A superb team performance saw the medics beat Portsmouth convincingly to secure their promotion to BUCS Prem South B.

BUCS Imperial Medicals 46 – 5 University of Portsmouth 17/02/10

Tries: Allin, Fisher-Black, Sharples (4), Nightingale

Penalties: Martin

Conversions: Martin, Neville (3)

On the final day of the BUCS season the medics arrived at Teddington knowing that victory would ensure promotion. The rain which had fallen relentlessly over the previous days and weeks subsided creating the perfect conditions for running rugby. The early exchanges were dominated by the medics. Retaining possession well they were able to build phase after phase in the way they had been instructed. This resulted in a kickable penalty which was converted by Martin. The first try came from a line out on the opposition ten metre line. The medics gathered possession cleanly and set up a maul creating an undefended  blind side which was exploited by Fisher-Black who scampered in from thirty yards.

The next phase of the game saw Portsmouth exert some considerable pressure on the medics defences which held strong. This was a testament to the massive improvement which has been seen in this area as the season has progressed. The match was settled as a contest soon after. Having absorbed the sustained Portsmouth pressure the medics gained good field position. A maul was again set up and driven powerfully towards the line leaving Portsmouth no option but to pull it down. From the resulting penalty Allin reacted quicker than the Portsmouth defence and burrowed over from short range. The kick off  was gathered cleanly setting up a breakdown in centre field. The ball was then moved quickly through the hands until it found its way to Sharples on the right wing who finished with his usual levels of pace and power.

The second half saw the match open up and medics play some of their most expansive rugby of the season. Further tries followed for Sharples, and Nightingale. Man of the match went to Mathew Sarvesvaran for his superlative work in both the tight and loose. The medics now have a clear benchmark on which to build in the upcoming weeks and must seek to hit such high levels in the UH cup and varsity.

Andrew Mowat.

Man of the match was Mathew Sarvesvaran

15 Nzekwue

14 Sharples

13 MacMillan

12 Davies (vc)

11 Hutchinson

10 Martin

9  Maynard

1 Rawson

2 Fisher-Black

3 Pickles

4 Mowat (c)

5 Evans

6 Hamilton

7 Allin

8 Sarvesvaran

16 Scholes

17 Bartosiak-Jentys

18 Nightingale

19 Jordan

20 Neville

21 Masters