After a long lay-off due to abandoned matches and frozen pitches, Tarleton First XV were raring to go on Saturday against Birchfield RUFC. However, it was Birchfield who started the better and they penned Tarleton into their own 22 for the first 15 minutes of the game. Resolute defence saw Tarleton foil Birchfields’ probing kicks and attempted overuse of their winger.

On 20 minutes Tarleton started to control the game and by keeping possession of the ball they gradually worked their way up field and following 5 or 6 phases of forward drives Will Parker crashed over the line to open Tarleton’s account.

From this point on with a 7-0 lead Tarleton looked comfortable on the ball and another period of pressure from the ever improving forwards and a deft inside pass saw Max Sklofic in under the posts to increase the lead.

Tarletons’ 3rd try was probably the best of the day with Ben Kelly breaking from inside his own half, drawing three tacklers and flicking a pass to Jack Skofic who kicked through and gathered his own kick and managed to pop a pass to Pete Steel who went in under the posts. 21-0 and Tarleton were cruising. From the re-start the ball was caught by Max Skofic who ran through the Birchfield defence to score a good solo try and increased the lead to 26-0.

Birchfield had a good 10 minutes of pressure just before half time and Tarleton had several penalties awarded against them one of which results in a quickly taken tap penalty that was thrown wide and for once Tarleton’s defence wasn’t ready and Birchfield scored a converted try to make the half time score 26-7.

The second half started as the first had with Birchfield in the ascendency and Tarleton defending well. Tarleton continued to give penalties away and Birchfield once again capitalised with a well taken try in the corner.

With 20 minutes of the game left this was Birchfields’ last attack of the game as Tarleton went in to top gear and played some quite brilliant rugby. Another good break by Ben Kelly and a good out of tackle pass saw Jack Kelly crash over under the posts followed by another try from the re-start when the Tarleton backs moved the ball well and Dan the Man went over in the corner to score his first try of the season for the firsts.

From another break-out from their own half good inter-passing resulted in a gap being created which Ben Vernon exploited to score under the posts. At 47 – 12 there was one play left and Tarleton used this to full advantage as they pulled the Birchfield defence all over the pitch and a resulting break through a large defensive gap almost saw Max Skofic get another try but he was pulled down just short of the line but still managed to pop up[ a pass to the ever present Matt Forrest who went over for a well deserved and final try of the match ,

This 52-12 victory puts Tarleton 1 point behind Oldham and if they continue to play rugby of this class a top 5 place is almost guaranteed and a top 3 place is a possibility. Next week they are away to Burnley and they should approach this match full of confidence after this performance.