NEWBOLD VETS - 23 HARBURY 2NDS - 22

Bold Vets under the pugnacious leadership of John Dixon continued with their 100% winning league record for this season with a hard fought win in a pulsating game where the lead changed hands six times. Bold came out of the starting blocks well for the second week in a row and were soon 7-0 up following good work from the pack, the ball fizzed between Chopper Wilson and Rhino Plumb putting Carl "Platty" Platt through a gap drawing two tacklers and a blind pass, full of understanding, to Jim "The try machine" Brainwood who crashed over underneath the posts. Brainwood converted his own try.

Harbury possessed a powerful kicking game and this caused confusion in Bolds defence and Harbury capitalised on this with a try. Bold responded with a penalty by Brainwood following indiscretion by Harbury at a ruck. Half Time: Newbold 10 - Harbury 5. Harbury started the second half well and soon scored a converted breakaway try following soft tackling by Bold to gain the lead for the first time in the game. But good build up play by the robust Bold forwards enabled Brainwood to score a try under the posts again, which he duly converted.

Bish Bale with plenty of time still had a kick charged down which enabled Harbury to hack ahead for a converted try and the lead again. Bold were not down hearted and the forwards lead by Mick "the butcher"Asquith, Rhino and Lloyd "the claw" Bale surged ahead and forced a penalty in front of the posts which Brainwood slotted. The game was taking its toll on both teams and several changes were required in the last 10 minutes and this proved vital in the end. Chopper Wilson continued to terrorise his opposite number and push the laws of the game but he did this once too much and gave away a penalty in front of his posts with 5 minutes to go. Harbury took this opportunity with both hands to go 22-20 ahead.

Again Bold were not deflated and the pack continued to push hard and slick hands by the re-jigged backs put Bold in Harbury's 22. Harbury showed indecision in clearing their lines and Chopper Wilson snaffled his opposite number again and supported by the impeccable Rhino Plumb they turned the ball over and the pack secured quality ball for Platty to slot an immaculate winning drop goal, Wilkinson-like, with 60 seconds to go for a one point dramatic win.

A cracking game by two sporting teams was witnessed by Bolds faithful support. The game also saw Paul "Milko" Marriott come out of his 6 week retirement and Lee "Dice" Dicey come out of his 15 year retirement. Glad to have you both back.