Borough stun the league leaders

There was a tale of the unexpected at Second Drove this afternoon (September 29) as Borough pulled off a stunning English Clubs Championship win against Paviors.
Zak McClure on the charge for Borough against Paviors. Picture: David LowndesZak McClure on the charge for Borough against Paviors. Picture: David Lowndes
Zak McClure on the charge for Borough against Paviors. Picture: David Lowndes

The visitors from Nottingham arrived sitting pretty at the top of Midlands Division One with four wins out of four and with just over an hour gone they looked dead set to achieve win number five.

They led 32-14 and Borough were chasing shadows in the late September sunshine.

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But all of a sudden Borough found another gear from somewhere, upped the tempo and the big boys from Paviors wilted.

Borough's George Offer makes a run for it against Paviors. Picture: David LowndesBorough's George Offer makes a run for it against Paviors. Picture: David Lowndes
Borough's George Offer makes a run for it against Paviors. Picture: David Lowndes

Borough slammed in three late tries - two from the unlikely source of portly prop Levan Stapleton - to win by the narrow margin of 33-32.

That ended a run of three defeats and shot Borough up to seventh in the table.

Borough got off to the worst possible start when Paviors ran in a try straight from the kick-off and more half-hearted tackling gifted them another soon after. They also kicked a penalty to lead 15-0 with half-an-hour gone and they were worth it.

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Borough were only performing in fits and starts and their defence was dodgy to say the least.

More action from the Borough v Paviors game. Picture: David LowndesMore action from the Borough v Paviors game. Picture: David Lowndes
More action from the Borough v Paviors game. Picture: David Lowndes

Yet by half-time they had reduced the deficit to 15-14. They created two chances and took them both - first when nippy scrum-half Ross Chamberlain darted over from close range and then when prop Sam Cowell dived over the line after good work by Chamberlain and number eight Zak McClure. Matt Newman was successful with both conversions.

Paviors scored again early in the second half, again through a lack of tackling on Borough’s part, and then stretched their lead to 32-14 with two more tries in quick succession by their whippet-like backs.

It seemed to be game over but Borough, spurred on by their inspirational skipper Stuart Day, mounted a massive comeback.

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A great chip ahead by Newman, enthusiastically chased by hooker Jamie Dingle, put Paviors under pressure and from a scrum five yards out Stapleton rolled off the back to smash his way over the try-line. Newman converted and it was 21-32.

On 70 minutes that become 28-32 as George Offer touched down, again from a scrum five and again after after more classy work by Chamberlain and again with Newman adding the extras.

Then with a couple of minutes remaining Borough snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as Stapleton produced a top-drawer chip and chase from five yards out after superb build-up play by Day, Scott Mills, Nick Langton, Ryan Morris and man-of-the-match Chamberlain.

Borough: N. Langton, S. Gallucci, G. Offer, R. Morris, L. Smedley, M. Newman, R. Chamberlain, S. Day. J. Dingle, L. Stapleton, M. Kelly, T. Crooks, R. Mould, S. Mills, Z. McClure. Subs: D. O’Connell, C. Sykes, S. Cowell.

In the same division Oundle were 46-35 winners at Rugby Lions and they are fourth in the table.