Sat 7 Dec 2024
Peterborough RUFC welcomed 5th placed Oadby Wyggs to Fortress Fengate this past Saturday and ground out a win which was built off a great first 30 minutes by 28-22. Both teams deserve praise for the way they played despite Storm Darragh bringing the wind and rain.
Borough started with the howling gale at their backs and made the most of it when Miguel Alves finished off a break by co-captain Ian Williams . This was quickly followed by another try when co-captain Will Manning dotted down after his forwards set up a 30m rolling maul. Borough were firmly on top and flanker Murphy Hill was next to score after taking a short pass from hooker Alves. Fly half Byron Van Uden then landed a 45 metre penalty goal to give the home side a comfortable 20 points to nil lead. Oadby began to get some much need field position which was helped by some errors in possession from the home side and finished the half the stronger of the two sides. Keeping the ball in their forwards Oadby scored a try either side of another Van Uden penalty. At half time Borough had a 23-12 lead but Oadby would now have the wind at their backs and Borough would need to show a toughness to ensure victory.
Oadby began the second half where they had left off and scored a try through their backs. The middle part of the hard became an arm wrestle which was finally broken by an excellent cross field kick by Borough Fly half Van Uden which found second row Manning out wide who then ran through two would be tacklers to score an excellent try in horrible conditions to extend the home sides lead. Oadby however would quickly reply with a try of their own to force a tense final 5 minutes but Borough would manage to hold on and take the points by 28-22. This was Borough's second win in as many weeks and see's them sitting in 8th position after the first round of games.
Director of Rugby Shane Manning's comments "really good win in awful conditions. We had a lot of players unavailable this week and the lads who stepped in did a great job. One of the really pleasing things was that we had six players on the pitch who had come through our Colts side during my time at the club including scrumhalf George Dangerfield who made his debut today. Harry Anderson was our man of the match today, his defence was outstanding. We travel away to Wellingborough this week, we beat them by one point earlier in the season and they are always really tough to beat at home."
