RUGBY: Grove call the shots in local derby (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY: Grove call the shots in local derby

11:00am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in Sport

Grove triumphed 28-15 away to Oxfordshire rivals Alchester at Fritwell in Southern Counties North, bagging the bonus point into the bargain.

It was a second successive defeat for Alchester and things went wrong from the start, with at least half a dozen players getting themselves in front on Tom Miles’s kick-off. They were then caught offside, allowing Dave Maryon to put Grove ahead from the penalty.

The visitors were awarded a number of penalties for continual infringements by Alchester over the next 15 minutes, and the first Grove try came from one of them as hooker Steve Dixey went over under the posts for Maryon to make it 10-0.

A strong rolling maul from the Grove forwards saw Ben Nicholl touch down for Grove’s second try and a Dave Maryon penalty increased the scoreline to 18-0.

The home side finally got on the scoreboard after 24 minutes with a penalty from Tom Miles.

The second half saw Alchester come out strong, putting some good attacking pressure on the Grove defence.

Alchester prop Charlie Surman was followed into the sin-bin by Grove flanker Matty Young early in the sec ond half as both teams were reduced to 14 men. The game then went through a scrappy period with lots of activity going on off the ball, before a break by scrum half Owen Gustafson put Grove further head as he went over for a try in the corner.

Alchester refused to buckle, second row Matt Dye diving over from short range after a good run from No 8 Joe Macaneaney. Miles’s conversion went wide.

Grove closed out the game 15 minutes from time with a try out wide from full back Huw Lewis, thus securing the bonus point.

Alchester had the last word when prop Nick Britz struck back with a close-range try as the hosts finally managed to put some good attacking phases together, but it was too little, far too late.