The seconds had a good build up to this match with 18 players turning up for training on Thursday. The coaches had worked on quick hands and controlled off-loading on contact a very astute choice as this was to the fore against PL. We had done our homework and knew that PL would give us a challenge in the backs that we had not had since Stew Mells in the first game of the season.

The breeze was mostly across the pitch so did not really favour either side to any extent.

The Cougars were really up for this one and in the first few scrums really took it to the PL pack and shunted them back allowing Sparky to put their scrum half under pressure. It only took till the 7th minute for the Cougars to strike. With the PL pack under pressure the ball was won against the head and swiftly moved from one wing to the other where Tom Longley touched down in the corner.

Not long after the re start Murray Hanning made a fantastic break but as did so he badly damaged his ankle and had to be replaced.
The coaches shuffled the back division with Ben moving to stand off and Crichton coming on at inside centre. As previously mentioned we knew they were strong in the centre but Stevie and Liam battered them back every time they tried to go through the middle.

There was some poor kicking by both sides but Tom and Robbie wrecked havoc when they ran back out of defence. Our forwards dominated possession but indiscipline allowed the referee to penalise us on numerous occasions. We kept ourselves in it though with some great defending forcing PL to run out of ideas quickly.

Quick ball being moved wide was the theme of the day and Robbie was next on the score sheet with a similar try to the first.

PL soon realised that Stevie and Liam were firing on all cylinders as when Stevie had battered through, Liam's support at pace was fantastic. Donald, Shaka, Wisey and Rowan continually got in behind the PL defence providing good ball for Sparky to feed the backs but PL showed some good defence to keep us at bay. 0-12 at half time.

As the second half began Liam burst through with a trademark run to score under the posts allowing Sparky to easily convert. PL managed to regroup and for periods of the second half believed they could take on our pack but although they retained some possession they faced a formidable defensive line that constantly pushed them back.

The Cougars then forced the play downfield and under pressure PL gave away a penalty in front of the posts that was slotted by Sparky to make it 0-22. The whole team was playing at a great tempo but continued to be penalised for varying infringements. Eventually Sparky was given a 'team' yellow for a high tackle.

But this made no real difference to the game as PL had been mentally broken by this point. This was then compounded with a push over try from a well taken line out. Rowan rising from the bodies with the ball.

The final try came from a good break down the right wing that was recycled quickly to Ben who had Westy on his shoulder. A good offload from the prop to Duck left him with only the fullback to round which was done with ease.

The coaching team managed the substitutions well and each change of fresh legs injected more vigour in to the Cougar performance.

Preston Lodge 0 RHC Cougars 36

The team went top of the league with this result but the real success was the overall team performance, PL were definitely the best team we have played this year and to beat them in every department was great. Forward to our local derby on Saturday against our friends at Forrester, KO 14.00 at Union Park.

Come down and support the boys - have an Eddie lunch pre-match!

Report by WGS Taylor