McShane suffers at hands of referee as Saints suffer narrow home defeat
JPMT. Rugby. Burgess Hill II's (black and gold) v St Francis
St Francis 7 Norfolk Arms 13
Saints dominated play from the whistle, but remained unrewarded for the efforts after giving away penalty after penalty.
John McShane dived onto the ball for what looked to be Saints first score but unfortunately this was not supported by the referee.
Norfolk Arms were awarded a penalty in front of the post to take the first points of the day.
Play resumed at the visitors end and a clearance kick by them was charged down by McShane who chased the ball and again dived on it for a try but yet again the official was unable to award any points as it was deemed a knock-on.
The visitors managed to break into the Saints half for a second time during the first period and made it pay with some good support play and a try under the posts, which was duly converted taking them into the break ten points up.
The second half continued as the first in the visitors half but with both sides defending admirably play was going nowhere until a long clearance by the visitors was gathered by Saints full back Olegs who broke down the left wing to put the home side on the score sheet which was converted by McShane.
From the restart the visitors applied some pressure and found themselves camped in front of the St Francis posts where yet another penalty infringement awarded them a kick at goal and another three points.
It was a good spectacle by both sides played in some awful conditions, Saints were disappointed by the loss but realised it was their own indiscipline which left them without a win.
A special mention should go to man of the match Prop forward Paul Sparks who put in a solid performance throughout.
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Weather for West Sussex
Saturday 18 May 2013
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Cloudy
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