Sat 5 Apr 2025
In our last fixture of the season, we hosted Earlsdon at home on one of the nicest days of the year to date. Claverdon started the game with intent and were looking sharp and focused from the off. With good territory made into the Earlsdon half, a penalty was awarded to Claverdon. With the wind behind, the kick was chosen, however it was missed.
Earlsdon were able to clear their lines numerous times throughout the next few phases of play, eventually kicking a 50-22 to give them a line-out on the Claverdon 22m. With the line-out not straight, Claverdon took the scrum and managed to clear their lines too.
After a few exchanges of play, Earlsdon found themselves with a lucky bounce of the ball which landed in their hands with an overlap on the outside. They capitalised on this and after some good basic hands, they scored just outside the posts. The conversion was successful, making the score 0-7.
After the restart, a well-placed Earlsdon return kick and chase allowed them to turn over the ball from Claverdon on the 22m line. They took the line-out however this wasn’t straight again. This gave Claverdon the opportunity to clear their lines and release the pressure.
Unfortunately, the release of pressure was short lived, as a back’s strike move was not executed correctly, which handed Earlsdon the ball who again were able to capitalise on Claverdon’s mistake and scored their second try. The conversion was successful again, making the score 0-14.
Claverdon came back fighting from the restart with great phases of play throughout all the forwards and backs, gaining territory at each phase. Claverdon were camped on the Earlsdon 5m, however, some solid defence and a turn-over allowed Earlsdon to clear their lines.
This concluded the half, with the score remaining 0-14.
Claverdon received the restart and instantly began to put the pressure on. Carries from George Redwood and Kieran Haynes took Claverdon right up to the Earlsdon 22m. Earlsdon’s defence was again strong which allowed them to win possession and kick for a 50-22. This time it was Claverdon’s defence which was strong and who managed to deny them any further points, clearing their lines down to the Earlsdon half.
A superb line-out from the forwards gave the backs a great base to run their moves off. A brilliant individual effort from fly-half James Williams saw him beat 7 defenders to score just outside the posts. The conversion was missed, making the score 5-14.
Earlsdon played some good phases of play after the restart, which took them up to the Claverdon 22m. A penalty for offside gave them a base to kick from. They missed the penalty which allowed Claverdon to clear their lines once again.
It wasn’t long before Earlsdon were awarded another penalty, which was marched closer to the posts for back-chat, which they took quickly. A solid Claverdon defence effort eventually saw Earlsdon knock it on within a tackle giving Claverdon the put-in at the scrum on their 5m. This again allowed Claverdon to clear their lines.
After some further phases of play, it was Earlsdon again being awarded yet another penalty, on the Claverdon 22m. They opted to kick, and were successful, making the score 5-17. The restart gave Claverdon the front-foot who made good ground into the Earlsdon half, however, yet another mistake gifted Earlsdon the ball who were able to run in under the posts. The conversion was successful, making the score 5-24.
Claverdon again took control of the restart and gained a line-out on the Earlsdon 22m. A well-practiced move provided clean ball which allowed the forwards and backs to make good ground up to the Earlsdon 5m. The ball found its way into Kieran Haynes' hands who was able to score under the posts. Sam Turrell added the extras to make the score 12-24.
This concluded the game, with the final score 12-24.
Report by James Kirby
