SOUTH WALES SCORPIONS 12 OXFORD 20

By Ian Golden at constructaquote.com Stadium

 

In a hard-fought battle in Caerphilly, Oxford handled the weather, and the debatable refereeing decisions, better than South Wales Scorpions and went away 20-12 winners.

 

Scorpions were looking for the opening score and looked dangerous as they approached the Oxford line, but a good interception by Chris Cullimore from Connor Farrer’s pass put a stop to that challenge.

 

Kyle Scrivens and Christiaan Roets also combined 20 metres from the Oxford line but good defence saw Roets being pushed into touch.

 

But after winning a couple of penalties, Oxford took the lead when Aaron Nicholson leapt onto Nathan Kitson’s grubber. Kitson missed the kick.

 

With both sides making handling errors due to the fine rain that had been falling since before kick-off, it was always about who could take advantage, and it was eventually the Scorpions who did. Chris Vitalini going over from close range on 26 minutes and Paul Emanuelli converting.

 

Scorpions were given an advantage five minutes before the break when Andrew Hoggins was sinbinned for a late tackle and they looked like they’d taken advantage straight away when Zak Williams raced over the line, only for it to be chalked out for crossing.

 

However from the next move, Christiaan Roets powered through for Scorpions’ second try. Emanuelli failed to land the kick but the home side were 10-4 up at the break.

 

The continuing rain certainly didn’t help matters in the second half, both sides getting close to the line in the first 15 minutes but only one real chance to score. That came to the Scorpions, with Sion Jones touching down but Williams’ palm to him was adjudged to have been forward.

 

Scorpions increased their lead to 12-4 midway through the second half when Emanuelli kicked a 40-metre penalty before Oxford got a try back when Andrew Hoggins jumped on his own grubber. Kitson missed the kick leaving the score at 12-8.

 

They levelled things with five minutes to go when Harry Griffiths made a clean break and Kitson easily converted to put them 14-12 up.

 

Roets and Scrivens nearly combined for a Scorpions winner but after the referee failed to give a blatant offside when the home side were ten metres from the line, the chance was lost.

 

And rather than Scorpions either kicking a levelling penalty or potentially running in a winner, Kitson broke away in the final seconds to rub salt in the wounds, converting his own try.

 

SCORPIONS

30 Jamie Murphy

2 Ian Newbury

21 Scott Gregory

22 Christiaan Roets

3 Kyle Scrivens

27 Courtney Davies

7 Paul Emanuelli

28 Alex Davidson

9 Connor Farrer

23 Barrie Phillips

20 Anthony Symons

25 Sion Jones

13 Chris Vitalini

SUBS (all used)

10 Izaak Duffy

14 Osian Phillips

19 Kristian Baller

24 Zak Williams

 

Tries: Vitalini (26), Roets (39)

Goals: Emanuelli 2/3

 

OXFORD

1 Scott Fleming

2 Errol Carter

3 Harvey Burnett

4 Marcus Brooker

5 Luke Gardiner

6 Nathan Kitson

7 Casey Canterbury

8 Daniel Igbinedion

9 Chris Cullimore

18 Aaron Nicholson

11 Adam Withington

12 Andrew Hoggins

19 Danny Allan

SUBS (all used)

14 Mark Hayes

15 Harry Griffith

16 Adam Flintham

17 Daniel Jamieson

 

Tries: Nicholson (14), Hoggins (72), Griffiths (76), Kitson (80)

Goals: Kitson 2/4

 

Referee: Jamie Callaghan

Half-time: 10-4

Attendance: 410