Staines 32

Luton 22

Saturday 14th April 2012
National League 3 London & SE

"Elliot leaves Luton in his Wake"

Swans wing Elliot Wake scored a crucial try just after the interval to ease some of the jitters that had prevailed through out a first half basic mistakes made by the home side.
The game started well for the Swans. After some good support play from the break down, No 8 Chris West attacked down the short side with wing Lewis Pruce in support. Drawing the defender and giving Pruce the space to show his pace, for the impressive wing to score a well-taken try beating two defenders with 40m still to go.

Chris West with Lewis Pruce in support.

Sean Flynn adding the extras, Staines started to get into their stride. Luton who were already relegated before todays game, were not coming all the way down the M1 without putting up a show of force.
Competing at the break down and trying to upset the Home sides flow, Luton wing and former Middlesex county player Teshurn Edwards found himself in acres of space from a turnover in the ruck.
Racing pass two Staines defenders to score in the corner. With Rik Hobbs missing the extras but shortly afterwards adding a penalty on the half hour mark.

Staines felt under pressure to perform against a team that has been struggling all season.
Losing the ball in open play from a quick tap penalty was not the way take keep the pressure on and gave the away team another chance to get back into the game. This time it was Luton Center Jake Hobbs who made the most of an opportunity in the mid field, scoring near the post.
With half time fast approaching and trailing 10-15 Staines, referee Dave Parsons once again put his mark on the game by showing the yellow card to Swans prop Kit Cox at the line out for “interference”.
With Staines coaches Rich Mahony and John Brady taking the team off for the half time talk and a chance to reinforce the focus back on the game plan.

Still down to 14 players Staines pushed for the early break, with their efforts being rewarded with 7 mins of the half played. Fly half Sean Flynn seized on a chance of quick ball and attacked with the ball in hand. With the ever-present back rower Mark Cornell supplying a sharp pair of hands to service Wake on the wing, just leaving him to round his defender and touch down in the corner.

Sean Flynn and Mark Cornell supplying the try scoring pass to Elliot Wake..

Luton where not ready to give up without at least trying. Again from some poor self-discipline in the open play Staines allowed Luton’s forwards to pick and drive hard into the Home sides 22m, eventually rewarding the Bedfordshire team with a try. From which Hobbs converted to give his team a 22-15 lead.
“Don’t panic, work hard for the ball carrier” was the calm straight talking words from the capt Cleary. Whom himself had just set the example by putting in a try saving cross-field tackle on the Luton wing Edwards.

Tom Cleary setting the example.

Staines now with a new sense of urgency and belief, took the game to Luton. Straight away they were rewarded with Ref Parsons sin binning the away teams Open side Harris. This gave the Swans the advantage that took its toll on Luton.
With Staines putting the away team scrum under pressure, Parsons lost patience and awarded Staines a “Penalty try”. Bishay kept his nerve to dissect the uprights, giving the home side a disserved 7 points. 22-22.
Staines moved ahead further with Bishay claiming another 3 points, to regain the lead 25-22.
Luton under pressure near their line lost another player to a yellow card, this time “illegal entry at the break down” to stop a certain try. Staines now driving hard for the line trying for that lucrative bonus point win. They were eventually rewarded after some good counter-attacking prowess from Pruce breaking countless tackles supported by the experienced James Cornish in the center.
Jon Webber was held just short of the line in the corner. Again Luton gave away another penalty to stop the trot. Bishay pounced and bounced from a quick tap, to score that elusive bonus point and ever-important home win. 32-22.

Staines 32 (10)
Tries: ; L Pruce, E Wade, C Bishay, Penalty Try
Conversions: S Flynn, C Bishay 2
Penalties: C Bishay 2

Luton 22 (15)
Tries: T Edwards, J Hobbs, J Blinkhorn
Conversions: R Hobbs 2
Penalties: R Hobbs

STAINES SWANS were:
J Webber, L Pruce, J Cornish, C Bishay, E Wake, S Flynn, J Robinson, D Major, M Newman, L Shanahan, K Cox, J Kinnell, T Cleary (capt), M Cornell, W Samuels, C West, R Bachour, D Price.


Next week Staines Swans welcome a much-improved Westcliff side to the Reeves for their final game of this league campaign. It should be a cracker of game with Westcliff looking to reverse the result from the previous league meeting back in September, from which the Swans won 46-15.

Rod Jermy   Director of Rugby       Email: rjermy@stainesrugby.co.uk