The Nuns put on some superb attacking rugby at home to Long Eaton on the weekend as they racked up a 45-28 win over Long Eaton. They scored seven tries through a Travis Bennett-Allcock hat trick plus scores for Ben Kirby, Martin Wood, Tom Aherne and a first club try for Tobias Trafford. Lucas Brindley added four conversions. There were some changes in the pack and backline this week with Zeb Gibson starting at hooker and Arron Skyrme and Martin Wood coming into the back row. Tobias Trafford started at scrum half and Nemani Rayabo came on to the wing with Harry Beverley moving to the centres.

The game started at break neck speed with both sides turning over the ball a couple of times and play going from end to end. It was the visitors that got the score board moving first on 7 minutes. From a line out in the 22m they moved the ball through the phases across the pitch to barrel over near the corner; with a well struck conversion they took a 0-7 lead.

The Nuns were falling foul of the referees in the early exchanges and struggled to get and field position. Long Eaton were then penalised for a double movement in trying to score which allowed Wilson to send the ball long to relieve the pressure. The Nuns got into the visitors 22m but knocked the ball on for the first scrum of the game on 15 minutes. As Long Eaton fed the ball in, the Nuns pack drove them backwards and were awarded a penalty. They elected to scrum again and with the referee signalling another penalty the backs moved the ball wide for Bennett-Allcock to cross in the corner from a nice strike play. Brindley struck a good conversion with the assistance of the post and the score was now 7-7 after 17 minutes.

Just a few minutes later and the Nuns were again awarded a penalty. They but the ball into touch just inside the 22m. From a set maul the ball was released to the backs again who moved it across the pitch for Bennett-Allcock to again, round his man and score in the corner. Brindley’s conversion went wide but the score was now 12-7 after 22 minutes.

The Nuns were reduced to 14 men in the 29th minute with Wilson picking up a yellow for tackling a man who took a quick penalty in the 22m. Long Eaton chose to tap and play the penalty but were penalised for going off their feet at the ruck near the try line.

The Nuns worked their way back down the pitch and from another dominant scrum in front of the posts, the ball was moved to Kirby who ghosted through the defence to score. Brindley converted to move the score to 19-7 on 34 minutes.

Long Eaton were next on the score sheet on 37 minutes. The Nuns had them under pressure in their own 22m but after giving a penalty away they took a quick tap and moved the ball wide to space. They broke up field and after retaining possession through a number of phases their number 8 wriggled over the line under the posts for a converted try. 19-14, which was also the half time score.

The second half started with the Nuns on the front foot again but their advances were stopped by an intercepted pass which allowed the visitors to break 65m to score in the corner, a well struck conversion gave them a 19-21 lead after 43 minutes.

In the 47th minute the Nuns retook the lead. After choosing to scrum from a penalty in the attacking 22m they showed their set piece dominance. A second penalty was awarded for a scrum offence and then the ball was moved wide for Bennett-Allcock to fend off his man and cross for his hat trick. Brindley’s conversion fell short but the lead was retaken with the score 24-21.

The Nuns then felt the effects of a triple negative. Firstly, Trafford was yellowed carded for appealing against a decision which was followed up just a minute later with Dawes repeating the offence in the 50th and 51st minutes. Long Eaton then got on the attack and stretched the depleted defence to score their fourth converted try to lead 24-28 after 54 minutes.

With the Nuns down to 13 men would this prove too much to cover for the hosts?

The Nuns defence was stretched and working hard. As Long Eaton attacked they got close to scoring again but knocked the ball on near the line to leave a goal line drop out to relieve pressure.

Having weathered the storm of being reduced to 13 men the Nuns got back to what they had got success from. A Long Eaton scrum on their 22m line was forced back and a penalty awarded. Forward dominance was paying off and then another penalty was sent to touch. Long Eaton stopped the maul illegally and had their second row yellow carded. From the following scrum another penalty was forth coming. The scrum was chosen again and then Wood picked and carried through the defence to score. Brindley’s conversion gave the Nuns a 31-28 lead after 65 minutes.

The Nuns came back up the pitch again and won a penalty in front of the posts 10m out. They opted for the scrum and then with advantage from the drive Trafford darted over under the posts for the try and simple conversion, 38-24 after 71 minutes. Long Eaton also had a prop yellow carded for repeat scrum offences.

It was the turn of Aherne to score next for the Nuns. From a penalty sent forward to touch the backs and forwards when through some strong carries and he was the man to bludgeon over and through two defenders for a 7th try under the posts again which Brindley converted. The score was now 45-24 after 76 minutes.

The Nuns saw the remainder of the game out with little threat to finish with a convincing win and secure their place as the highest of the three promoted sides into the league this season.

A delighted head coach Huw Thomas added “I am really pleased with a lot of that performance today as we scored some lovely tries and looked very threatening and strong at times. The lads had a smile on their faces and played with some freedom to show what they can do and I think everyone who was watching would have enjoyed that today.”

1 James Redman 2 Zeb Gibson 3 Ben Dawes 4 James Moreton 5 Tom Aherne 6 Ben Haywood 7 Arron Skyrme 8 Martin Wood 9 Tobias Trafford 10 Lucas Brindley 11 Travis Bennett-Allcock 12 Tom Eales 13 Harry Beverley 14 Nemani Rayabo 15 Joe Wilson; 16 Jack Iles 17 Ben Kirby 18 Mike Volaikisuva