Sat 16 Mar 2002
Uttoxeter are celebrating after winning the Staffordshire Division One title in fine style with a resounding nine try victory over Whittington in front of their home crowd.
The Barracks' side, who failed to turn up for their Owen Cup semi final clash with Uttoxeter the previous week, probably wished they had not shown up for this match on Saturday either.
They had no answer to the Town players' power and pace around the field, despite Uttoxeter having a depleted squad.
Destroyed in the front row through set pieces by Andy Moult and the Hayes brothers, the visitors were also outmanoeuvred in the loose and outgunned in the backs.
The home side took their foot off the gas for 15 minutes in the second period, but Whittington rarely got within striking distance of the try line, and had no penalty shots at goal.
Uttoxeter were without regulars Parton, Collett, Cabrera, Smith, Whelan and Burlinson, but welcomed back Griffin to the number 8 jersey following injury. Two of last season's stars, Bould and Birks, were promoted from the seconds for the title clincher.
Andy Moult was drafted out of retirement into the front row, while his brother Dave, the seconds' skipper, was on the bench, along with Atherton and Thomas.
Uttoxeter laid down the gauntlet as early as the fifth minute.
Having swiftly recycled possession from a midfield ruck just in their own half, centre Matt Williams exploded up the middle which split the cover, and drew the Whittington full back. He flicked a pass to the elegant Andy Gagie on his left who went ghosting in at the left corner.
Tony Ball was off target with the conversion, but the Uttoxeter captain stroked over a penalty goal shortly afterwards to nudge Town further in front.
Some textbook play from the Town forwards saw them drive up the left touchline before releasing the ball from fifth phase. Possession was channelled right, and moved quickly across field to James Williams out on the right, who put on a burst of speed to flash into the corner for a try at the flag.
Once again Ball missed the target for the extra two, but made no mistake with his second penalty a few minutes later to consolidate his team's lead at 16 points.
His brother, the ubiquitous Mike, set up another forward push, when he snapped up the loose football, and the Town pack thundered back into the Whittington twenty two. Their textbook build-up was rewarded when with his usual panache Matt Williams raced in for a try under the sticks, to which Tony Ball added the conversion points.
Stuart Griffin, despite his lack of match practice, was still able to produce some classy flair and dash and his pick-up and charge set up Tony Ball with another clattering run into the defence.
But the Uttoxeter captain tried to go all the way himself and was scragged on the line. He is, however, a powerful man to stop, and feeding back possession in the tackle, his halfback partner Chris Owen was on hand to go darting over for a cracking five pointer left of the posts, to which ball added the extra two.
Close to half time another exciting build-up from the Oldfields side saw possession switched first left, and then right across the width of the field, with the whole team involved.
Their opponents' cover was put at full stretch and Tim Birks, joining the attack from full back, went streaking home in the right corner. Ball stabbed the conversion between the uprights to put Uttoxeter 37 points up at the break.
Following the change round, Uttoxeter with the sun at their backs, swept downfield two minutes in. Tony Ball made a telling break to race for the line and looked as if he should have off loaded when he was held under the posts. But once again Owen was with him to redistribute possession to Mike Ball, the big flanker unstoppable at close range, plunging over a deserved try which brother Tony converted.
Owen was on fire on the day, and the scrum half shortly afterwards burst away from a solid scrum in his own half to race 40 metres on a searing break, drawing the cover before spinning possession to Matt Williams. The flyer then cruised in under the sticks for his second try which was once more converted by Ball.
Despite being 51 points in arrears and under the cosh, Whittington stiffened their resolve from then on. But in the closing stages the pressure told when Ian Bould fielded a poor defensive kick from the away team. The big winger charged back into the twenty two, possession was fed back and spun left to Matt Williams who went galloping in at the corner for his hat trick try which was converted by Ball.
The two Uttoxeter replacements, not long after taking the field, combined to fashion a score in the dying minutes. Centre Dave Atherton glided past the cover defence with a show of the ball on halfway. A mesmeric change of pace took him downfield, where he drew the full back before giving a well timed pass to winger Matt Thomas who raced in at the corner for an unconverted try.
Having won the title, Uttoxeter's challenge now is to remain unbeaten in their two remaining league matches. Both games will be played at Oldfields - the first against Cannock a week on Saturday, and the other against Linley on April 6.
This week the Second XV are at home to Lichfield IV in a Merit Table match.
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