PUDDLETOWN 35

OAKMEDIANS 19

Puddletown marked their return to Counties Two with a statement bonus point victory against Oakmeadians on Saturday.

As the game was kicked off, it was clear that the weather would have a say as both packs set up for a scrum within 15 seconds of the first whistle.

Out the back of the scrum, Puddletown made their way up to the opponents 10 metre line where a penalty was conceded.

James Elwood kicked for the corner and Puddletown set up a maul from the lineout. Debutant Theo Byrne was at the back of this maul and went over for his maiden Puddletown try.

Following an Oaks scrum in their 22, a clearing kick was sent downfield straight into the hands of Hugo Wallington at fullback.

After weaving his way through three Oakmeadian defenders, he got the ball away to Harry Mortimer who thread the needle with his pass to Elwood on the wing who run it in from 22 out.

A penalty slotted home by Andy Edmunds was the highlight for Puddletown in the second quarter as Oaks knocked on the door looking for their first try of the game.

That came with three minutes to go in the half after a period of sustained pressure allowed them to break through the Puddle defence for a converted try.

An early second half penalty miss was made up for by Elwood as he went over for a second time in the corner after some lovely passing through the backs again.

A clearing kick by Oaks then fell short into the hands of Bertie Hebburn Heath who put boot to ball and sent it cross field, finding Alex Kley on the bounce who guided it over from 22 out.

Oaks responded almost immediately as a ball popped out the side of a ruck, and despite a great covering tackle by Wallington, the ball was down in the corner as they reduced the lead to 11 with 20 to go.

As Puddletown made their way back down the pitch a cheeky show and go from the cramping tighthead Dylan Trevor freed him through the gap as the ball went through the hands to find Hebburn Heath for another debut try.

This was followed closely by a try for Carl Rowland who crashed it over with a powerful run and a final try from Oaks under the posts as the game finished 35-19.

Man of the Match Joe Malpas said: “A great start to the season with some obvious rust being shaken off.

"We’ve definitely set ourselves a standard to play to now and look forward to taking it the rest of the league and away to Swans next weekend.”