Union score a magnificent seven

Union recorded a seven try bonus point win in an entertaining game where Union led 17-5 at half time but Woodbridge came back strongly in the second half taking the lead 24-26 before Union put rallied to put the result out of sight with a further four tries.

The home side started with a bang with hattrick hero Craig Dunbar bagging his first with a powerful run off the back of a driving maul close to the Woodbridge line, with less than 5 minutes on the clock. Matt O’Brien unable to add the extras in the blustery conditions.

Dunbar collected a brace at the end of the first quarter, this time picking up from a 5m scrum and barging his way over for his second, the conversion again missing to take a 10-0 lead.

Woodbridge replied with a series of quick rucks taking them within striking distance of the Union line, allowing them to score an unconverted try on the 30-minute mark.

In the last play of the first half Dunbar bagged his hattrick, again from the base of a 5m scrum, his tight-five colleagues cleverly wheeling the scrum opening up the blindside allowing him the space to score in the corner. O’Brien adding the extras to take a 17-5 lead into half-time.
Woodbridge following a half-time rallying cry came out with all guns blazing moving the ball quickly from the Union pack and scoring early in the second half to cut the lead to 17-12.

They then took the lead with a speculative kick down the middle of the field bouncing horribly for Union fullback O’Brien and straight into the hands of the Woodbridge player who dotted down under the posts, making the kick a formality and edging in front 17-19. O’Brien having sustained a calf injury has he attempted a tackle left the field, later collecting the DoD awards for his efforts.

Union regained the lead following some impressive work by the forwards, with Whalebone man of the match Lewi White to the for in the tight as well as the lineout generating the platform for a driving maul which Woodbridge were adjudged to have brough down illegally resulting in a penalty try to take the score to 24-19.

Within 5 minutes however Woodbridge regained the lead for a second time, which hands along the backs allowing their right winger the space to run the ball in a successful conversion resulting in a 2-point 24-26 lead.

With 10 minutes to go Union re-took the lead, being awarded a second penalty try as the Woodbridge wing deliberately knocked the ball down on the 5m line as Union looked certain to score which took the score to 31-26.

Finishing strongly and with their tails up Union started to run the ball at Woodbridge, Tristan Smith benefiting from some great interplay between Alex Sinclair and Lloyd Davis, Davis freeing Smith who rounded the last defender to score wide out on the right flank. With Sinclair’s attempted conversion going astray the score was 36-26.

In what turned out the last play of the game it was the forward who showed their handling skills, with Jake Rodwell breaking down the blind before offloading to Smith who again made no mistake in scoring in the corner.

There was no conversion attempt with the referee, with agreement from both captains, blowing the final whistle allowing an injured Woodbridge player to be attended to. Thankfully he got to his feet and was able to leave the field under his own steam.

There’s a rest week next week with the start of the Six Nations, so Union’s next game is at home to Thurston on the 12th February.

Team: Martyn Webb, Ben Bond-Webster, Simon Pitcher, Jon Spicker, Lewis White, Matt McLaughlin, Matt Spenceley(C), Craig Dunbar, Ben Girling, Alex Sinclair, Ryan Day, Nick Trataris, Sam Hill, Tristan Smith, Matt O’Brien
Replacements: Jake Rodwell, Lloyd Davis, Matthew Cook
Scorers: Dunbar 3T, Smith 2T, Penalty Try 2, O’Brien 1 C from 3 attempts, Alex Sinclair 0 from 1
Whalebone man-of-the-match Lewis White