South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | October | 14
From the archive, first published Friday 14th Oct 2005.
Gloucester Division One Chipping Sodbury 13 Tewkesbury 10
SODBURY sit proudly atop Gloucester One after a satisfying win over previously free-scoring Tewkesbury.
Sodbury dominated to such an extent that Tewkesbury were restricted to only fleeting glimpses of the home side's 22.
Sodbury ensured that any infringements would be punished as man of the match Steve Romanowski stroked over his first penalty from halfway.
Sodbury then set about restricting Tewkesbury from building any momentum.
A turnover was pounced on and winger Matt Dando zoomed infield. He was stopped five metres out but back row forwards Nathan Spry and Neil Taylor were on hand to ruck the opposition out of the way to allow the ever-improving Martin Moorhouse to scoop the ball up and dive over. Romanowski converted for a ten-point lead.
Tewkesbury exchanged penalties with Romanowski early in the second half, although Sodbury remained on top.
Despite benefiting from a strong wind in the second half, Tewkesbury never really bothered the home line as they struggled to win any ball.
When they did, their fly-half had little option but to clear his lines, often poorly.
This gave Sodbury's dangerous back three of Dando, Tony Montilla and Roger Pierce-Jones a broken field to attack, providing excitement for a hardy crowd.
A Sodbury handling error led to a 50-yard footrace and a consequent Tewkesbury try in injury-time but the home side were deserved winners nonetheless
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