Tring Academy play some "sharp rugby" to defeat Dunstable

Tring welcomed Dunstablians to Cow Lane on a cold bright afternoon in a league fixture both teams needed to win.

The first 10 minutes started fairly quiet, with Dunstabilians putting us on the back foot with some clever kicks, one of these kicks resulted in the fly half collecting the ball and scoring under the posts with a successful conversion, 7-0 Dunstablians.

Tring responded immediately with some excellent phase play and some quick hands on a blustery day, in no time it soon resulted in a penalty try after a dangerous high tackle on full back Robbie Cogger after the ball was shipped wide through an excellent display of handling, converted successfully 7-7.

Both our props Noble and Barnsey were linking up like a centre partnership we have been dreaming of, with Noble charging over for a try in the corner, looks like there is no naked mile this year for Alfie, 12-7.

Dunstabilians were fighting back, however Tring's defence was proving too strong, not allowing the visitors to get on the score sheet again, soon a series of passing on the half way line resulted in Euan Ferguson having the ball out wide. Determined to get on the score sheet, he shrugged off a tackle and was in under the posts with his famous knee slide. Converted again by Captain Hogan 19-7. Jack Harbidge, the teams fly half was feeding the ball cleanly all day to his outside backs, shortly after the last score puts Robbie Johnson under the sticks after some strong running from the centre. Again 2 points for Hogan, 26-7 half time.

The second half was underway with both teams wanting to have the first say.
The first points went Tring's way after George Wardle, today's hooker, had a weaving run off-loading to Josh Freestone to finish excellently in the corner. Dunstabilians showed some grit to get a score almost immediately, after a good run by their right winger on the outside of our defence. Kick was just short by their fly half who has shown good kicking skills throughout the game. 31-12 to Tring.

Special mention to the trusty boots of Harbidge and Hogan all day keeping us on the front foot. Along with Danny Ritchie the openside flanker, carrying their whole pack on his back for 30m after a steal in the line out, being a difficult player for the opposition to deal with as usual.

Cogger soon went over for his own try, this time making the score 36-12.
Having a stormer so far from full back.

Excellent link ups with the backs resulted in Euan taking it through the line, drawing the man and putting Cogger in for his 2nd of the day 43-12 with 10 to go after another conversion by Hogan.

Robbie Johnson forgetting he has been moved to scrum half, carrying the ball over with incredible strength for his second try of the game, kick converted yet again by hogan 50-12.

Alex Nunn the number 8 for Tring showed strength at the back of the scrum making sure the ball came our way on nearly every occasion with both flankers Ritchie and Mcdonald being a nuisance at the breakdown in both halves. Murphy and Pecorini using their height in the line out to their advantage, with Pecorini showing good hands at the top of the lineout from his American football experience.

This strength from the forwards resulted in clean ball from the back of the ruck, Harbidge gave the ball to Ferguson with plenty of space to work with, taking the ball over the gainline, creating a 2 on 1 for Josh Freestone to have another score of the game. An excellent conversion through the middle from Hogan made the score become 57-12.

Final score 57-12.

Thank you to Dunstabilians, good group of guys and we wish you luck for the rest of the season.

If we continue playing this sharp rugby for the rest of the season, we will be collecting some silveware for sure. A lot to take into training in preparation for the national colts cup in February.

MoM - Euan Ferguson having his game of the season, showing some excellent skills in attack.

Match Report by Daniel Peplow