Often the margin between winning and losing can be agonisingly close as Grosvenor found to their cost yesterday. Due to injuries and player unavailability there were five changes in personnel from last weeks victorious team but Chubbs, Chris Cahoon, James Bowman, Jack Adams and Teesy all slotted in seamlessly and played extremely well in what was a hard fought encounter against league leaders Enniskillen.
The visitors started well and scored a try in the 3rd minute with their forwards barging their way over from close range. Conversion misssed 5-0. Grosvenor fought back and played some intelligent rugby using the wind to their advantage. After fifteen minutes they forced a penalty which Andrew McConville slotted over to reduce the deficit. Little did anyone know but these were to be the last points scored of the entire afternoon as the defences of either team proved to be more effective than their attacking capabilities. Just on the half hour Grosvenor looked to have scored a try when winger DJ Jackson made a break following a neat blind side move off the base of a scrum on the twenty two. But alas the ball was spilled as he crossed the line and the chance was gone. Enniskillen upped the tempo as the half-time whistle approached but some good scrambled defence by Grosvenor kept them at bay. HT 5-3.
The second half continued in much the same vein with most of the play occurring between the twenty twos, puntuated by the odd incursion closer to the line. Both sides missed a few penalty attempts but the swirling wind made it difficult for the kickers. Andrew Kelly, Fra Graham and James Bowman made some terrific charges for Grosvenor upfield but the support was slow at crucial stages and the advantages were not capitalised on. As the match drew to a close Grosvenor mounted a last ditch charge upfield and went through the phases making fifty metres which took them close to the Enniskillen 22 but at a crucial stage the referee adjudged a crossing movement in midfield and the final whistle brought this pulsating encounter to a close.
Despite the obvious disappointment of losing a match that was there for the taking, there are many positives for Grosvenor to take from this game, in addition to the losing bonus point. The defence was much more solid than in recent times, they played intelligent rugby and used the elements to their advantage, they coped well with the disruption of drafting in five new players and they matched the physicality up front. Ultimately the difference between winning and losing came down to taking the few chances that came their way and unfortunately they were not clinical enough when it mattered most.
Man-of-the-match.
Their were some big performances by Grosvenor, especially in the forwards and Peter Dawson just pips Phil Hill, Jack Adams and Andrew Kelly for man of the match.
