Pinner still undefeated

After last week’s fiasco of an 108 – 0 win at Quintin,  Pinner met much tougher opposition in Ealing Exiles at Hatch End. It was soon evident that they had a game on their hands when the visitors went ahead with a penalty after only five minutes.  This galvanised Pinner into more effort and organisation. They soon responded when the forwards won the ball to put winger Naill Curran over for the first try converted by scrum-half Chris Jepsen. He soon added further points when Ealing were penalised for not retreating. Now Pinner were in control and attacks looked promising. On the half-hour, winning a scrum in front of the posts, the ball was quickly fed out to left-winger Michael Baggs who scored the first of his three tries. This gave the home side a comfortable 15 – 3 lead at half-time.

Straight into the second half Pinner showed their intent by attacking from their own half. Good work by the half backs got the line moving and Curran again finished things off in the corner.  Jepsen added the conversion. Ealing Exiles now came more into the game but the Pinner defence held.  Injuries to No. 8 Alexander and prop Ken Ryan meant the home team had to re-group. A couple of scoring chances went begging when the ball was dropped near the line. Into the last quarter and the Pinner backs were now buzzing. Curran proving his finishing power with his third try.  Next Pinner were awarded a penalty on the half-way line and chose to run the ball. From the resulting ruck on the Ealing 5 m line replacement no. 8 Patrick O’Leary, playing in his first game for Pinner went over in the corner.  Ealing responded as Pinner got a bit too casual. They drove into the home 22 and scored under the posts. Pinner were not yet finished and centre Rohan Desai sliced through the defence to score their seventh try under the posts. Jepsen brought the final score to 48 – 8.

Pelicans [2^nd XV]: For the second week running the Pelicans have had their Herts – Middlesex Merit table match cancelled as their opposition could not raise a team.  This avoided a long drive to Letchworth. They are awarded a 25 – 0 win giving them five out of five. However a last minute friendly home fixture with Chesham 2^nd’s proved a bit too tough.   Pelicans, reduced to fourteen men for most of the match, went down 70 – 12. Home tries were scored by scrum-half Graeme Searles after a sniping run from the base of a scrum on the visitors 22 and by left –winger Clyde Gordon sprinting from his own half. The conversion was added by Chris Hall.  Later, in the clubhouse, Clyde was presented with his club Colours by Pinner President Dave Hiles in recognition for this long contribution as a coach and referee for the mini and youth sections.

Celebrations when on long into the evening marking ‘Deryck Westwood Day’ in memory of a former vice-president and founder member who left money in his will to mark his birthday each year in a suitable fashion.