Rugeley given a rude awakeing by Cleobury on return to Midlands 4

Cleobury Mortimer is a small market town and civil parish in southeast Shropshire, The parish had a population of 1,962 according to the 2011 census It is one of the smallest & furthest to the east town, and was granted its market charter in 1253.
And 15 of their town’s folk came to St Augustine’s Field on a fine sunny Autumn afternoon for a game of rugby that turned out to be a eye opener for the home side, although Rugeley started well the visitors began even better and within the first 6 minutes Cleobury had 7 points on the score board.

Rugeley continued to display some fine ball play with some great handling from Sam Cotter the Rugeley Scrum Half, But the visitors were by far the more slicker side.
This became more obvious when the visitors settled into the game with ease and comfort when a further 5 minutes had passed and an easy try was scored aft some shoddy ball handling from the Rugeley backs 0 – 14 after just 11 minutes.

The visitors continued to pile on the pressure with push after push, but with some outstanding ball handling from Downes Bagnall & Williscroft Rugeley were able to withhold the visiting onslaught.
Even though the home side were able to show signs of a complete unit and display signs of the formidable team of last season, the visitors were without doubt the far superior side with some very impressive play, and with their ability and team play the visitors were able to notch up another 7 points bringing the score to 0 – 21 at the half time point.

The second period started with Rugeley stepping up the pace, with some good defensive play from second row Bobby Boucher preventing the visitors from putting the ball over the touch line.

Cleobury continue to push forwards taking full advantage of the preseason alterations to the field of play and use the extra 4 meters to create space and place the ball in the place that they had found to be getting easier and easier as the clock ticked the time away.
The Visitors clocked up 2 further tries in the second period bringing the final score to 0 – 35 to the visitors.

Despite the score Rugeley played an outstanding & enjoyable game of Rugby with some fine and impressive game play. Jacob Graham & Mitchel Everall were instrumental in preventing the visitors a higher score line.
Let’s not forget that Rugeley are now playing in a higher league and are facing a higher standard of opposition.

Pictures (C) 2014 Rugeley Rugby Club & JWP.