This was a fine all round performance from the Force who played at a high tempo throughout, and thoroughly merited their bonus point victory played on Mansfield Park.
Bolstered by the presence of new boy Jerome Starkey, who was always physical and always willing the lads in green began strongly. Aaron Fletcher was prominent early and his lung-busting break took him right through the defenders before setting the ball back for the best team player in this league Steven Mabon to bundle over and score.
Craig Richardson has been a wonderful addition to the Force squad with his experience and how he always plays with a smile. He was justly rewarded when rounding off strong mauling from the home side’s strong set piece and dived over to score. Playing on the wing may not be Tom Huggan’s first choice but like the equally effective Andrew Baillie last week he played there to help out the team and he burst through several tackles to score in the corner to set up a half-time lead of 19-0 with ever dependable Kyle Brunton adding conversions.
The home side were much more accurate with their passing after the break and two excellent tries were scored after bullet passes were used to allow both James Delaney and Aaron Redpath to speedily stride in for tries. Andrew Ford was welcomed back for most of the second half and he looked hungry (for the ball not lasagne) and strong in a most encouraging return. He is destined to step up soon. Indeed, Ford’s fine break set up Huggan to drive through and pass on to Walker to score. Greg Walker may be a policeman to trade but he was undercover as a wonderful leader today and was rightly named coach Lowrie’s man of the match. Rolling back the years Gary Lowrie came off the bench to play ten minutes on the wing, and his team mates were delighted to see him scorch over for a try celebrated by his ball-boy sons. Though the visitors scored right at the end this was a Force display that merited all 5 points.
Shovie’s grandson is a huge help as ball boy but it was another small figure who was this writer’s most valuable player today. Mathew King may be 5 foot 4 and 8 stones but he plays like he is really 6 foot 4 and 18 stone. Completely fearless in the tackle, nippy like a sweetie around the scrummage and a livewire always wanting to shock with the ball, his play was a joy to behold throughout
