Rise praises Gensians spirit

Sportsdesk • Published 2 Mar 2010 12:00 0 Comments

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Peter Freeth has been in excellent form with the boot for Gensians in the last two games

GENSIANS

GENSIANS coach Alun Rise believes his men can achieve their first ever win at Weston-super-Mare on Saturday despite their injury problems.

Gensians produced the latest in a series of dogged National Three South West performances to beat Barnstaple last week after losing back row men James Watkins (hamstring) and Simon Parfitt (calf).

And it is touch and go whether the duo will make the trip to Somerset as they are both facing a late fitness test.

Rise said: "It's difficult to name a side at the moment. We'll have to see how they respond to treatment.

"The team showed the right spirit against Barnstaple and can do a good job again. We know it's going to be a tight game at Weston and we'll have to dig in.

"There are four or five clubs along with us in the second tier behind Taunton and Old Patesians. They are in good form and we want to keep pace with them."

However he warned: "It is important to believe in what we are doing and the structures we are putting in place. But we must be sharper in certain areas and improve our tactical kicking."

Weston, who have recovered from a poor start, lost 40-22 at Sonning in the autumn, conceding six tries, but they have won six of their last seven games and will be a far different proposition on their own ground.

* RISE was full of praise for a great defensive display by Gensians as they beat Barnstaple 16-10.

Gensians, 13-10 up at the break, held out against an incessant second-half barrage of attacks to complete their third double of the season.

Rise said: "The lads worked their socks off and showed outstanding character despite disruption to the pack."

Gensians are developing into a gritty side, showing plenty of determination to slog it out. Certain areas still need working on, kicking for instance, but they are a youngish side with plenty of scope to improve.

They made the best possible start against Barnstaple with a cheeky fourth minute try from scrum-half Sid Matthews. He took a quick tap penalty 20 metres out and raced over in the corner for Peter Freeth to land a superb touchline conversion.

Freeth then added two penalties to keep Gensians in front of their visitors, who responded with a converted score and penalty of their own.

Gensians were pinned back for much of the second half, but they dug deep and Freeth landed a late penalty to make sure of the win.

Gensians: Allen; Clements, Reynolds, Freeth, Tweedie; AJ Hopkins, Matthews; Saunders, Clare, Tainton, G Davies, Root, Watkins (C Davies), Parfitt (Dewland), Stapley. Sub not used: Flynn.

READING

READING have a gilt-edged chance to end their sorry run of 11 straight National Three South West defeats when they travel to league whipping boys Maidenhead on Saturday.

The Braywood side have lost 20 of their 21 games this season and were the opponents the last time the Green Machine tasted success way back in November.

On that day Reading were comfortable 36-5 winners, and the Holme Park boys are desperate for a repeat result on Saturday to ease their relegation fears. With the bottom-two certain to go down, Reading sit third-bottom, which may or may not be enough to save them.

It is looking increasingly likely that the Green Machine will go head to head with the third-bottom side in National Three London, with the team on the least points also going down.

The Green Machine currently have a four-point advantage over Sutton & Epsom in that race.

* READING were demolished 58-31 after a dominant first half display by a Bournemouth team who rattled up 40 points in the opening half hour.

The Green Machine trailed 43-0 at the break before showing some much-needed fight in the second half to earn a bonus point.

Having conceded six tries in the first half, the Holme Park side made a much better start to the second period when Sean Lynch's try finally put them on the scoreboard.

While the Green Machine never threatened to get back in the game, Samisoni Speight kept up morale by grabbing a second try, before the hosts provided a grandstand finish with three scores in the last four minutes.

Debutant Draunibaka 'Gus' Qasevakatini marked his first appearance for the club by scoring the first of these tries before Lynch grabbed his second to clinch the bonus point.

Speight finished the scoring with his second try, but it was too little, too late to stop Reading slipping to their 11th straight league defeat.

READING: Brooks, Qasevakatini, Smith (Speight 52), Matau, Lynch; Brown, Goodhew; Harvey, Cranton, Grierson (Bellingham 50), Davies, Uluikede, Phillips (c), Veale (Cavuilati 58), Heirene.

ABBEY

ABBEY are determined to enjoy their trip to Dorset this weekend despite the real threat of relegation from South West One East.

The Rosehill men take on fourth-placed Swanage & Wareham and they are hopeful of causing a shock.

Skipper Tom Waterhouse admits Saturday's away trip is perhaps the most difficult of his side's remaining fixtures.

He said: "It's a great day out. Everyone in the club, players and supporters enjoy the trip.

"Swans give us a warm welcome and all of us have a good time.

"We know the pack can't afford to step backwards against them, and you have to fight for loose ball on the ground.

"But if we win ball, we'll win the game."

Abbey will have coach and playmaker Adam Hurst back in the centre

* LAST weekend Abbey were undone by a penalty in each half as they went down 6-0 in a dour game against Walcot.

The defeat leaves them in relegation trouble, second from bottom in South West One East.

However, they still know another win could be enough to lift them up three places.

ABBEY: S Drake, T Waterhouse (c), E Robinson, D Anfield (rep F Mutepfa), G Dampies, J Dye, O Heath, L Waite, O Charlton, A Woolnough (rep N Reddy), D Pawlett, S Allison, B Carson, H Williams, B Davies.

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