North Bristol 2nd XV 17 St Bernadette’s 2nd XV 5

WITH neither side fielding first fifteeens, this match was played with strong second teams, offering full-on competition. The first ten minutes was full of commitment, as the sides worked hard to break through.

It was North Bristol, however, who scored first, when marauding lock, Joe Page, ran through three tacklers to score a delightful try for North to lead 5-0.

Excellent line-out work from Tony Booth and colt Ben Green gave a flow of good ball throughout and solid scrums offered a sound platform for man of the match, Ollie Rigby, to work from at scrum half.

In broken play, Page, Terry Hall and Billy Collins regularly challenged the Bernadette’s game-line, while North’s wide runners, Steve Underwood, Dan Snow and John Gait were a constant threat. Later, Snow converted a penalty try for North Bristol after repeated Bernadette infringements brought the referees whistle to make it 12-0.

An exciting break-out from Saints brought them an unconverted try down the right wing to make the half-time score 12-5. Some fractious passages brought four yellow cards: one to North and three to Saints, as the referee determinedly maintained control. 


Number ten, Gary Leadbetter’s re-emergence from retirement, was rewarded in a good partnership at half-back with Rigby. Leadbetter’s deft touches and well-directed possession was matched by Rigby’s energy and high work rate. Class will out! Colts’ Ben Green as flanker and Tom Cogram at 15, impressed in a rare outing in senior rugby, giving North much to hope for in the future.

The home side nailed down the result, fifteen minutes from full time, when replacement wing, Craig Hazard, crashed over on the right for North, to take a final 17-5 victory.