Manor welcomed Old Priorians to the New Wilderness hoping to get back to winning ways. The visitors had endured a difficult start to the season and were known to be struggling with injuries, never the less Manor did not take them lightly. Manor were able to give a debut at scrum half to Fred Newbury and welcomed Garth Tucker back to the side for his first game of the season.

With Manor kicking off the match the ball was contested with Damian Horton knocking the man back in the tackle which allowed the Manor pack to drive the visitors back into their 22, here they set up a ruck 8 meters from their try line. With the ball secured their scrum half attempted a box kick, but this was charged down by James Osborn, he then followed the bouncing ball and was quickest to it, gathered it up and strolled over the line for Manors first try. With the difficult conversion missed by Reece Reed Manor led 5-0 after less than two minutes of play. Unfortunately, Reed aggravated a groin injury taking the kick and had to leave the field to be replaced by Ben Lockyer.

Manor didn’t have to wait long for their second score when Mark Woollard put in a long clearance kick from the restart which was returned by Priorians to Rhys Davis-Horne, he set up a counter attack, linking up with Andrew Connors who broke tackles before the forwards took up the charge taking play into the visitors 22. With quick ball from a ruck moved along the line, Tom O’Connor took a crash ball and dissected the defensive line and went under the posts for Manors second try. Nick Sheppard took on the kicking duties and slotted the extra points, after 5 minutes of play Manor led 12-0.

If anyone thought the opposition would just capitulate were soon proved wrong when from the kick off they forced Manor onto the back foot eventually winning an attacking lineout. From here they secured the ball and moved it along their backline then from a slick move, carved a hole in Manors defence, Davies-Horne was the last line of defence and although he put in a superb tackle, Priorians were supporting in numbers and recycled the ball to score a try in the corner. The conversion was missed but the score moved on to 12-5 after 8 minutes.

The try lifted the visitors and they now had a period of pressure inside Manors 22 with their prop being stopped just short of the line, here Newbury was first over the ball winning a penalty which allowed Manor to clear the danger.
Still the opposition pressed Manor causing the home side to give away a number of penalties, one of which was in kickable distance but Priorians were unable to take the chance and after 18 minutes the score remained 12-5

Manor now began to increase the pace of the game, winning the battle at scrum time with the opposition struggling to win any ball. From one such turnover scrum the ball went into Manors midfield where Sheppard broke the line taking the ball within 8 meters of the try line, here he linked with Connors who drove to the line and although stopped on the line, he had the strength to twist and dot the ball down for Manors third try. Sheppard was successful with the difficult conversion and after 23 minutes Manor had increased their lead to 19-5.

After a short period of pressure from Priorians Manor worked their way back into the oppositions half where first Sheppard then Connors punched holes in the oppositions defence, Davies- Horne then took the ball at pace and looked to be heading towards the try line only to be brought back for a forward pass.

Manor continued to have the upper hand and from another scrum against the head the Manor backline worked space for Luigi Martelletti to set off on a powerful run from close to the halfway line, he burst through two tackles, outpaced the opposition defenders and when faced by the fullback feinted to go outside him, but cut back inside to go over for an excellent solo try and in the process scored Manors fourth bonus point try. With the successful conversion Manor now led 26-5 with less than 10 minutes of the half to go.

Martelletti was soon back in action but this time in a defensive capacity, Priorians took the game to Manor making good ground through their forwards before their backs took play into Manors 22 and looked to have broken through for a score, but Martelletti had come in off his wing and knocked the ball carrier flying, winning a scrum in the process for a knock on.

There was still time for Manor to score one further try. After a period of attacking play, Manor threatened inside Priorians 22 only for a knock on to bring the attack to a halt. From the scrum, Manor again made a mess of the oppositions put in causing the ball to pop out of the back of Priorians scrum, O’Connor was quickest to react pouncing on the ball and feeding the supporting Tucker who from 15 meters out powered his way through a number of attempted tackles to score the final try of the half. The conversion was unsuccessful but with the halftime whistle blown Manor held a commanding 31-5 lead.

The second half began the same way the first had ended with Manor pressuring the visitors line and after winning a penalty from a scrum infringement Tucker drove towards the line only to be stopped a few meters short, but the supporting John Robinson was on hand to take the ball on and dive over the line. With the conversion a formality the score had moved on to 38-5 after 5 minutes of the second half.

Yet again Priorians showed some fighting spirit and after soaking up more Manor pressure they gradually worked their way up the field where after some good interplay between forwards and backs they scored their second try of the match. The conversion was successful and they reduced the deficit to 38-12.

In this fast moving game Manor hit back straight away from the restart when Martelletti knocked the catcher back in the tackle turning over the ball in the process, this allowed Manor to launch another assault on the Priorians line, Connors and Lockyer exchanged passes before Connors was stopped 5 meters short of the line, but the supporting Rory Moore was on hand to take the ball over the line. The touchline conversion was successful with the score now 45-12.

Manor now made the error of switching off and this was something that was seized upon by Priorians who ran in two quick tries one of which was converted, this gave them a foothold in the game that they should not have been given but with the score now 45-24 Manor had to respond.

From the restart Manor upped their game and pressurised the opposition whenever they had possession, this pressure nearly paid dividends when the ball was knocked on by Priorians, Tucker reacted quickest picking the ball up and looked to have a clear path to the try line only for the ref to bring play back citing a second knock on by Manor. Manor won the scrum and a well judge kick by Woollard saw the ball go deep into Priorians 22 leaving the defence with no option but to knock the ball into touch. Moore won the lineout allowing Manor to set up a driving maul and with the ball at the back in the hands of Osborn Manor crossed the line but the ref deemed it had not been grounded and so awarded and attacking scrum. From here the Manor pack drove their opposing 8 back over the line allowing Misiona Evagelia to claim the score. With the conversion missed Manor had extended the score to 50-24 with 15 minutes of play remaining.

Manor were now in total control and it wasn’t long before they scored again. A lineout was won 5 meters from the line and a simple catch and drive saw captain Tryson Goodchild awarded the score. With the conversion unsuccessful the score moved on to 55 -24.

From the restart Manor again pressurised Priorians eventually turning the ball over but poor handing saw the attack breakdown close to halfway. From the subsequent scrum Manor again turned the ball over allowing their backline to attack first through Sheppard then Connors who took play into the 22, here Davies-Horne cut an excellent attacking line to dissect the defence and cross the line for Manors tenth try. The conversion was taken and Manor led by 62-24

The last few minutes of the game were fairly scrappy with neither side looking like scoring again and when the final whistle was blown Manor had returned to winning ways.

Old Priorians must be commended for competing right to the final whistle and when they overcome their injury problems I am sure they will become a far more competitive side. Manor did what was asked and returned to winning ways. As ever the performance will be analysed so that improvements can be made. With no game next week Manor players have the chance to get over some of their niggling injuries with other players who have had long term injuries close to returning to action. It was a great day for all of the Manors sides with the seconds winning their top of the table clash with the much vaunted Brentwood team, showing that Manor do have strength in depth, something that was further highlighted with victories for both the third and fourth teams.