First loss of season for The Old Scouts

The Old Scouts suffered their first defeat of the season against a very strong Nuneaton side.

It takes half a season to truly see the shape of teams in a league and with eyes naturally fixed on Market Harborough and Lutterworth, the prospect of travelling to Nuneaton before Christmas definitely snuck up on The Scouts. Nuneaton have a strong history of national league representation and whilst they have slipped out of those leagues, they are very much on the trail of getting back to them.

At the beginning of the season we had beaten them at Rushmere road, so whilst Scouts realised what a big challenge lay ahead, they still went with confidence to remain unbeaten.

On a very wet, boggy ground the game was never going to be expansive, and Scouts put out a large pack to deal with same from Nuneaton. The away backs aren't a patch on the Scouts but the forwards were a real test, and the game was played mainly around set piece and within 10 metres of rucks and mauls.

The first half ended at 0-14 and didn't quite represent the pressure that Scouts had been under for the half. It felt more one sided and they had been in a heavy forward battle for 40 minutes. Whilst they couldn't manage a score themselves, they had played well in patches and 0-7 would have been more of a palatable score line.

Determined to get back in the game, Scouts made changes and started to manage the scrums better in particular. This then gave a better platform to get their game going. Unfortunately Nuneaton scored first, but then Scouts finally got on the scoreboard with tries from Brett Daynes and Jack Evans. Evans' running had been excellent all game and his try looked like it could make the comeback possible.

Another player enjoying his afternoon was young academy graduate Phillip Hone. The hookers play in the loose was also excellent and his try in the corner brought the home side just 6 points away at 17-24.

Nuneaton were definitely rattled and the chance was there for Scouts, however The Nuns were not going to give up the game and ended up scoring with 4 minutes to go and finish the game at 17-31.

The game had been very tough for both sides and Nuneaton were very pleased to have beaten the league leaders. Cries of 'now we are top of the league!' should have been double checked, because they were not. And whilst the top league spot changed to Lutterworth, The Old Scouts still have a game in hand and are only one bonus point win from being back at the top again.

Its very rare to go unbeaten in a league and losing never sits well, but The Old Scouts should remind themselves that they have had a very good first half of the season and are in great shape to have a very good second half.

Man of the Match = Jack Evans

NEXT GAME IS OADBY WYGGS AT HOME ON 6TH JANUARY (With the inter club boxing day match in between)