Marham Match Report

Date:- 4th April 2009

Venue:- Markham

Fixture:- WRU Division 6 (East)

MARKHAM RFC 10 POINTS BEAUFORT RFC 16 POINTS

Beaufort grabbed the league points on offer to complete a rare double over their arch rivals but it was a scrappy encounter riddled with mistakes from both sides and lamentally lacking in any snap or excitement.

Beaufort were dominant in the scrums , struggled a little at the line out but suffered a real crisis at the break down where promising attacking opportunities went woefully astray because of lost possession. Despite winning the match territorially Beaufort's failure to address the problem at the ruck area kept the home side in this match putting the result in doubt until the very end

Both sides exchanged early penalties but it was not until the last ten minutes of a frustratingly sub standard first half that the match sparked into any kind of life.

Beaufort did have a good kicking game and at stand off Matthew Jordan had a superb match justifiably earning himself Beaufort's star player on the day. His neat chip behind the defence was perfectly judged for centre Darrel Roper to run onto. Roper's ability to fend off the big hits and make the hard yards has been a hall mark of his success this season and from thirty metres he made for the line before flanker Dan Purchase fastened on to a perfect off load to score Beaufort's only try . Dylan Smith kicked a tricky conversion in the a swirling wind for a lead of 10 points to 3

An horrendous turnover in Beaufort's next phase of play allowed Markham to counterattack from a deep position and Beaufort's own cover defence was found wanting. A try out wide converted from a narrow angle levelled the scores at half time.

Beaufort performance was marginally better in the second half keeping Markham locked up in their own twenty two for long periods . But despite all the pressure Beaufort failed to cross the line and had to be content with another Smith penalty.

But the lead did not sit easy with the visitors and a break out from the stranglehold gave Markham another chance which should have brought them a vital score . With Beaufort desperately defending and then infringing they elected to take a penalty and fluffed the attempt. Beaufort were off the hook and the next scoring opportunity fell to them

in the form of a penalty . Smith calmly slotted it between the uprights from thirty metres to provide a six point cushion for Beaufort which proved to be good enough to ride out the rest of a disappointing match

Next week Beaufort play host to Blackwood Stars who occupy second place in the league.

BARRIE CASWELL

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