An excellent Lambs performance saw them run in 11 tries and score 65 points as they defeated the Pacific Loggers XV 65-7. 

It took only four minutes for the Lambs to get on the score board and show what they are capable of, turning over a defensive scrum on their own 5m line captain Matt Harris (Berkhamsted) fed Milo Linney (Uppingham) to his right.

Putting the burners on, Linney went full length of the field, beating the winger 1 on 1 before holding off the covering attempt of four more players. Linney then came provider 10 minutes later as a free-kick on the left came full width before another 50 metre break by Linney, who was able to offload to Josh Hart (Denstone) to extend the lead to 10-0.

With the Lambs on the front foot Linney, named Man of the Match, continued to create havoc, and after quarter of an hour got himself on the scoreboard once more, this time appearing in midfield and picking off some tiring tight 5 players to go under the posts.

Wary of letting the Loggers into the game, the Lambs continued to pressurise with and without the ball. This led to an interception from Hart who was able to offload out of the covering tackle for Alex Zenda (Pangbourne College) to finish under the posts.

What followed in the last 10 minutes of the half were two typical Lambs tries, firstly Francouis Roussow (RHS, Ipswich) turned over the ball on the left and fed the ball out, the ball went right to left before ending up back in Rooussow’s hands, before he covered 25 meters to add another score. This was repeated in similar fashion, although the turnover coming from a line out, with Sam Howell (Wellingborough) and Tommie Collingwood (Denstone) combining to allow Collingwood to extend the lead to 34-0 at half time.

The second half saw the Loggers continue to fight, never lying down and certainly bringing a physical side to the game that many wouldn’t have experienced before.

However, keen to start as they finished the Lambs took a quick tap penalty in the opening minutes, where Tom Petty (Trinity) fed Dan Marsik (Kent College Canterbury) to take the Lambs to 39 points. As ever, and as expected, the Loggers continued to battle and after 10 minutes they took an interception on the half way. A cover tackle from Marsik nearly stopped them getting over the whitewash, but with front foot ball and some big carriers, they bundled over to get on the scoreboard.

Looking for a response, the Lambs then blew the Loggers away in the next 10 minutes with three more scores, Ben Mallet (Millfield) picking off a gap in midfield following another quick tap penalty from Harris, George Hartson (Wycliffe) adding to his score from the Canada game and then possibly the Lambs’ try of the season so far – started from behind their own line – the ball shifted right then left, on the way back across the ball went through nine sets of hands and three offloads before Dan Marsik set Henry Wright (Queen Ethelburga’s) off from the five metre line.

The score was at 60 – 7, but the Loggers would not give in, they then camped on the Lambs’ line for eight minutes, the boys in pink soaking up the pressure, not prepared to concede again. That pressure led to a turnover which allowed Marsik to once again provide as he fed Matt Gallagher (Kirkham Grammar) to go 60 metres and round off the game at 65-7.

A performance to be proud of by the Lambs, both in defence and attack, with some outstanding tries built in the spirit of how they want the game to be played.

Commenting after the game, Lambs National Director Alex Laybourne said:

“Todays performance was excellent, and we know as a group that we still have more to offer, which is exciting. The team learnt lessons from the Canada game and didn’t let the Loggers grow back into it whilst they also stuck to their philosophy and style of play to put on a great spectacle.”

“What was fantastic about this fixture was also what we saw post match, both teams mixed and spent a lot of time together, there was a lot of smiles and laughter – that is also what our tours are about and we wish the Loggers XV every success.”

Full Time: ISRFC Lambs 65-7 Pacific Loggers