Market Drayton entertained Cleobury Mortimer on Saturday in the semi final of the Shropshire Plate.
The green and blacks attacked from the off in perfect conditions. The early pressure forced a penalty which stand off Alex Jeavons slotted for a 3-0 lead. A quickly taken penalty caught Cleobury disorganised and hooker Stu Williams powered over, and minutes later, Stu Pemberton cut inside and crossed the line. Jeavons converted for a 15-0 lead.
The green and blacks conceded a series of penalties, allowing Cleobury to convert a penalty, but the lead was soon extended when Dave Adams showed searing pace to scythe 30 yards to score.
Jeavons again converted for a comfortable 22-3 lead, but The Ravens inexplicably took their foot off the gas, and Cleobury reduced the deficit at half time to 22-11.
Any thoughts that the South Shropshire outfit would continue their comeback were immediately dispelled when Jeavons attacked at pace, stepped and waltzed over, which he converted. From the restart, scrum half Matt Eardley made 40 yards before being obstructed, and the quick tap brought another try for skipper Williams. Jeavons’ conversion took the lead to an unassailable 36-11.
Drayton then produced a half hour display of utterly ruthless Barbarians-style open rugby to delight the crowd.
Club captain Chris Spencer showed quick hands to allow Jeavons in to score, then Jeavons himself made 60 yards before popping to Pemberton, who converted, and following a fabulous 30 yard driving maul in midfield, the ball was worked out wide then back inside for Eardley to finish. Jeavons converted for a 55-11 lead.
Winger Mez Burns raced fully 80 yards to score but, to their credit, Cleobury never gave up and scored to make it 60-16. In the last 10 minutes, Tom Lavender spotted an overlap and popped to Burns, who once again put on the burners for a 70 yard burst to the line.
Drayton saved the best till last, the ball passing through many pairs of hands, culminating in Cook appearing in support to stretch over wide out to take the final result to 70-16. This try took Drayton through the 1000 point barrier for the season in only 27 games, at an average of over 37 points per game. The only cloud in proceedings was Mark Peacock, who has only just returned from injury, badly broke his collar bone.
Drayton travel to Newport this Saturday to face Telford in the final. Telford are two divisions higher so will provide a true test of how the green and blacks have progressed, and they will have to compete without the services of the destructive Adams. All support would be most welcome to assist the young Drayton side to finish the season on a high.
By Joseph Masi