Sat 23 Feb 2002
Uttoxeter's first team remain unbeaten at the top of Staffordshire Division One and now need just one more victory to seal the title after beating Cannock on Saturday.
The top of the table clash had been delayed from the previous week after the Cannock players were struck down with flu and were unable to travel to Uttoxeter.
But they were fit and able to entertain the town side for the return fixture at Morgans Ground on a bitterly cold afternoon when conditions at times resembled a scene from the Winter Olympics.
In a game of two halves, the Uttoxeter visitors rallied following the break to consolidate their superiority up front, and provide a solid platform behind the scrum for for some impressive rugby football, considering the squally conditions.
Even given that they had the slope and breeze against them during the first period, Uttoxeter had failed to capitalise on their surfeit of possession, with some untidy play letting Cannock off the hook when they seemed poised to score.
Particularly in the early stages, the home side looked the hungrier for the ball as the gobbled up loose possession to counter attack down the slope, which is always hard to defend.
Cannock had a dream start amid a blizzard when Paul Issit found the target with a penalty goal after three minutes which gave the home side the early lead which they were looking for.
The visitors survived more Cannock pressure in the mud at the bottom of the slope, but once they escaped upfield onto the grassy plateau, deep in home territory, they never looked in any real danger of conceding a try during the remainder of the first period.
Into the teeth of the gusty wind, Tony Ball rifled over an equalising penalty, but sustained pressure from the Oldfields outfit failed to create any further score, and the teams went into the break tied at three points all, but the advantage definitely with Uttoxeter.
Tony Ball kicked off the second period with the sun temporarily having broken through the cloud. But the Uttoxeter skipper's kick carried directly into touch, giving the home side a scrum on halfway, from where they briefly got into the town's twenty two following a penalty.
Superb play, however, from the town side turned over possession and a long bobbling kick away downfield from Matt Williams resulted in home full back Will Bagharouty knocking on under pressure.
Cannock were now given a taste of the medicine which they often administer themselves as they were sent slithering backwards at a set scrum and into touch in the muddy right corner.
Uttoxeter gathered the line-out ball, then drove into the corner, with No 8 Mitch Collett ploughing his way through the Cannock defence to touch down for a powerhouse try, close to the right hand corner flag. In the swirling breeze, the conversion attempt sailed across the face of the posts.
Cannock with their pride now wounded in front of a large, partisan but sporting crowd, charged into the visitors' territory from the restart kick, where they won a penalty in front of the posts.
Issit's kick struggled over the bar on a lazy trajectory, none the less gaining the three points to provide the hosts with an immediate repost.
But it was to be their last reward as Uttoxeter rumbled back down the slope to pile into the Cannock defence.
Sadly, hard working flanker Jason Cabrera, who had been at the heart of the attacks, now had to leave the field with a dislocated shoulder. He was replaced by Steve Palmer.
Lock forward Dave Hodgkinson spearheaded an eight-man drive which powered the town's forwards over the try line, Hodgkinson pushing the ball down for a dramatic unconverted five pointer.
As the dark storm clouds once more gathered overhead, it was to prove a bad omen for the home side, their visitors having now gathered momentum. A rolling maul proved unstoppable as Uttoxeter trundled it down the slope, and although Cannock got away with collapsing it, and initially killing the ball, the visitors dispossessed them.
Some fine crossfield handling, given the appalling conditions, sent winger Matt Thomas darting in at the flag for the town's third try. But with hailstones beating down, the conversion was once more off the target.
Cannock, desperately trying to get some points on the board before the match escaped from their grasp, battled into Uttoxeter territory. But once more they turned over possession in the loose. The ball was spun out to flyer Matt Williams. The centre turned on the gas and from 40 metres upfield galloped away down the left before cutting in to touch down for an electrifying try midway between the goal posts and the corner flag. Tony Ball made the conversion and there was no way back now for Cannock.
Hooker Dean Hayes' well timed pass sent Hodgkinson charging over in the left corner for his second try of the match and Uttoxeter's fifth which hammered the final nail in the Cannock coffin.
Uttoxeter have now completed their away league programme. They face Whittington at home in three weeks' time.
Their home game against Cannock, which has been postponed three times, has been rearranged for March 30. The match against Linley on April 6 will complete their season.
They also have to fit in their home semi final tie with Whittington and a postponed merit table game at Stafford.
This Saturday Ashbourne, high fliers from Notts., Lincs. and Derby, visit Oldfields for a friendly. It is the first time for several years that the two clubs have met at first team level, despite being neighbours. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
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