Sun 20 Oct 2024, 14:00
Report by James Newbery
The Frome RFC Academy XV welcomed Winscombe RFC Colts to The Lane on Sunday 20th October for a Somerset League fixture.
Unfortunately the visiting side were unable to fulfil a competent front row, so the game went ahead with uncontested scrums.
In the opening exchanges, following a strong carry from Ewan Cox, the ball was opened up. Cam Vince moved the ball to Henry Williams, who threw a miss pass to full back Zach Sibley. Sibley selflessly passed to Will Ibbitson, to score out wide.
The try tally was doubled a minute later, Frome were in good attacking shape. Captain Bryn Lewis cut a great angle and out paced the defence to score out wide, for an early 10-0 lead.
With ten minutes on the clock, the away side were repeatedly infringing. This meant there was lots of space out wide. Williams passed out wide to Toby Cassidy to comfortably score. Williams added the added extras to make the score 17-0.
After thirteen minutes, Winscombe hit back with a Try, from close range. To close the gap to 17-7.
Following a great carry from Kayden Henley and then Rufus Phelps, a line out was set up. Frome embarked on a dominant driving maul and Henley touched down to score.
After 20 minutes, Frome showed good pace. Jonas Mills carried into traffic and found Lewis, who scored out wide. This pushed the score line out to 29-7.
Winscombe hit back with another close range try.
After twenty minutes, Winscombe miss-fired. Alfie Newbery picked the ball off the back of the line out. He ran into space and passed inside to Phelps, who carried again. A penalty was awarded against Winscombe, Williams kicked deep and Frome were narrowly denied try on line.
Minutes later, from the same position, Frome attacked again and this time, the try was scored by Cox. Williams added the extras from the touchline. Meaning the half-time score was 36-14.
HT: Frome RFC 36-14 Winscombe RFC
Winscombe started the second half the stronger of the two teams, scoring two long range tries in the opening five minutes. Suddenly the score was 36-28.
After ten minutes, the ball was pinged by Frome out wide. A good ball from Vince, was followed by footwork from Williams and a try was narrowly denied.
The try did come, following loose play on their own try line from Winscombe. Harry Greenwood intercepted the ball, to score. Greenwood doubled his try tally, when he peeled off the back of a maul, to sprint home and score from his own half. The score was 48-28.
Winscombe attacked with pace, but it was stopped by Cox, who claimed his second jackle of the half.
Five minutes followed, of end to end rugby, with tackling from both sides, seeming to be optional. Frome and Winscombe traded tries, Cassidy intercepting and ghosting in, to score from the edge of 22.
Finding some fluency, in the final few minutes, the Frome backs moved the ball well. In a little space, Archie Pearn chipped and gathered his own ball to score the games final try.
The score line, in a disjointed but high scoring game Somerset League game, finished 60-33.
FT: Frome RFC 60-33 Winscombe RFC
