Saturday 29th Jan. Frome RFC 3 Banbury RFC 34
FROME welcomed league leaders Banbury RFC to The Lane on Saturday 29th January, looking to follow in Bath Rugby’s footsteps and cause an upset against the high flying visitors.
Frome started strongly and with the benefit of the slope, put the visitors under pressure from the kick-off.
The forwards took the game to Banbury with Flanker Cameron Hastie and Second Row Connor McPherson carrying hard into the heart of the opposition defence.
The first points of the day came when a transgression at the breakdown by Banbury was punished by a penalty, which Full Back Darrell Thompson duly slotted to give Frome a 3- point lead.
The visitors then showed why they are top of the league when a swift counter-attack saw them score a try.
However, Frome continued to press, with Centre Ali Frost and Winger Leone Naucukidi, making breaks and the home side thought they had scored when Second Row James Howard crashed over, only for the referee to decide the ball was held up. Frome were unlucky to go into the break trailing 5-3.
Despite playing up the hill in the second half, Frome could not get back on terms with the visitors who showed the reason why they are top of the league by converting the opportunities they created to score 5 second half tries.
Frome continued to battle hard, with replacement forwards JJ Gagiano and Phil Clarke adding impetus, but despite this, Frome could not get the score their effort deserved.
A massive effort by the team and if they continue to play at this level, the results will certainly come.
Player of the Match went to Flanker Cameron Hastie.
This week (Saturday 5th February) is a rearranged fixture at home against second placed Oxford Harlequins RFC, which will provide another stern test.
Report: Trevor Osborne; Photo: Mark Sangster
