derby clash - crewe and nantwich rufc 1st team

A large following of Crewe & Nantwich RUFC fans celebrated the first game of the season with a fine Cheshire Vase victory at Northwich.

New players Dan Hull (flanker) and Adrian Grau (wing) started and also 18-year-old prop forward, Tom Poole, was on the bench for his first game.

Northwich started the game well imposing control territorially with their captain, Sam Naylor, winning good line-out possession.

Crewe & Nantwich defended well but struggled to find any rhythm when in possession.

Northwich opened the scoring after 10 minutes, when a loose ball on the ground in the Crewe 22 was won by the full-back who went over to score in the corner for an unconverted try.

Crewe’s problems were increased when they were reduced to 14 men as 2nd row, Phil Alcock, was sent to the bin for illegal rucking.

During this period, Crewe produced their first try as a kick from fly-half Scott Cann was poorly fielded by the Northwich wing.

Winger Tom Roberts picked up the loose ball on the halfway line and raced in to score in the right-hand corner converted by fullback, Toby Ward.

Soon after, flanker Dan Hull charged clear and the ball was moved quickly to the right.

Alex Gammage set up a ruck on the right deep in the Northwich 22. The ball moved swiftly to the left and centre, Joe Gammage, glided through to score under the posts, converted by Ward.

Almost immediately, Northwich replied with a penalty kick for a Crewe infringement in the ruck, making it 8-14 at half time.

Northwich then took a 15-14 lead after the break, capitalising on a Crewe mistake to hack through and touch down to the left of the Crewe posts.

Replacement fly-half Jamie Little’s mammoth 50m penalty kick regained the lead for Crewe at 15-17.

The visitors picked up the pace and an interception try by Joe Gammage increased the lead, converted by Little.

The best try of the day came when the ball was moved swiftly to the left with sweet offloads from prop Chris Sproston and 2nd row Martin Davies, releasing Joe Gammage down the left.

Winger Adrian Grau received a scoring pass from Gammage as he drew the defender and Grau dived over in the corner for a fantastic debut try to make it 15-29.

The victory moves them into the Cheshire vase quarter finals.

Head coach Andy Dudley said it was a “strong performance” which bodes well for the season.

“I was pleased with the result and the hard work during the summer was starting to pay dividends,” he added.

They start their Midlands 1 West campaign on Saturday when Stratford-Upon-Avon visit the Vagrants, kick off 3pm.

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