Sat 9 Nov 2002
Marconi – 30
Uttoxeter – 10
Uttoxeter bowed out of the Powergen Junior Vase last Saturday, following a dreary slog at Marconi, Coventry.
The town side once again paid dearly for a sluggish start, which just before half time brought a comment from the Uttoxeter camp: "Well at least we didn't have to pay to watch it!"
Unfortunately the game suffered some inconsistent refereeing, which had the visitors' supporters seething, much to the delight of a largely unsporting home crowd, who tried to referee the match from the touchline.
Despite a spirited comeback in the final quarter of the match, Uttoxeter left it too late to do any damage to their hosts' lead.
Although Jason Cabrera returned to the back row, it was another changed side which made the long trip to Coventry. Veteran Mark Evans, the second team skipper was drafted into front row duty.
Without him the match could not have been played, due to the increasing injury list, which now includes former skipper Donald Hayes.
Hayes has postponed his hand operation so that he can continue playing, and he took the field on Saturday despite suffering from a chest infection which hampered his breathing. No Shaun Gorman meant that Mike Ball was swallowed up in the second row, his place in the breakaways being taken by Greg Wayson who has played all of his rugby in the backs prior to Saturday.
Although the Marconi pitch was bathed in sunshine, conditions underfoot were heavy and slippery following the incessant rainfall of the previous 24 hours.
On gaining a penalty, the home side took a quick tap ball, moving possession right at speed across the face of the posts in a lateral movement which was to outmanoeuvre the town on more than one occasion.
Outflanked on their left the Uttoxeter defence was unable to stop centre Adam Coulthard from galloping in at the right hand corner flag with seven minutes played.
His brother, full back James Coulthard, missed the conversion, but slotted over a penalty goal to give the home side an eight point lead, five minutes later.
The danger passed, and Tim Birks launched a Uttoxeter counter attack, when the little full back went scything through the midfield cover after fielding a Marconi kick. The ball was spun out from a ruck, and winger Lee Hudson made a powerful surging run down the right touch.
Using their forward momentum, the visitors won a penalty in midfield when the home forwards dived over the top of the ball, and skipper Tony Ball banged his kick between the uprights to put the town into the hunt midway through the first period.
But in a purple patch just prior to half time, Marconi effectively put the proceedings beyond doubt, when a superbly executed move by their pacy threequarter line capitalising on a poor clearance, once again completely bamboozled the Uttoxeter cover defence, allowing winger Gavin Palk to go dashing in at the left corner unopposed.
Immediately from Uttoxeter's re-start kick, the home side regained possession, and from deep defence, Tim McClaski went thundering 60 metres down the right touchline, where finding full back Birks "not at home!" the flanker had a clear run in for another five pointer. Shell shocked Uttoxeter were forced to retreat behind their goal line yet again, whilst Coulthard popped over the conversion for the extra two on the stroke of half time.
Following the change round, full back Coulthard extended the home lead early on with a penalty goal, when the town's scrum half Chris Bassett was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes.
With Bassett off the field, Marconi took full advantage of their extra man by playing to the referee as Uttoxeter had now been issued with a warning by the official for over robust play, whilst totally ignoring the provocation being given by their hosts to capitalise on the situation, egged on by their bad mannered supporters.
So it was almost inevitable that when they were awarded another penalty, the home side ran a quick tap ball, broke the cover on Uttoxeter's left flank, and sent full back Coulthard dashing in under the sticks for a try which he also converted.
Although the game was already lost, Uttoxeter had turned the tables somewhat when Bassett rejoined the hostilities, having served his ten minute penance, but unfortunately some wrong options curtailed the town's efforts, and stopped them capitalising on their headway.
Into the final quarter, and the bad feeling which had been bubbling up under the surface, finally erupted when a fracas broke out amongst the forwards as Uttoxeter defended their line. However, when Dave Hodgkinson made a superb two handed catch to steal a Marconi throw, the home side were penalised for trying to steal it back illegally, and Tony Ball sent his relieving kick spiralling away upfield.
When the town won a further penalty, this time the Uttoxeter skipper put his side into the twenty two with a fine touch kick. Hodgkinson made another excellent two handed catch at the ensuing line-out, and the pack drove to the line, where although they were held up, Marconi were penalised.
The town once again attacked through their forwards. Cabrera peeling away down the narrow side was blatantly tripped, but his forwards retained possession, with Gareth Davies ploughing into the defence, setting up a ruck. Cabrera was once again on hand, this time powering over on the open side to touch down a determined consolation try to which Ball added the conversion points.
Although the visitors battled on until the final whistle, there was to be no further score, and Uttoxeter had made a sad exit from the competition.
This week Uttoxeter travel to Leek for another Midlands 4 West(North) League Match, still looking for their first points.
