In their first game for weeks and weeks, the threes took on Uni III, who included a few of their first team players.
I understand we were fielding nine props on the side, some speedy backs, a couple of Colts and a sprinkling of vets.
We scored early on through Josh Jarvis and converted by Kieran Down, good to see him playing again after months and months of injury. 7~0.
We held them for twenty-five minutes in part because they gave away so many penalties.
Then the Uni started to use their very fast backs and the score bobbed up to 7~26.
Then Tony Polo scored the first of three tries, 12~26 at halftime.
The second half scoring started with a Uni seven-pointer, 12~33. It was looking as if the Uni were going to run away with it.
Tony Polo then scored his second. 17~33.
Then the Uni scored a try, 17~38.
Tony Polo scored his third, which was converted by Kieran Down, 24~38.
Cole Page had a lovely run from inside their twenty-two to score, which was also converted by Kieran Down. 31~38.
The gap was beginning to close. The Uni picked up a couple of yellow cards that did little for their cause. Then we won a penalty try that made the score level at 45~45.
With the clock down to the last ten minutes, Uni had their chances, but again unforced errors scuppered them and we worked down the pitch to win a penalty in front of the posts.
Kieran Down stepped up and put the ball over to take a three-point lead, with a minute or two to go.
We managed to hold on to the ball, taking the game to them with some lively play from veteran scrum half Alex Hanson, who attacked really well and fast, then making the ball available to continue the moves.
Then just as the clock turned red, we won a penalty and Kieran Down, after speaking to the referee, sent it in to touch for the win.
With all our props, we were in charge of the scrums though not dominating them.
Late in the first half, one of their props went off injured, and we agreed to lend them one of ours and I think it was Muldog who went on for them.
They were very fast in the backs and they ran really experienced lines, but their discipline let them down again and again.