FAIRFORD Rugby returned to winning ways with a 32-19 win over Old Colstonians at Coln House on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors had the chance for first blood but missed a three-point shot from a penalty, before the hosts broke the deadlock with five minutes on the clock. A well-timed miss-pass from centre Bobby Tilling sent flying winger James Wrona away and he finished with a 60-yard dash. A rolling maul saw the visitors restore parity for another unconverted score, before they retained momentum capitalising on an interception to score under the sticks for a seven-point finish to make it 12-5 with 20 played.
A well-executed backs move saw Eric White carve a great line to run in Fairford’s response, with Jake Summers adding the extras to make it 12-12 with 33 minutes of an open and entertaining half played.
Just before the break Summers and Tilling again combined with fly-half Ben Cohoon’s kick through gathered by Wrona for his second of the day to send the Badgers into the interval with a 17-12 advantage.
The hosts continued to force play through the midfield with a powerful break from Tilling seeing the ball released to White who thundered through for another score under the posts, with additional two from Summers extending the advantage to a commanding 24-12 scoreline.
However, the visitors’ response was determined and after some stern defence, a penalty try eventually broke the Fairford rearguard with a 24-19 scoreline offering plenty to play for in the closing quarter. A Summers penalty 11 minutes from time stretched the lead to 27-19 and with the light fading, there was time for an additional try with a break from Luke Sawyer from the base of the scrum feeding Ben Taylor who crossed the whitewash for the final score of the day.
F/T: Fairford 32 Old Colstonians 19
LITTLE’S PRIVATE HIRE MOTM: Luke Sawyer & Bobby Tilling
NEXT: Saturday 23rd November, North Bristol (A)