Towcester 43 Huntingdon 12

Towcester carried their unbeaten run into 2011 with an emphatic League defeat over Huntingdon.

They ran amok during the first half at Greens Norton Road, bagging five tries and notching up 29 points without reply.

But Huntingdon hit back after the half-time whistle and would have won the second half had it not been for superb Tows try at the death.

The visitors had an early chance to be first on the board but the penalty flew wide and moments later they were behind.

A day short of his 21st birthday, Chrissie George broke from half-way, side-stepped six defenders and ran 50 metres to score.

Birthday boy George was back in the action three minutes later taking a quick penalty which he fed to the electric Austen Wheldon.

Scrum-half Wheldon darted through the Huntingdon defence to put in Matthew Yuill who converted his own try and Towcester led 12-0.

Wheldon set up Towcester’s third by launching an attack from his own 22 after No 8 Liam Wilkinson had pinched possession from advancing Huntingdon.

He cantered to half way and passed to flying James Falvey on the wing who beat his opposite man to cross for a cracking breakout. Yuill converted for 19-0.

Skipper Wilkinson, playing out of his skin, provided the go-forward for score no 4. He broke from the base of a defensive scrum and flew into the opposition half.

Towcester quickly recycled the ball and attacked the space created out wide for Dave Devlin-Jones to muscle over.

Just before half-time, Towcester completed the 40 minute rout when fly-half George finished off another tearaway try.

Huntingdon refused to buckle. They came back strongly after the break and ten minutes of pressure led to a try under the posts from centre Dunsdon.

Just past the hour mark, they were reduced to 14 men when the referee produced a yellow card which allowed Towcester back into the game through a Yuill try.

Restored to 15 men, Huntingdon caught Towcester napping when scrum-half Strangeways took a quick penalty tap and darted over to score.

The final say went to Towcester who saved their best to last. A sweeping move saw the ball swapped between backs and forwards and Dave Stocks crossed under the posts.

Yuill converted to complete a feast of rugby watched by former RFU president, Northampton Saints coach, England flanker and British Lion Bob Taylor.

Towcester had avenged the 17-17 draw at Huntingdon earlier in the season - the only time they have dropped any winning League points in the season so far.alf engineered a score from David Devlin-Jones, which Matt Yuill duefully converted to put Tows 7-0 ahead.
But sensing another romp, Towcester relaxed and their complacency allowed the heavyweight Huntingdon pack to take control of the scrum and line out.
A contentious decision disallowed three points for Matt Yuill and Huntingdon capitalised by pouncing on Towcester mistakes to score two converted tries.
Matt Yuill slotted a penalty just before half time and Towcester turned round 14-10 down as a consequence of their strangely stuttering performance.
Stag’s instrumental fly-half Whales replied after the break to stretch the lead, but Towcester now found their stride and the scrum began to dominate the flagging home pack.
Under pressure, Huntingdon’s frantic defence was penalised for repeated infringements and eventually suffered a yellow card for continued ill discipline.
Towcester made a tactical switch, swapping scrum half Dave Stocks with wing Austin Wheldon. The irrepressible WheWith five minutes left on the clock, Matt Yuill stepped up and coolly stroked the conversion to level the match.
ldon took the game to Huntingdon, running every ensuing penalty, which led to a try from Stocks wide out.