Finchley fill their boots against Fullerians!‏

The Finchley second team squad entered this game eager to get a win to build some momentum in the league (and put last week's cup performance behind them) but also to cheer up the watching Tom Roe (who had suffered a horrific injury in the return fixture back in October). The team did not disappoint.

Captain Coleman elected to play against the elements in the first half and the red and whites raised their game to deal with conditions accordingly. Early pressure told when, after a few good breaks through the middle which led to both Davidson and Tufft going close on the left wing, Ferriday took advantage of the forwards clearing the ball well in rucks to snipe over and open the scoring. Tufft converted.

Moments later it was 14-0. Ferriday made a good blind side break from a scrum on half way. After making 20m he combined with full back, Davidson, who danced outside a defender on the right wing and ran round under the posts. Tufft once again added the extras.

Although Fullerians continued to have some ball, they either kicked it away (which just led to the Finchley back 3 counter attacking) or spilt the ball when put under pressure from an energetic, and with Kaplan in midfield, vocal, Finchley rush defence. As a result the red and whites' try line never really looked in danger of being breached.

Finchely scored their 3rd try when the Fullerians 10's cross field kicked went straight into the arms of Tufft who broke away from halfway. He somehow managed not to score himself but, after a couple of phases from the forwards, Joe Willacy lunged for the line and (in this reporter's eyes) successfully grounded the ball. Ed Buxton will try and tell you Willacy came up short and he finished the job, but no one believes him. Tufft missed the conversion.

Finchley were to cross the Fullerians again before the break when, after a couple of good forward phases, Aslan Kaplan showed good hands to put fly half Chris Duck over on the right wing. Tufft failed to add the extras. It was 24-0 at half time.

At half time the message was to keep doing what we had been doing and also take advantage of the elements. This was clearly taken on board.

Soon after the break Dan Young saw an opportunity to 'rewind' and took the ball direct from scrum half Ferriday to step the Fullerians defended and touch down. Tuftt converted.

The injured Duck was replaced by Joe "basher" Mclatchie (who had only come up to watch but filled in on the bench when others did not turn up) and, almost immediately, he crossed the line. The Fullerians fly half tried to clear from his own line but he somehow dollied it into Mclatchie's hands who was able to fall over the line under the sticks. Davidson converted and it was 38-0.

Finchley were not done there however, and would score two good tries before the 80 minutes were up. After some good carries from Manny Tobin, Ed Buxton broke away. Somehow he did not give a try scoring pass to his supporting man, however, after a quick recycle he would have the ball again. After another charge from the no8 he found Eaton (who had only been on the pitch 2 minutes) who fed Zulu who finished well in the corner. Tufft missed the conversion.

In what turned out to be the final play of the game Finchley brought up the 50. After a tap penalty Opariuc made some good yards and the ball finally made it's way to Tufft on the left wing. He got passed his man well and managed to score in the corner. When his touch line conversion went through the posts the score was 50-0!

It was another good performance by the 2s from 1-18 and it showed that the starting 15 was almost identical to that of 2 weeks earlier. Let's keep it up for the rest of the season.
Tom Roe awarded Manny Tobin man of the match. Edward "the try stealer" Buxton was di&k of the day.