The University of Nottingham (UoN) Rugby League team won a hard-fought contest against Nottingham Trent University (NTU) 26-16, to leave UoN 13-7 going into the final event.
It was Trent who started the brighter, however, and some neat blind-side play saw them grab the first try of the game; the conversion was missed, as Trent had a 4-0 lead to protect.
It took UoN a while in the first half to find their rhythm, but halfway through the first half, a great defence-splitting kick was touched over and the scores were level again, with UoN’s conversion also missed as the wind played havoc with the kicks early on.
“UoN were denied a third try by the narrowest of margins, with the UoN player held up after going over the try-line to deny him”
Shortly after, hat-trick hero Matthew Boyers split the defence with a great dummy to run half the length of the pitch and go over under the posts for UoN, with the conversion from under the posts being converted, as UoN went in at half-time 10-4 up.
The game was played against the backdrop of a glorious summer evening.
UoN were denied a third try by the narrowest of margins, with the UoN player held up after going over the try-line to deny him; Trent duly replied with a try of their own, going over and converted to level the scores at 10-10.
A good field position for UoN led to their third try of the game, as a short pass found a great run for UoN to go over, and the lead was four again at 14-10.
The superior fitness of the UoN started to show in the second half, as UoN looked ever more potent as the game wore on. Boyers grabbed his second of the game after a beautifully angled run left the Trent full-back for dead, and when the conversion went over, Trent needed two scores to get back into the game at 20-10.
“With five minutes to go, Trent managed to grab a converted try to make UoN sweat slightly”
Trent’s task was made ever harder by an inexplicable red card for their number six for dissent; evidently unhappy with not receiving the ball, after hurling abuse at the referee, he was given his marching orders.
With five minutes to go, Trent managed to grab a converted try to make UoN sweat slightly; when Boyers grabbed his hat-trick with a minute to go, the game was done for Trent, and the conversion gave a slight sheen to the score, with the rugby league finishing 26-16 to the boys in green and gold.
Words by Connor Higgs
Images courtesy of IMPACT Images and URN Sport
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