Glover leads South to victory over Nuneaton and third place in the league

Both South players and supporters alike would have surely taken the four points on offer for a win from today’s home game before kick off. Third versus fourth was always going to be close. However, I’m sure all will be disappointed not to have gained the four point try scoring bonus point such was South’s superiority for the first hour of this game.

Not as “Sommesque” as it can be, but the Welford Road pitch was sticky to say the least and strength sapping for all the players involved in this latest local derby. South retained virtually the side that demolished Syston only replacing injured Will Ward with “little Stewie” Bale while big brother Chris shared the bench with Rhod McNaughton and Danny Graney.

An interesting kick off from Mark Lord started the game and Nuneaton started stronger with Joe Wilson converting an early penalty for the visitors to take the lead. It wasn’t long before the combined efforts of the South pack forced Nuneaton back time and again. When camped on the visitors line the home side pressed strongly and were rewarded when scrum half Joe Glover darted over for a try. He then added the conversion for good measure. He also added a penalty when one of the Nuneaton locks saw yellow after a high tackle on Andy Gates. South added, what they thought, was their second score when Lord fed Will Keeling to go over. The referee decided that Lord’s pass was marginally forward and the score was disallowed. Not to be outdone captain Luke Coltman was on hand to capitalise on a Stu Bale offload to "motor" over from 20 metres this time to score legally. Glover kicked the extras to take South out to a 17-3 advantage. Connor Smith took a blow to the head and Danny Graney came on the cover the blood injury.
As has been the custom this season South took the foot off the pedal and after butchering one overlap Nuneaton scored a straightforward try though Elliot Brown converted by Wilson.

Half time score: South 17 pts Nuneaton 10 pts.

South struck quickly after the break with Glover adding his second penalty and then scored the try of the game. Forced to defend a swift Nuns attack wide on the left South gathered the loose ball and broke out of defence through a barging run by Keiran Stone and Josh McLaurin. Speedster Gareth Kerr was on hand to keep the move going and that man Glover, supporting on the outside, ran in under the posts. Again he added the straightforward conversion to move the score out to 27-10.
More attacking play set Lord loose supported by Simon Johnson who very nearly got over again which would have rewarded the hard work that South were showing at that stage with the try scoring bonus point.
Graney eventually replaced Smith and Chris Bale came on for Lee Miller. Both the Bale brothers had charging runs thwarted by the nuns defence who suddenly became the dominant side on the pitch as South went into their shell.
A well taken try by winger Gregson rewarded the visitors after completely dominating both territory and possession in the last quarter. Wilson added the conversion and in the dying minute added a penalty to take the losing bonus point for Nuneaton for getting within seven points of South.

A cracking game taking into consideration the condition of the pitch although, as stated before, South should be kicking themselves for not being clinical when in control. It could have been a different scenario if the game had gone on for longer as Nuneaton got stronger towards the final whistle.

Squad: Clarke, Kerr, Keeling, Gates, Smith (Graney), Lord, Glover, McLaurin, Johnson, Miller (Bale C), Hurst, Bale S, Stone, Coltman ©, Harris, McNaughton.

Men of the match: Joe Glover, Simon Johnson and Josh McLaurin.