9-try GAB take win against Littlemore on Quins' artificial pitch

In another high scoring game for the men in black (this game took them to 21 tries in Jan with a game to go), GAB took their time to get settled, but once they'd grown into the game they kept pulling away from Littlemore.

The first score fell to Kay McLauchlan who had an excellent game - shame we didn't have GPS tracker on him to record the metres he carried with the ball. Found by a long pass by fly half Rob Eynon, Kay beat 4 players (and 2 high tackles) to get over for his score. Alfie missed the conversion in what were very windy conditions. 5-0

Littlemore struck back after GAB were caught napping and it took a little while for GAB to get the lead back, which they did after Alfie Morton sniped from a ruck just off the Littlemore try line following a good carry by Tom Bates. Alfie converted his own try. 12-7

Littlemore scored again following an awkward bounce on a kick meant the ball spilled out over GAB's tryline and was pounced upon by the Littlemore winger. There was also time for Matt Strong to get himself yellow carded for a soccer-style lunge - saved from a penalty try by the covering Ed Clark. 12-12

After a bad sounding leg injury resulted in a break in play, GAB restarted more determined and started to cut out the errors. They built their way up-field before the old option call saw Marc Grant pick the perfect line and with the pass going to hand from Eynon a score was inevitable - and a nice celebration to mark the birth of his baby daughter earlier in the month. Alfie popped over the conversion for a HT Score of 19-12

Littlemore had a couple of yellow cards of their own, and one of them was off the pitch, and Matt returned, when a split backline off a centre field scrum gave enough space for Ed Clark to power his way through. Conversion missed by Alfie 24-12

A blood injury to Ed Clark saw Harris Pearce Bates come on for his second senior game and he showed great promise and some good runs both on the wing and when he switched to midfield later in the game. Harris joins Aaron Ruazol as colt playing senior rugby - and Aaron showed his continued development with some big carries and hits. Around the 50-min mark a few more subs came Johno Mackenzie for his first game after an ankle injury, Jonny Campbell for his since a pre-season shoulder and injury and an angry Andy Pedersen who took his frustrations at being benched out with a barnstorming 30 minutes of barrelling runs and turnovers.

Dickie Tyler-Gunning was the next on the score sheet. Lurking on the blind side after a few GAB phases 5m out, he was found by Alfie Morton and powered over the last defender. Con missed 29-12

GAB discipline had been poor - especially tackle height and offside, and when Alfie Morton went beyond the ball at a scrum, the ref had had enough with persistent infringements from the team and Alfie got a 10-min rest. Jonny Campbell covered at 9.

Littlemore got a try back after GAB defence was pulled too narrow by some accurate phase play, before GAB worked their way upfield and a quick pen from Rob Eynon found Andy Pedersen still running with pure power and he proved unstoppable. With Alfie off, Eynon took the conversion which went wide. 34-17

A patched-up Ed Clark came back on for Matt Strong, and didn't take long to make an impact - Jonny Campbell found Eynon heading blind from a scrum and although his pass to Clark left the centre with a lot of work, some steps, a handoff and a fair turn of pace and he was over for his 2nd try. Jonny Campbell this time took the tee, but decided not to use it and knocked over the drop kick instead 41-17

Again Gosford worked their way up field thanks to good ground from the pack, before the ball was span out to Kay McLauchan who powered through for his second score under the posts. A returned Alfie added the extras. 48-17

GAB got the final score when Andy Pedersen was on the end of Alfie Morton's tapped pen and capped off his excellent cameo with another powerful finish. With the wind now abating, Alfie was able to strike over an excellent wide conversion 55-17.

Final score from the ref was 55-10, so we're guessing the first try wasn't recorded and unfortunately we don't have the video footage of the early exchanges to be able to confirm. Pleased to report there weren't handbags after the game - perhaps helped by it not being decided in the last minute this time...

Tap Social Man of the Match - Ed Clark

Scorers:
K McLauchlan 2T
A Morton 1T 4C
M Grant 1T
R Tyler 1T
E Clark 2T
A Pedersen 2T
J Campbell 1C