Wow -what a comeback!

A much changed South team (again) travelled to fourth place Nuneaton for the penultimate league game of the season at Liberty Way. Danny Graney, Mark Bayley, Joe Cleary and Len Fincham came in, while Luke Coltman, Joe Glover and Lee Miller all started on the bench.
South won the toss and elected to play up the slope and against a strong wind. They were immediately up against it as the Nuns powered forward and South had to defend almost from the word go. A harsh second minute penalty put Nuns into the lead and three converted tries increased the home sides lead by the 30 minute mark. Trailing by 24 points South were a shadow of the side we have witnessed over the season and things looked ominous!
With Chris Bale leading the charge from the centre and Coltman and Miller entering the fray things began to look up as parity was eventually restored and South threatened. Their case, however, wasn’t helped by another pedantic referee who yellow carded Wes Cartwright and Ricky Aley and made some bizarre decisions against both sides throughout the game.
After being pushed around in the early exchanges the South pack began to take charge and chances were beginning to be created. Quick ball gave Mark Lord space to exploit gaps in the Nuns defence and he put Lee Miller in for South’s first score wide on the right. Lord landed a fine conversion against the wind.

At half time a score of 24-7 was still a mountain to climb, but South would have the benefit of slope and conditions and an increased confidence level after scoring their first touchdown.

Losing Coltman to another yellow card early on didn’t stop South taking control. From a series of forward drives lead by Stu Bale and Cartwright , Josh McLaurin scored South’s second touchdown to narrow the Nun’s lead to 24-12 . Lord’s conversion was blown wide. A touch of magic from Aley as his deft chip enabled speedster Gareth Kerr to gather and run around the Nun’s static defence to score South’s third. Lord added the conversion to take the score to 24-19 and game well and truly on!
The South forwards were magnificent from the kick off and the ball was secured after a crunching tackle by Chris Bale on the receiver. From the next scrummage South worked the ball wide through Lord, Andy Gates and Dave Weston for full back Danny Graney to go over on the wide left. Lord added another fine conversion to take South into the lead 24-26 and adding the try scoring bonus point.
South were now in full flow and after Nuns held up a scoring chance over their own line, Gates with a bout of juggling ran through the Nun’s defence to score. The referee, however, had other ideas, disallowing the try and bringing South back for a penalty. South chose to scrummage and pushed the home side back resulting in a penalty try being awarded. Lord added the straightforward conversion to move the score onto 24-33 in South’s favour.
Nuneaton tried to get back into the game in the latter stages, but South’s defence held firm to take a remarkable “game of two halves”.

Squad: Graney, Kerr, Gates, Bale C, Weston, Lord, Aley, McLaurin , Johnson, Cartwight, Bale S, Cleary, Bayley, McNaughton ©, Fincham, Coltman, Miller, Glover.