South in seven try heaven as ON's come down to earth with a bump.

South Leicester returned to their Welford Road home after taking maximum points on their recent travels to Luton and Burton respectively. Gareth Clarke failed a late fitness test so Nick Griffin resumed at full back with Phil Daffern at no 14. Chris Mark made an appearance at no 11, while Marcus Badham replaced Dom Green at hooker. Green, Adam Blayney and Len Fincham made up the bench.
After all the rain this week the pitch was in remarkably good nick albeit a little sticky while the sun shone and the wind blew strongly from the north west.
South kicked off with the wind and initially couldn’t put together a meaningful phase of play with mistakes a plenty. ON’s on the other hand gained some early confidence moving the ball wide at every opportunity to pin South back in their own 22 metre area. However, in their first attack South swept from defence to offence in style with slick passing in midfield to find Nick Griffin surging into the line. His deft grubber kick behind the ON’s defence enabled Phil Daffern to win the chase to the line and score South’s opening try wide on the right. Mark Lord’s conversion was subject to the gusting wind being blown narrowly wide.
ON’s replied with a series of attacks resulting in a yellow card for James Stapleford although the visitors fly half Alex Rose missed the penalty kick. Back came South to break away to give the increasingly influential Griffin a second try and after a Lord line break Daffern scored South’s third. Both Lord’s conversions went the way of the first – blown wide.
Towards half time South’s pack got on top in both the tight and loose confrontations. Sam Badham, Stu Bale, Josh McLaurin and Mark Bayley made fine contributions in both attack and defence therefore limiting the ambitions of the visitors.

Half time was reached with South in the ascendency leading 15 points to nil.

Rose got ON’s on the scoreboard with a penalty soon after the break, but the visitors were powerless to stop a bullish run by Chris Bale from his own half. Support from Connor Smith, Mike March and McLaurin enabling Lord to go over for the try bonus point score on the left. His well struck conversion added the extras.
Bale was replaced soon after with Adam Blayney who soon played his part in supporting Matt Fisher to score South’s fifth try and ON’s were demoralised.
Marcus Badham took two against the head as the South pack demonstrated their supremacy giving the platform for further attacking play from the backs.
The visitors made a raft of replacements to stem the South tide, but immediately one was yellow carded for lazy running and ON’s paid the price with that man Griffin showing considerable power to beat defenders at will to go over to score. Lord converted.
Connor Smith put the icing on the cake with South’s seventh try just before the final whistle as ON’s were comprehensively dismantled.

It was probably South’s most complete 80 minute display so far this season against a side who have taken some considerable scalps, notably Bromsgrove home and away. The South pack won the game with a hard nosed collective display while the backs decided by how many, scoring some fine tries.

The referee Hatim Tall from the northern group deserves a mention for his consistency and empathy. He is one of very few officials who look over his shoulder and penalise backs offside encroachment at the set piece. This enabled both sides to play in space and contributed to a fine game of rugby under some challenging climatic conditions.

Team: Griffin, Daffern, Fisher, Smith, Mark C, Lord, McFedries, Bale C (Blayney), March©, McLaurin, Bale S, Badham S, Stapleford (Fincham), Badham M (Green), Bayley.

Men of the Match: Nick Griffin (who was dominant with ball in hand), Stu Bale, Mark Bayley and Connor Smith who was outstanding both in attack and defence.