SCUNTHORPE 22 BROMSGROVE 46
There will not be many match days like this at Heslam Park in years to come. First of all, it is very doubtful that a player will notch up 500 1st team appearances as did the legend that it is Tom Foster. Not only has Tom made this milestone but he has been the skipper for 14 incredible seasons. It also doubtful that the Greens will play as badly as this in front of a good home crowd bathed in spring sunshine.
Things went downhill from the kickoff when the ball did not travel the required 10 metres. This gave Bromsgrove the initiative and they kept the ball well, waited for an opportunity to score their first try after 2 minutes through wingman Allastair Murray.
Five minutes later Ollie Cole scored a typical Scunthorpe forwards try. Bromsgrove gave away two quick penalties. Tom Foster kick to touch and from the ensuing line out Cole burst through shrugging off would be tacklers to dive over for a well earned try. Ben Hyde stepped up to kick a difficult conversion and the ball hit the right hand upright and bounced back denying the two extra points. Cole then went from saint to sinner as he was punished for a high tackle. Bromsgrove kicked to touch and from their line out hooker James Gunther broke off the maul to get the touchdown. Fly half Douglas not have his kicking boots on as he failed again to get the conversion. On 21 minutes Bromsgrove scored again this time from right wing William Trumper. The referee played advantage from an illegal maul and Bromsgrove were on fire as they the ball moved wide. Scunthorpe made things easier by missing tackles and Trumper had a free run in. Douglas missed again. 5-15. The West Midlands outfit scored their bonus point try after 25 minutes. From yet another penalty, the ball was hoofed 70 metres to the home side 22. Once again from the line out Bromsgrove kept possession and recycled well. The Scunthorpe defence was non-existent as Murray scored his 2nd try, Douglas missed at the fourth attempt. Scunthorpe put themselves back into the opposition 22 with a well taken penalty. However they surrendered possession at the line out, Bromsgrove cleared their lines. The on fire backs from Bromsgrove saw big full back Will Harris walk through to score. There were ironic jeers for Douglas has he finally nailed a conversion. Half time Scunthorpe 5 Bromsgrove 27. A long way to go to get anything out of this game.
The spirits were up as Tom Foster kicked a penalty to the 22 and the Greens began to play a bit. From another penalty, a quick ‘tap and go’ saw Foster link up with Ollie Cole who threw an outrageous dummy feeding Joey Mowbray to dive over in the corner. Josh Lugsden kicked a great conversion from wide out. 12 – 27. Bromsgrove were now just in range but they stretched their lead on 62 minutes through replacement Whiteman. A clever chip kick from Douglas saw a run chase as it appeared as though the move was held up short of the line with some good Scunthorpe defence. However the visitors managed to keep the ball in play and Whiteman ran in to score. Douglas converted, 12 – 34. Ethan Heath-Drury scored a lovely individual try as he charged down a kick on the Bromsgrove 22, he collected the ball and scored. Murray collected his hat trick try. Then it looked as if Nick Dyson had scored the last try of the match only for Whiteman to score in overtime, Douglas converted and the Greens were well beaten. As the final whistle blew in the final league game of the season it was all about that man Tom Foster and not the end result. Mention must also go Gareth Mist who has been called up out of retirement to make his 300th appearance in the previous game.
Scunthorpe now say goodbye to many of their Midlands rivals who have provided excellent opposition and hospitality over the years as we enter the new dawn of league restructuring. Next season Tim Robinson’s men will playing their league rugby in the North East league.
