On a cold and blustery night under the lights at Hemel Stags’ Pennine Way, Skolars partner side Middlesex University took on a strong Brunel University side. With Brunel victorious in the last encounter, Middlesex were looking to avenge that defeat. The game was a close encounter to start with both teams looking to set an early platform down the middle of the park. It was Middlesex who broke the deadlock on the 16 minute mark with a great solo effort from former Southgate College student Bradley Edwards, who went almost 60 metres fending off the Brunel full back to score in the corner. The try was converted by Aiden Oakley. Middlesex struck again 6 minutes later off the back of some strong running from two more Southgate alumni; Nimai Parmar and Cameron Furlong, with Furlong eventually scoring on the right hand side of the pitch.
Middlesex’s third try was scored 10 minutes later from a crafty grubber kick by Skolars regular and another Southgate old boy, Aaron Small, which the Brunel fullback fumbled in the in goal area and Alex Ferentinos eventually flopped the loose ball. Again, Oakley added the extras. The final try of the opening half was scored by Tim Royal, after some sublime passing movement from the Middlesex team. Oakley again nudged over the conversion to make the half time score 20-0 to the Middlesex team.
After a stirring half time speech from coach Andy Bowman, Middlesex carried on the good work they did in the opening stanza with debutant Hal Marsden sniping from dummy half and sneaking over after 8 minutes of the second half. Oakley again added the extras from in between the posts. Then came a period of pressure from the Brunel side who were looking to get back into the contest. Middlesex were made to pay for silly mistakes and penalties in key areas and lost good field position, the Brunel winger snuck over from dummy half with the extras added from the conversion.
Middlesex looked to strike back straight away and did just that. After a massive hit from Joao Carlos causing Brunel to knock on, Nimai Parmar trundled over from 5 yards with Oakley converting. Brunel then scored back to back tries following a succession of Middlesex penalties, both being converted. However, the final score was the try of the game from Middlesex. A magical offload from Joao Carlos worthy of Super League, Cameron Furlong used some handy footwork to beat 2 would be defenders and crash over on the right hand
side of the pitch to seal the victory! The final score was 36-16, with Middlesex confident going into next Wednesday’s game against Cambridge.
