Stubborn Economicals make PJF work hard for victory

Although Economicals are ninth in the league their lowly position belies their competitiveness. Looking at past results it is apparent that although Economicals lose they never lose by much. This is partly because their compact pack has posed problems for every side in the league. PJF went into the game knowing that the result from the first game earlier in the season, where PJF won 15-10, was hard won. So on a very wet day at Windsor Avenue PJF turned up to find the game had been switched to the ground next door. The pitch was small, the day wet, the pitch muddy. Was this Economicals trying to create an edge? The game kicked of with Economicals playing down the slope. Their tight head prop winning the hard yards. PJF were struggling to terms with the conditions. Economicals piled on the pressure which told after 15 minutes when they went over for the fist try of the game. The conversion was missed. This galvanised PJF into action and after some scrappy rugby on the PJF 10m line PJF kicked through and after a foot race Declan Williams outpaced the defence to put PJF's first points on the board. Mass Gangemi shugged off the difficult kicking conditions to slot the kick. PJF had started to get themselves on top, controlling the ball with the forwards making the hard yards. Everything came together for PJF's second try which saw the ball recycled and after some great running by backs and forwards Chase Thomson went over in the corner. This time the kick was missed. From the kick off PJF continued to press eventually winning a penalty in front of the posts. The kick was converted and PJF went into half time up 17 - 5.

The second half saw the home side try to reassert themselves in the forwards. PJF defended well repelling charge after charge. A number of penalties were conceded by PJF on or around their 5m line. Economicals showed their intent by choosing to run at the PJF defence. Repelled time after time. Eventually however the pressure told and the home sides crashed over to make the score 17 - 10 and set up an interesting last 20minutes. Again PJF responded and came back at Economicals and again the response was rewarded with a try about eight minutes from the end of the game when Conor Murphy barrelled over to touch down between the sticks. PJF strove hard for the bonus try but like the previous week it didn't come and the game ended with a 22 - 10 PJF win. After the nightmare of two weeks earlier against Kingston PJF have followed up with two wins. Seaghan Davey at fly half had a great first full game distributing the ball intelligently and kicking the angles well. The front five took the ball on all game and battered the opponent pack into submission while the back row created problems for Economicals all over the park. The result, a very good win against a side that is more accomplished than their league position suggests.