FRAMPTON HOLD PLAIN TO DRAW

Broad Plain vs Frampton is always a good affair with there being so much history between the 2 clubs, this game did not disappoint!
Last season Frampton put 70 points on us at home so the BP lads were looking for some payback against the green and blacks.

The day got off to a good start for BP, we did not have the usual struggle to find players with 23 lads turning up for the game in perfect rugby conditions.

After a good warm up and some good run throughs we felt confident of getting the win, we also had a good line up with some players coming back from long term injuries.

The game got off to a strong start with the BP forwards managing to tackle the Frampton ball catcher into touch straight from the KO. However we were pinged at the lineout for a not straight throw so the Frampton boys were awarded the scrum and they immediately set the tone with some strong and powerful pack work to put our boys on the back foot.
BP we spending a lot of time in the Frampton 22 but they defended very well and we were pinged twice for offside and holding on when we were about 5 meters from the touchline.
This was a very physical game, particularly in the forwards with lots of strong rucking and mauling so the backs didn’t really see the ball for the 1st 15 minutes or so but when we did boy did it pay off!!

Josh Clark playing at full back picked up the ball and ran hard at the Frampton line, he then did the most audacious piece of play that has ever been seen at BP!! A chip over the top went right down to the Frampton 5 meter line where their number 8 was waiting to collect the ball (to be fair he did get an unkind bounce). Josh then hit him…….and what a hit it was……lots OOOOHS from the touchline! Unfortunately the hit was so hard that the Frampton 8 lost the ball and there was Man of the Match Rob Smale who scooped it up and touched the ball down then adding the extras. 7-0.

The game continued much in same vain for the remainder of the 1st half with Frampton dominating the set piece area but BP stayed strong in defence with very little getting through our lines.
2 minutes before HT BP was award a penalty straight in front of the posts which Rob Smale slotted. 10-0 and HT.

After a good HT talk (particularly to the BP forwards) we came out the more confident of the 2 sides, we were desperate to retain our lead but Frampton were on the score sheet early.

Frampton kicked off and there was some confusion between the BP Scrum half and Flanker who both let the ball bounce between the middle of them! Frampton were in our face quickly and managed to win a penalty which they kicked to touch…..they were showing there intent early!

They won the line out and immediately set up a very powerful and strong driving maul with the BP forwards couldn’t deal with and they shoved us over the line. Conversion missed 10-5.
Frampton were all over BP, particularly at the set piece area with them dominating the line out and scrum.
Our skirmishes into the Frampton half were few and far between in the 1st 15 minutes of the 2nd half and when we did get there Frampton were very strong and the breakdown and were turning us over and being award lots of penalties.
A good piece of play by Frampton led to there next try, they kicked it straight trough the middle and some good chasing from their winger resulted in them touching the ball down. Conversion missed 10-10.

The physicality of the game intensified with both teams steaming into tackles and the contact area chasing the win, Plain were awarded a penalty and we elected for the posts but Rob Smale just put the ball wide, still 10-10. Plain were having some better periods of possession now and were starting to make the territory count. BP were awarded a penalty just in front of the posts but the BP scrum half took a quick tap and go (silly boy!!) and was brought down about half a meter from the try line where the brilliant Frampton defence managed to turn the ball over.

The game ended in a draw, a fair result but Frampton retain the cup!! We look forward to the return fixture later this season.

Make sure we all train this week as we have another tough game away at Bristol Telephones next week; we really need to work on our set piece.

Plank of the match: Paul Dennys (should have taken the points!!!)
Man of the Match: Rob Smale (Scored all our points!!)

Team:

1. Aidy Godbear
2. ??
3. Luke Fussell
4. Steve Stewart
5. Mike Morris
6. Wayne Morgan
7. Danny Smith
8. Karl Syrett
9. Paul Dennys
10. Rob Smale
11. Mike Laffan
12. James Jenkinson (Captain)
13. Lee Norman
14. Russ
15. Josh Clark
Replacements:
1. Andy Forbes
2. Zach Slocombe
3. Ross Smale
4. Tom?