gill

The pilgrims welcomed Beccehamians to the MTG for their first home game of the season and quickly set about imposing themselves on the visitors with robust defence and direct attacking play.
A couple of early opportunities were spurned as the home side were penalised when in promising positions which allowed Beccehamians to clear their lines. It was from one such kick that the first score arrived when winger Max Campbell leapt high and expertly slapped the ball back into the field of play for fullback Gabe Roberts to collect, he chipped in behind and outpaced the cover to score and give the pilgrims a deserved lead, 5-0.
Roberts was again involved as the city side doubled their lead- great handling by the backline put him in space and his fine footwork and offload sent Max Campbell in for a try.
The forwards were the architects of the final score of the half when they caught and drove a lineout from 10meteres out, Al Evans broke blind and fed flyhalf Luke Talbot who powered over from close range, 15-0 Half time.
The second half started well for the pilgrims with the same combination again to the fore with Al Evans powerful run stopped short only for Talbot to dive over for a bonus point converted try, 22-0.
Pilgrims positive play was let down by an increasing penalty count which saw Beccehamians on the scoreboard when they kicked to the corner and mauled over the resulting 5m lineout, 22-5.
Pilgrims response was positive and after great defensive work by centre Jordan constant, turnover ball was moved wide well and Archie English cantered over for a converted score, 29-5.
Beccehamians were finding it difficult to exit and a poor clearance kick was expertly returned by the fleet footed Roberts who beat a number of defenders before sending Barney Smith away to score, 36-5.
From the resulting kick off, Beccehamians kicked long but found only Steve ‘Frenchie’ Hopkinson who went on a powerful length of the field run that was stopped agonisingly short of being the try of the day when he was bundled into touch just 5 meters short of the line. The ball was reclaimed from the lineout and eventually found its way to Barney smith who finished well out wide for his 2nd of the day. 43-5.
Beccehamians never gave up and their scrappy performance and persistence was rewarded with a second try following a lost lineout, pilgrims again infringed unescesarily and Beccehamians were able to dive over from close range, 43-10.
The home side had the final say when skipper Al Evans powered his way over looking to bring up 50, but the conversion was narrowly missed meaning the game finished 48-10 in the pilgrims favour. The pilgrims welcome Sevenoaks to the MTG next weekend for what is always a closely contested encounter.