Finchley scrape through at Summers Lane

The game got off to a lackadaisical start with neither side getting a foot hold in the game. Finchley did put some good phases of play together but let them selves down when executing the final play. With a clear overlap for the Finchley men a pass was intercepted by the Datchworth winger who scored underneath the posts, try converted. 0-7

This did not put the Finchley men down who soon began to get the upper hand of their opponents especially out wide with David Tuft and Dan Young making good ground and troubling the Datchworth back 3. This pressure paid off after 25 minutes with Datchworth giving away the first of many penalties for Tufft to slot the ball over the sticks.

This score gave the Finchley men the confidence they needed and they immediately responded from the restart with Drew Williams providing an opportunity for Tufft which he duly finished. The number 14 proving a prolific scorer this season (and long may it continue!!). Tufft converted his try, 10-7.

With the half coming to a close Finchley lost Brendan Moore to injury with Padraig Lynch coming onto replace him, the young man came on and straight away made yards and hit the Datchworth defence hard.
The last action of the half saw Tufft slot over another penalty.

13-7 Half Time.

The 2nd half started much in the same way the first did with both teams playing some good rugby but stuttering at the final phases. Finchley though were to be the next scorers with a well worked driving maul from the line, controlled by Tom McAuliffe and finished off by Will Eaton. 18-7

After a raft of changes due to injuries in the Finchley camp, this saw the introduction of Ed Buxton who showed once again his attacking prowess from No. 8, this led to ‘Chutney Raj’ breaking through the Datchworth defence and drawing the fullback to put Niall Clifford in for an easy score. 23-7

Datchworth were able to score a late try and some penalties but in a last couple of nervous minutes Finchley held on for the win.

Final Score 23-18

Although this was a far from vintage performance from the men in red and white it did once again go to show that they are a hard team to beat. Special mentions must go to Tom McAuliffe, Will Dalton and EdBuxton, along with Drew Williams and Padraig Lynch in the backs. But Man of the Match goes to the scoring machine David Tufft.

Next week sees Finchley travel to Hackney to face Old Streetonians and the men in red and white will be looking to do the double on the men from East London.