PJF put Wellingtonians to the Boot

Fly half Johan Malcolm orchestrated his back line effectively but the visitors defended well and took the initiative through 2 well struck penalties on the rare times that they penetrated the PJF half.

Tom Leather and Ben Grundman ran the hard yards and managed to set up good field positions for PJF to attack. A Malcolm penalty was quickly followed by an impressive try from winger Conrad McFarlane. From deep inside his own half scrum half James McPartland chipped, chased and collected the ball, finding himself in space he ran deep into the opposition half. Good support play and quick re-cycling saw the ball spin across the paddock releasing the speedy McFarlane into space and over the line. Malcolm converted and PJF went into halftime 10-6 ahead.

PJF started the second half well but there was little reward for this 15 minute period of pressure. Against the run of play Wellingtonians mustered an attack that gave them their third penalty. From the re-start hooker Dan Crumplin collected the ball in a Lewisesque fashion and set up a ruck from which the PJF eight drove forward. Being on the front foot gave Malcolm the opportunity to chip and chase through the defence; this mercurial move saw him touch down for 5 points and then slot the following conversion.

This passage of play broke the opposition and the remainder of the match was all PJF. From a solid scrum Leather broke free and fed Malcolm, quick hands had the ball moving across the backline where centre Piotr Swiatkiewicz drifted, drew and released McFarlane to score his second try of the game. Malcolm sealed his Man of the Match performance with a final conversion taking his personal points tally to 14.

Phew !! A win at last, let's hope this is the beginning of a run of successful matches and that PJF can do themselves justice by climbing into the top half of the League. Next week they are away to London Exiles.