Famous victory over UUC
The omens were good for this match with Grosvenor Grammar causing an upset in the Schools Cup with victory over Sullivan Upper earlier in the day.
This match started at a blistering pace and Grosvenor really tore into the visitors in the opening exchanges, forcing a series of penalties, one of which Mattly Little converted for a 3-0 lead. Grosvenor were unlucky not to score a try following an attack down the right flank but winger Andrew Robinson was scragged just before the line. Jim Neill on the other wing then almost scored when he pounced on a loose ball but was hauled down just short. But Grosvenor were not to be denied and prop Simon Fullerton scored a lovely try, scorching up the right wing and diving in the corner. 8-0.
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Grosvenor starved the vistors of possession and they simply could not get a foothold in the game. Grosvenor extended their lead with another Little penalty and drop goal from Peter Rowntree. UUC almost scored in the last minute of the half when they mounted an attack from deep but flanker Fra Graham made a crunching tackle on the line to prevent the try. Half-time 14-0.
Grosvenor waivered slightly at the start of the second period messing up a few lines-out and missing a few tackles. The students pounced on the opportunities presented and scored two great tries in quick succession in the left hand corner to bring the score to 14-10. Grosvenor could have panicked but instead the pack grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and put in one of the finest forward performances in recent memory.
They retained possession superbly and rumbled upfield from all parts of the park, running down the clock and managing to keep most of the play deep in UUC territory. They looked to have scored another try in the left hand corner but were called back by the UUC touch judge for foot in touch. This only spurred them on further and they laid siege to the vistors’ line with Phillip Stoops eventually getting the score. 19-10. Mattly Little converted another penalty to stretch the lead to 22-10. Try as they might the students simply could not get back in to the game and starved of possession their attacking options were greatly limited.
Final score 22-10.
This win lifts Grosvenor several places up the table and they can look forward with some confidence to their remaing league and cup campaigns. With many of the long term injured now returning to the ranks competition for places will be fierce.
There were many candidates for man of the match with Jack Adams, Simon Fullerton, Andrew Kelly and Peter Dawson all having blinders but Chris Culbert gets the nod.
