North Midlands trounce Eastern Counties

15/05/10 by Paul Bolton

North Midlands improved their prospects of reaching the final of the County Championship Bill Beaumont Cup Second Division by trouncing Eastern Counties 87-10 in a one-sided contest at Stourbridge's Stourton Park ground today.

North Midlands ran in 13 tries, eleven of them converted by Newport fly-half James Curgenven, in what is believed to be their record winning score.

There were four tries for Malvern's former Moseley and Birmingham & Solihull winger James Aston in a dominant display by North Midlands who will progress to the final on May 29 if they do not lose their last group match against Warwickshire at Rugby Lions on May 22.

"We lost a bit of shape for a time in the second half when we made a few substitutions but we knew that we were going to sacrifice a bit of structure to give people game time," said North Midlands' head coach Alan Hubbleday.

"But we were really pleased with the boys, they applied themselves well today and they maintained the intensity for around 65 minutes.

"The boys can feel very proud of themselves for their efforts and we are looking forward to Warwickshire next week."

Eastern Counties had restricted Warwickshire to a 24-8 win last week but they struggled to cope with the physicality of the North Midlands pack and the pace of their backs.

Aston scored the opening try after just three minutes and there was no respite for Eastern Counties after their long journey as North Midlands scored at a point-a-minute for most of the first half.

Luctonians centre Leon Mells (two) Hereford flanker Guy Thompson, Aston again and Coventry full-back Ollie Winter all scored tries before the break but Eastern Counties hit back when number eight Alex Sautar of North Walsham crossed from close range late in the first half and full-back Peter Clifford (Hartpury College) added the conversion to go with an earlier penalty.

North Midlands lost some of their shape for a time in the third quarter when the coaches used the rolling substitution regulation which is being trialled in the County Championship season.

Their only try in that period came when replacement scrum-half Ollie Williams of Luctonians darted over after a break by Moseley number eight Mark Evans from the base of a scrum.

But North Midlands' superior fitness told in the final quarter as they ran in six unanswered tries the pick of them a length-of-the-pitch effort from Stourbridge wing Chris Tennuci.

Aston completed his hat-trick, flanker Bruce Thomas (Nottingham University) galloped over after good work by Stourbridge prop Andi Lawrence, Worcester Warriors scrum-half Ollie Frost rounded off a sustained attack and Curgenven went over from half way after an Eastern Counties move broke down.

There was still time left for Aston, already an England Counties to impress watching Counties XV selector Jim Robinson, by powering over for his fourth try through a demoralised defence.