Frome RFC 24 – 39 Beaconsfield RFC
Frome RFC welcomed Buckinghamshire side, Beaconsfield RFC to The Lane in the Quarter Finals of the National Papa Johns Community Cup – South Shield.
The large home crowd was joined by plenty of travelling supporters as the sides ran out, and with a guard of honour made up of Frome RFC Minis players, Frome kicked off up the slope.
The opening minutes saw Frome in control, and as the side began to gain territory a kick through was blocked and the visitors gathered and moved the ball wide with the winger finding space and crossing over the line to score. (0-7). Beaconsfield had an opportunity to extend their lead with a penalty but the kick went wide of the posts.
Strong carries from the forward meant scrum half Garrie Webster and fly half Simon Westlake could get the ball moving, and the opportunity came on 15 minutes for full back Henry Bull to break through before offloading to flanker Sam Bartlett who darted over for a converted try. (7-7)
Some thundering tackles were being made across the park with Dan Castle, Cory Plumridge and Alex Chalmers making notable tackles. And with James Howard and Webster sniping at the breakdown, Frome built plenty of territory.
Phil Clarke, Geoff Taylor and Jason Barraclough were all playing superbly across the park with plenty of strong runs.
Bull was involved again in Frome’s second try, when after a barnstorming run by centre Ali Frost, a and great line by the full back put Winger Bailey Rusz in for Frome’s second try. Bull added the extras. (14-7)
The visitors’ scrum half controlled the attack well and, with some well-placed kicks pinning Frome back, were soon back in the Frome 22 but with Frome defending valiantly. But on 30 minutes the Buckinghamshire side eventually found space and crossed over near the posts, the conversion was missed. (14-12)
HT: Frome RFC 14 – 12 Beaconsfield RFC
The visitors came out fighting in the second half and soon got themselves into a great attacking opportunity and retook the lead with a converted try. (14-19)
10 minutes into the second Beaconsfield had a lineout close to their line, but superb pressure from the forward pack saw Frome steal the ball with Josh Hills setting up the ball towards the line, with replacement prop George Benstead breaking through to go down for an unconverted try. (19-19)
Frome had a player sent to the bin for 10 minutes with Beaconsfield opting for the kick at goal, which was duly converted. (19-22)
With a player down, the visitors stepped up a gear, and despite some great covering tackles from winger Sam Cassidy, Beaconsfield earned a goal line drop out which fell straight to the hands of the opposition 9, he calmly dropped kicked from just inside the Frome half to score an extra 3pts. (19-25)
Webster would leave the field due to injury and the backline reshuffled with Westlake stepping into scrum half, with Ali Frost moving to 10. The changes saw replacement Tom Weston take to the field.
With time running out Frome were eager to push on, and a great break by Rusz, saw the winger break down the line and looked to be in for the try, but a great cover tackle but the opposition full back prevented the score.
Beaconsfield had their tails up and after building good territory got into the Frome 22 and a break through the middle saw them score a converted try under the posts. (19-32)
Frome were caught napping again and another score came from the visitors with the clock counting down. (19-39)
With the final minutes on the clock, it was a somewhat fairy-tale ending to number 8 Alex Mallon’s captaincy as a dominant Frome scrum saw the pack push the opposition over their line for the number 8 to dive over for the try, and with a loud applause from the Frome faithful, Mallon stepped up to take the conversion, unable to channel his inner Johnny Sexton, the kick fell just short. (24-39)
And with that, the final whistle was blown.
FT: Frome RFC 24 – 39 Beaconsfield RFC
Player of the match was awarded to full back Henry Bull for another stellar performance in both attack and defence.
The result sees an end to the 2022/23 season for the seniors, and a much-deserved rest before pre-season kicks off in June.
Captain, Alex Mallon said, “Unfortunately, this game summed up our season, we played fantastically well in places but couldn’t consistently play it for 80 minutes. It’s the last game of the season for us, and my last as club & 1st XV captain, as I have chosen to step down.
“For my time in the file, I have had great support from coaching staff and players, and thoroughly enjoyed the challenges. I am looking forward to playing again next season and look forward to still and being a part of a great team that has plenty to be excited about for the 2023/24 season.”
Pictured: Alex Mallon, who stands down as 1st XV & club captain
