Nuns' brave show let down by late slip-ups
By Coventry Telegraph
February 18 2008
Nuneaton........28 Westcombe Park........39 Nuneaton conceded two late tries to slip to their second home defeat in as many weeks and deeper into relegation trouble in National Division Two. Mike Umaga's side left themselves with a huge mountain to climb by conceding 19 points in the first 20 minutes,
but then showed great resolve to lead 20-19 at the interval and stayed in front until the final moments of a tense and enthralling game.
Sam Naden crossed in the corner for the Kent visirtos on two minutes, and further tries from Ian Hardcastle and Graham Purdy, plus two conversions by James Whittingham, left Nuns deep in trouble at the end of the opening quarter.
Nuns hit back with a Huw Thomas penalty, and with their pack beginning to take control of the set pieces Nuns forced a turnover in midfield and put centre Jody Peacock into space to run in from 30 metres with Thomas coverting.
Revitalised, Nuns continued to pile on the pressure and stole another Park scrum ball for fly-half Howard Graham to cross for a try which Thomas converted before adding a stoppage-time penalty to nudge the hosts in front.
Nuns charged into the second half, stretching their lead from the kick-off as Aaron Takarangi raced down the touchline to score, but Whit-tingham grabbed back three points with a penalty and was on target again in an exchange of kicks with Thomas towards the end of the third quarter.
Under pressure, Park picked up two yellow cards but, crucially, Nuns failed to add any more points and as the visitors' pack upped their game, Peacock missed with a drop goal attempt on 77 minutes and the double burst from Thomas Hayman and Naden proved decisive.
Nuneaton: Cook; Croft, Brocklehurst, Peacock, Takarangi; Graham, Thomas; Hartland, Bray, Pickard, Pearson, Solomon, Holmes, Critchley, Southwell. Reps: Douglas, S Wright, Davis, Banks.