Sat 23 Apr 2022
Claverdon RFC travelled to Old Yardleians for their final league game of the season. With the title already wrapped up, Claverdon entered the game with the opportunity to become only the second squad in the club’s history to complete an unbeaten league season.
The league champions got off to a flying start, with centre Will Jackson making a break, which resulted in a Claverdon line out five metres from the Yards try line. From the resulting set piece, the ball found its way to winger Max Oxton-Morris, who powered over from short range. Jackson then added the conversion.
The momentum was very much in Claverdon’s favour and they added two further tries in a short space of time. A charging Chris Johnson created the first, beating multiple defenders and offloading to flanker Charlie Wakelam to score. The next try was made in the back row, as a brilliant turnover by number 8 James Kirby caught Yards by surprise. Charlie Byrd made the most of the scattered defence, rounding the fullback on his way to score under the posts.
The game then became scrappy as Yards began to get a foothold in the game. However, only a dropped ball by Oxton-Morris with the try line begging prevented Claverdon adding to their 19-0 lead before half time.
Old Yardleians came out in the second half with much more impetus. Their consistent pressure finally provided a return when a scrum in the away team’s 22metre area led to a score down the blind side. With Old Yards continuing to threaten the Claverdon line, a fantastic individual effort by Hilton Garner-Jones pretty much sealed the game for the away team. After a big hit by Oxton-Morris, Garner-Jones collected the loose ball and ran 70m to score, beating a couple of defenders on the way.
The last hurrah of the season then went to Oxton-Morris, who scored two late tries to complete his hat-trick, the second of which resulted from a clever cross-field kick by James Williams. The game ended 5-36 to Claverdon, who celebrated the end of a perfect season.
For those looking to play rugby at a fun local community club, Claverdon pre-season training will begin in July. In the meantime, social touch rugby will be running at 6:30 on Thursday nights throughout the summer. All abilities are welcome.
Report by Mike Jay
