Rugby: Uttoxeter run up the points in chase for league title
FREE-SCORING Uttoxeter surpassed the 400-point mark in the league – from just 11 games – with Saturday's resounding 52-5 victory over mid-table Chesterfield Panthers.
From the kick-off Uttoxeter immediately put the visitors under pressure.
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James Gill produced a man-of-the-match performance in Uttoxeter's thumping 52-5 win.
James Gill charged towards Chesterfield's receiver and the pressure caused a knock-on, giving Uttoxeter instant possession.
Soon after, Chesterfield conceded a penalty and Mike Conlon kicked into the corner giving Uttoxeter a line-out on the visitor's five-metre line. Uttoxeter failed to make the most of this initial line-out and knocked on to give Chesterfield a scrum.
The solid front row of Dan Meads, Donald Hayes and captain Andrew Moult drove Chesterfield's pack backwards and forced a hasty clearance kick giving Uttoxeter a line-out.
Hayes's pass was on target and Owen spun the ball out to Conlon. The young fly-half spotted a gap in the far corner and chipped the ball across field.
Unfortunately, the ball bounced dead, but play was brought back for an earlier infringement and Uttoxeter opted for the scrum.
Tom Lampitt picked up from the base and ran open before he was brought to ground.
Mike Davies and Miles Pilcher recycled the ball and Owen passed out to Conlon who dummied before weaving back inside. The fly-half proved too powerful for the defenders and forced his way through for his first try of the season.
Steve Harris converted to give Uttoxeter an early 7-0 lead.
Uttoxeter fielded the kick from the restart and ran the ball out of their own 22.
Dan Meads picked the ball up from a ruck and made vital yards before Panthers were penalised for being offside.
Moult opted to go for goal and Harris was on target to extend Uttoxeter's lead to 10 -0.
Chesterfield's fly-half kicked over the top in an attempt to relieve the danger minutes later. But Harris was able to pick up the loose ball on the halfway line.
The full-back charged forward, beating the first tackler, and then showed good vision to pass out to Gill, who had looped off his wing in support. Gill spotted a half gap and sprinted forward, shrugging off two tacklers to cut through the middle of Chesterfield's back line.
The winger sprinted away and dived over the line through the final tackler to score a great unconverted try for 15-0.
Chesterfield kicked off and the forwards displayed some excellent handling skills. Lampitt handed off the first tackler before popping off to the stampeding Moult, who crashed forwards before releasing Mat Nance.
Nance was then spear-tackled to the ground and the referee awarded a penalty for the dangerous tackle.
And Harris made no mistake – sending the penalty sailing through the uprights for another three points.
Uttoxeter scored one final try before the break.
They were awarded a scrum in Chesterfield's 22 and Lampitt ran forward before popping the ball off to Mike Davies.
Davies smashed into defenders before being brought to ground and the ball was recycled, enabling Owen to lay the ball off to Moult.
And the skipper powered over the line for a converted try and bring the scoreline to 25-0 in Uttoxeter's favour.
Chesterfield conceded a further kickable penalty in the first half and Harris was on target, giving Uttoxeter a 28-0 lead at the break.
Uttoxeter looked to continue their fluent play in the second half.
The Oldfields outfit put together a flowing move involving forwards and backs and ran the ball out of their own 22 into Chesterfield's half.
Lampitt came close to scoring from a scrum, but was just held up over the line giving Chesterfield the scrum.
Uttoxeter's pack continued to exert pressure on the Chesterfield scrum, enabling Donald Hayes to win the ball against the head.
Owen span the ball wide and in a training ground move the ball travelled quickly through the backs hands, but unfortunately Uttoxeter couldn't get through and the ball was forced into touch.
Chesterfield attempt to clear into touch, but Harris was on hand to gather the bouncing ball. The full-back sprinted forward, weaving between players before off-loading to Mat Nance who dived over the line for another converted try and 35-0.
Next it was Owen's turn to get on the scoresheet.
The scrum-half fed Conlon who passed out to Gill. The winger cut through the visitor's back line. He was caught by the final man, but Gill popped off the floor to the supporting Owen who charged in to extend the lead to 40-0.
The floodgates were now open and Uttoxeter were able to attack more freely.
Williams made a break up the right-hand side of the pitch. Davies and Pilcher were able to recycle the ball and Owen popped off to the onrushing Hayes who took contact, sucking in players.
Owen then spun the ball wide and the ball travelled through hands to centre Pete Allen, who spotted the space in the corner and through a perfectly weighted miss-pass out wide.
Gill hit the ball at pace and was too quick for covering defenders as he dived over the line in the far left corner.
Uttoxeter's final points were a product of fly-half Mike Conlon's excellent vision.
From a line-out the ball was passed out wide and Conlon stepped back inside, creating a huge gap. Conlon cut straight through the back-line and unselfishly popped off to Allen who sprinted in to touch down close to the posts.
Harris made his final conversion of the match giving Uttoxeter a 52-0 lead.
Chesterfield score a consolation try towards the end of the match.
Following a wayward Chris Owen pass Chesterfield hacked the loose ball on, enabling their scrum-half to pick up and touch down over the line.
Gill was nominated Uttoxeter's man-of-the-match.







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