Eton Manor 3 Stevenage Town 24 Stevenage Town responded in the best way to defeat the previous week with an impressive performance against Eton Manor. Stags are in unchartered waters as far as playing at this level is concerned but with two wins out of th

Eton Manor 3 Stevenage Town 24

Stevenage Town responded in the best way to defeat the previous week with an impressive performance against Eton Manor.

Stags are in unchartered waters as far as playing at this level is concerned but with two wins out of three games, they have made a very satisfactory start.

Town absolutely dominated both possession and territory in the first half but found it difficult to break down a dogged Eton Manor defence.

The visitors were guilty of not finishing a couple of good opportunities and not taking advantage of the extra man, when the home captain Twydell was sent to the sin bin half way through the half.

It was not until the 30th minute that Town decided to go for goal from a penalty opportunity, having run the previous kicks, and Gareth Lewis slotted home the kick for a 3-0 lead.

Six minutes later and resulting from practically the only excursion into the Stevenage half of the game so far, Eton Manor levelled the scores from a penalty by Gorman.

It looked that after all the possession and pressure from Stevenage that they would be going into the interval all square until Michael Wilson found the pace to steam into the Eton Manor 22.

From the resultant possession, the ball was moved quickly wide to full-back Lewis coming into the line to score a fine try. Lewis converted his own try to give Town a deserved lead of 10-3 at the interval.

Stevenage continued to have the better possession in the second half, but the home team became more adventurous as they chased the game and this made for a more open game giving Town more running opportunities.

Stags survived a period of 10 minutes themselves with a man short when number eight Gareth Roberts was sent to the sin bin for the second consecutive week for killing a ball at a ruck.

Town gradually exerted their control over the game with Tavita Faamausili lively in the loose play and youngster Tom Meller having an influential game both in terms of his tackle count and ball carrying.

Indeed it was Meller who extended the lead when he finished off an excellent move involving firstly a superb break by Gary Trewartha, then Kyle Lemon and finally Ian Crompton broke the cover defence before feeding inside to Meller, who was in support to complete the try. Lewis added the conversion.

The backs looked dangerous as they moved the ball swiftly and at pace, making in-roads into an increasingly stretched Eton Manor defence.

Lemon and Lewis were prominent in leading the attack and from a great run by Lemon, Town sealed victory as he passed to Wilson to score a third well-executed try of the game for the visitors. The try was converted by Lewis to complete the scoring.