Nuneaton 32 v Scunthorpe 31

With all last week’s starting front row testing positive for covid on the Tuesday, the Greens again struggled to field a full squad. The day was saved by two Scunthorpe ‘exiles’ Dylan Martin, who now lives in Cardiff, and Gareth Mist from Liverpool, stepping up to the plate.

The home side kicked off at Nun’s Liberty Road ground with the gusty wind at their backs. They registered the first score when a clever grubber kick through the Green’s defensive line saw centre Theo Knight over for an unconverted try. It was, however, the young Greens backs who moved the ball smartly to put pressure on the home side resulting in a penalty that the Scunthorpe forwards drove over the line in a ‘Bridlington’ for Gareth Mist to touch down. Josh Clarke converted. The visitors continued to set the pace and centre Ethen Heath- Drury raced through to score Scunthorpe’s second, unconverted try, after fifteen minutes of play. The Green’s continued to look the sharper side with a Josh Clarke intercepting almost resulting in another score. However, it was the home side who struck next. After driving forward in a scrum in The Green’s 22 their scrum half, Ben Kirby, made a break and put full back Sam Everett in for an unconverted try.

With a half time score of 10- 12 and wind advantage for the second half thing looked promising from the visitor’s point of view.

It was, though, the Nuns, who, having gained possession following their own kick off pressured with a scum for Ben Kirby to again make a beak and this time score himself.

This setback saw the Greens up their game and produce their best rugby of the day. Pressure resulted in a desperate Nuns kick out of defence that allowed full back Josh Lugsden the space to use his pace to break their line and put Jack Brunt over for a try converted by Josh Clerk. This was followed by another flowing passing movement by Scunthorpe that ended in a second Jack Brunt try. When a long kick through saw the home defender tackled and several quick passes put Jake McKaye in for a converted try, the Greens looked to have won the game, having a 15-31 lead.

It was not to be. The Nuns put together a good move to touch down for a 20-31scorline and Dylan Martin and Nick Dyson were shown yellow cards, for a no arms tackle and a side entry to a ruck, respectively.

Scenting victory the home side upped their game, stand off Matt Guilfoyle and centre Elliot Brown scoring two tries. Sam Everett kicking the match winning conversion.

Another bitter pill for the Greens. But despite the ever changing unsettling line up, several youngsters are showing great promise. With a week off and the prospect of some injured players returning we can have hope for better times to come.