Merton unable to complete hat-trick

10:32am Tuesday 29th April 2008

Merton's hopes of winning the Surrey Bowl for the third year in a row were dashed by a 21-9 defeat by Old Glynonians at Imber Court on Saturday.

Missing five of their regular front row, Merton soon found themsleves under sustained pressure and Glyn took a 6-0 lead thanks to two penalties.

Merton pulled the score back to 6-3 at the break with a penalty from Leon Driscoll and he tied the scores up with another penalty early in the second half.

They almost took the lead soon after, a drop out from the Glyn 22 reaching Garth Hume on halfway, who attempted an outrageous drop goal which just went under the crossbar.

This was, perhaps, the wake up call that Glyn needed and they came back strongly, driving up and over the whitewash to give themselves a five point cushion.

Merton were not going to lie down, as they strove to defend their title, and they worked their way back into their opponent's 22 to set up a penalty chance in front of the posts, which Driscoll, gleefully, slotted.

With their tails up, Merton continued to look for the all-important score that would get their noses in front, and they forced another penalty chance wide on the right.

Although it looked like it was going over, Driscoll's attempt just slipped past the right-hand upright. Both sides were going at it hammer and tongs, and were serving up a feast of rugby for a very large crowd of spectators.

Glyn were next to earn themselves a penalty shot, which was just to the left of the posts. The kick was slotted to extend their advantage to five points.

As the game went into the final few minutes, Merton threw everything into attack, both Rossiter and Tom Wood going close for the all-important try.

A speculative kick out of defence saw Glyn on the offensive and, when the ball ran loose close to the Merton line, they forced their way over the line to clinch the win.

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