Milton Keynes 69- 15 Swindon College Old Boys

Milton Keynes showed great form against newly promoted Swindon College Old Boys on Saturday, and results in their favour meant they are now sitting at the top of the Southern Counties North League.

The City boys knew nothing but a bonus point win would do and started off in strong fashion, forcing Swindon to clear their lines only for them to slice the ball into touch and offer MK a line out on the Swindon 22. A well executed catch and drive, gave the backs good clean ball and allowed Gino Genova to show his power by crashing through two tackles and over the line to score under the posts, converted by Captain Phil Powell. Swindon came back though and tried to force the MK team backwards only to receive a penalty in the MK 22. Making the score 7-3 after just 5 minutes.

Milton Keynes were straight back into the grove and showed what they can do with the ball in hand, some great running rugby, allowed Daniel Rolfe to continue his early season form and a break from his own half running the length of the field to score in the corner. This time unconverted. This seemed to open the flood gates, and more first half tries would follow from, Rob Lasbrey, David Brown, Lewis Barnett and Daniel Rolfe again, with Powell converting all but 1 meaning the half time score would be 38-3 to the home side.

City, started the second half brightly having been reminded at half time of the importance executing their game plan. They scored another try through Rob Lasbrey who spotting a gap off the bass of a ruck sniped around to score close to the posts allowing Powell to convert, making the score 45-3. City expected a fight back from Swindon but will be disappointed with the way the following 15 minutes went. It appeared as though seeing the game as won meant the boys lost their clinical edge. Whilst they still had the lion’s share of possession, some unforced handling errors meant they we’re not able to convert their opportunities, often dropping the last pass.

Swindon seemed to be spurred on by this and started to carry some fight to MK and wasn’t long before a short scrum on the MK 5 meter line saw Swindon drive over for their first try of the day, which was converted. Shortly afterwards they scored their second try following some poor tackling from the home side, missing the conversion making it 45-15. This seemed to kick the home side into gear again and they were rampant in the last 12 minutes, running in a further four tries, from Dan Pearson, Daniel Rolfe( securing his hatrick) Ollie Fountain, and the return of retired club stalwart Stuart Tomkinson, with Powell hitting 2 of the conversion making the final score 69-15.

The home side will be happy with the result as Bletchley’s defeat to Aylesbury means they are now top of the league but they know they will have sterner tests to come and, will have to show greater concentration for the full 80 minutes if they are to stay where they sit at the moment.