Marlins maul Mitcham 46-10

Marlins were back to full strength, after the recent holiday excess, and keen to put their loss to Warlingham behind them. The game was delayed, as the officiating referee was among the spectators, stepping in to salvage the game, for a missing colleague. Though the spectators were not disappointed by the spectacle that ensued.

PJFRFC Marlins started off very well, utilizing excellent ball from set pieces. The front row were particularly omnipresent, with Tom White, Liam Murphy and Matt Hanlon carrying the ball well in mid-field, creating great opportunities for the back line to exploit the opponents defence from. Will Walters “policed” the stragglers well, pulling in the ball carriers to set up the backs. It wasn’t too long before Marlins scored their first try from a set piece, quick ball out to Reem, through the hands, ensured Reem scored under the post with a successful conversion by Norm Collier. This passage of play was replicated soon after, and on this occasion, Jamie Velderman crossed wide, and then put Rob Palmer through to score, again under the post, for a converted try, and lead 14-0. Marlins kept up the pressure through some excellent link play between backs and forwards, making hard yards in mid-field, through their forwards Tony Mawer, Matt Hanlon and Tom White. These forays into the opposition half was utilized well by the backs, and Norm Collier did well to distribute the ball, in his usual unpredictable “northern” manner, for Marc Trumper to score out wide, and lead 19-0. Mitcham did well to keep their heads up against a formidable Marlins side, but were found wanting, both at defending set pieces and against a marauding back line, full of strength and speed, thus it was only a matter of time before PJRFC Marlins scored again. Marlins new found Towering Tony, dominated the line out, setting up a rolling maul, and releasing Reem with much space to exploit and zig zag past, several slipping opponents to score under the post, and lead 26-0. Marlins continued to dominate the game and kept ball in hand with ease, despite fierce tackling, through excellent support play and through, quick recycling from rucks, this paid off and again, Marlins scored through their centre pair- Jamie Velderman doing the honours, to lead 31-0. The final score in the half, again came through a ball off the top, after PJFRFC did well to keep the ball alive under pressure in the line out, through excellent rucking, and release Rob Palmer, who did well to run 40 yards and score his brace, PJFRFC led 36-0 at half time. The opposition made some changes, and PJFRFC rested Rob Palmer. Mitcham were keen to get on the score card, though some excellent tackling in mid-field by “Little and Bunce” aka Jamie and Reem, aided by Trumper, and some excellent loose play by Tony Mawer, who kept popping up at all the right times, spoilt several scoring opportunities. Though Mitcham did well to penalize lazy defensive display at breakdowns, and camped deep in PJFRFC half for a few minutes. They utilized their big five to power over the line to score their first try, 36-5. PJFRFC were jolted into action, not wanting to lose momentum, they competed at line outs and breakdowns, but were set back by lazy defensive play and ensuing penalties. The PJFRFC forwards, set up several phase’s of play, to distract the opposition, and then set off Marc Trumper for his second try, and lead 41-5. Mitcham struggled to find a rhythm, and PJFRFC kept to their strengths, and again ventured deep into opposition half, utilizing their strong forwards, on this occasion, through Dave Mole and Liam Murphy, to set up Jamie Velderman, who ran a straight line through the opposition defence to score his brace, and lead 46-5. Though Mitcham had the last word, they set up an attacking line out from a penalty, and an intelligent kick away from the action and into the hands of an out wide full back, led to their second score, and the final score of the match, to close 46-10 to PJFRFC.