Tries: Crawford, Saffin, Neville

Conversions: Neville (2)

Pens: Neville (2)

Drop Goals:

Buoyed by last week’s unexpected victory over Swansea the 1st XV looked to continue their Great Escape with a win over fellow relegation candidates University of West of England at Tedddington. Having lost 15-10 in the West Country earlier in the season the number of apt sporting clichés emphasising the importance of the game was mindblowingly large. Skipper Cameron Sullivan sent out a side with very few changes from last week, hoping that the same combinations would prove fruitful once again.

The early exchanges saw the visitors dominate as the usually reliable Medicals' set piece faltered. Twice in the first ten minutes UWE looked certain to come away with a try, only to knock-on in the act of scoring. Finally, the visitor's pressure told as they opened the scoring through a well worked move by the backs. The try was successfully converted. The Medicals' cause was not helped by the departure of fresher Stevan Jordan with a knee injury. The immaculately-coiffured openside was replaced by the more portly Xander Ancock, with Jon Fisher-Price moving into the back row.

Ancock's introduction helped settle the Medicals' set piece and soon the home side's battering-ram of a driving maul moved into top gear, allowing the hosts to build a platform in the game. First, fly-half Dan Neville's sweetly struck penalty sailed between the uprights and shortly after, the Medicals had a try of their own. Neville drilled a penalty into the corner from which hooker Ruairidh Crawford found his jumper at the lineout and the pack began to rumble towards the visitor's line. The flame-haired Crawford latched onto the ball at the back of the maul and touched down ten metres in from the right touchline. Neville's conversion went narrowly wide of the right-hand post. UWE were able to regain the lead after a period of broken play allowed the strong running right wing to touch down in the corner.

Then came the games defining moment. After an innocuous looking ruck on the visitor's twenty-two, and the next phase of play already well in progress, Austin Dekker received an unprovoked devastating blow to the face from the UWE blindside. After regaining consciousness, the macabre ensanguined Dekker was helped off the field sporting a deep laceration to his right cheek and a fractured cheekbone. All at the club wish Austin a speedy recovery. Dekker's departure forced a further reshuffle in the Medical's ranks with Kevin Ilo entering to play on the wing and Craig Nightingale moving into the pack.

Showing true solidarity for their fallen comrade, the Medicals went on to play some of their best rugby of the season, annihilating the visitors scrum and looking dangerous in the backs, as the internecive hostility remained between the sides. When the opportunity arose for another lineout deep in UWE territory the driving maul was once again used to devastating effect. On this occasion James Saffin arose from the mass of bodies clutching the ball. Neville made no mistake with the conversion.

The interval allowed a momentary semblance of calm to come over the game as the players drew breath and readied themselves for the second period. The closing forty minutes saw UWE, again quick out of the blocks after the restart, score their third try of the afternoon. The visitors were able to exploit space out wide to score an unconverted try in the right corner. Not disheartened, the Medicals were soon to re-take a slender one point lead through the boot of Dan Neville as he successfully kicked a penalty from 30 metres out.

In an attempt to re-establish their advantage, UWE turned to the substitute’s bench. However, not even the fresh substitutes could find a way through the Medicals defence. Ben Davies and James Sharples tackled magnificently in midfield and when they were breeched the back three of Harry Thompson, Kevin Ilo and Rory Hutchinson alleviated any impending danger. In the pack Ruairidh Crawford Rob Anderson and Chris Hallewell kept the line out running smoothly and prevented UWE from winning clean ball.

The game was finally made safe after a moment of individual brilliance from Dan Neville. Faced with the marauding visitor's defensive line the cunning fly half displayed a subtle step and lighting acceleration to find a chink in the UWE armour and dive in under the posts. Neville added the extras for a personal points tally of 15.

The win over UWE puts the Medicals up into 4th in BUSA Prem South B, knowing that a victory away to Reading University next Wednesday will all but secure their position in the division for 2008-09. The tunnels are dug and plans laid down, however, the Great Escape is yet to be completed. Until such a time the players must show the commitment they have done in the past two games, not allowing hubristic thoughts to lead to their downfall.

Jez

1. Ed Pickles

2. Ruairidh Crawford

3. Jonny Fisher-Black

4. Rob Anderson

5. Chris Hallewell

6. Austin Dekker (C)

7. Stevan Jordan

8. James Saffin

9. Tom Maynard

10. Dan Neville

11. Rory Hutchinson

12. Ben Davies

13. Craig Nightingale

14. Harry Thompson

15. James Sharples

Replacements:

1. Xander Ancock (for No.7 after 15mins)

2. Jeremy Bartosiak-Jentys (unused)

3. Kevin Ilo (for No.6 after 25mins)