Sat 23 Apr 2022
With the winners guaranteed third place in the final league standings what should have been a keenly contested match was effectively over after twenty minutes by which point the home side had already gained a bonus point try. Syston started with an intensity and purpose that the visitors found hard to live with and were 12-0 up after 10 minutes following two tries one of which was converted. Losing Connor Nicholls to the sin bin for a high tackle didn’t help the cause and the hosts secured the bonus point with two more tries with the number 8 off the pitch to lead 26-0, Gareth Bladen being injured and leaving the action with an injury after the third try. Two further converted tries made the score at the break 40-0 but North did come close to scoring just before half time when only a great tackle by the home sides full back stopped Morgan French scoring in the corner.
North started the second half well and pressurised without being able to penetrate the home defence and against the run of play Syston went further ahead with a try on 55 minutes, at which point skipper Jonah Boyce left the field with a leg injury. The hosts extended the lead to 52-0 with a converted try but the visitors never gave up and had the final say with a try from George Newman following a line out catch and drive by the forwards.
Whilst North will be encouraged by a fighting second half performance despite injuries to key players the manner of the defeat highlights the need for consistency at this level of rugby having entered the contest on the back of some recent fine performances. Both sides will be looking forward to competing in the new league structure starting next season.
