PJF Confine Exiles

The previous two meetings between these two sides had seen honours shared with a single point deciding both encounters. Things seemed to be following the a similar pattern with both sides exchanging penalties. The very small pitch favoured the home side’s style as they looked to bash the ball up the middle, recycle quickly and hope PJFs defence ran out of players. PJF’s defence was up to the task with Conrad McFarlane outstanding in the centre. At two penalties a piece PJF were gradually gaining the ascendency by recycling the ball quickly and varying their points of attack. The first try came from a penalty. Johan Malcolm kicking into the exiles 22. From the line out PJF set a driving maul and drove Exiles over the line with Dan Crumplin touching down to claim the try. Malcolm kicked the conversion. The first half ended with PJF up by 13 points to 6.

The second half started with PJF looking to build on their lead. The PJF forwards, who had dominated their opposition in the set scrums and had kept the Exiles pack under pressure in the loose, won good second phase ball on the Exiles 22, Derry Coughlan who had played intelligently all afternoon spun the ball to Malcolm, in a moment of brilliance he slipped through the Exile cover to touch down for the second try. PJF then thinking the game won relaxed. Exiles sensing their opponents had gone off the boil intensified their efforts. After a series of drives in PJF’s 22 their strategy paid off and the Exiles went over for a score close to the posts making for a simple conversion.

With the score at 13-20 to PJF the Exiles now had their heads up and continued to press. Poor communication in the PJF defence saw Exiles go over for their second try out wide. The conversion was missed, but history looked as though it might repeat itself. PJF roused themselves and drove deep into Exiles half forcing them to concede a penalty and Malcolm obliged by slotting the kick. With 10 minutes remaining and the game not yet won, PJF started to exert their forward dominance winning another penalty in front of the posts. With PJF now two scores ahead they continued to press. The pressure brought its reward with Rory Campbell on the PJF wing finally finding space to run on the narrow pitch going over in the corner. PJF had won the game.

After a slow start to the season the side, that contained only five players from the previous seasons successful XV, has started to gel.