Steyning Dominate St Francis

Steyning crept to Crawley and their hosts St Francis for the first league match of the season, buoyed by the win against Heathfield & Waldron the previous week and amused in the knowledge that one of their own was trying to dry his kit by hanging it from the car windows as he travelled! Thankfully the search for the missing link is over…
St Francis are well known to us – warm hospitality & tough on the pitch – and during the first few exchanges it was clear that today was going to be a tough and physical opener. Steyning looked sharp in attack and robust in defence, both sides conceding possession to each other in the first few attacks. The Steyning pack put St Francis to task. Superb work from David Neale attacking St Francis scrummage forced a dropped ball which is pounced (not sure he’s ever pounced? But flopped would be unkind!) upon by Matthew Hodson giving Steyning 5-0 lead. Steyning looked to settle sooner than their hosts, this was evident when Stuart Cotter made a trademark run down the left wing, brushing aside all bar the last of St Francis players and offloading the ball to the hard running Andrew Whatley who duly fell over the try line. Peter Carter chipped the conversion over for a 12-0 lead.
Two tries up and Steyning started to show some confidence and would look to make a frank appraisal of the St Francis grit. Forwards and backs looking very happy with the simple game plan and the ball in hand, highlighted when Jean Paul Badenhorst scored our third try following a number of deft passes, conversion scored and it was 19-0 after 30 minutes. A number of tough exchanges then followed and players from both benches being used as a reflection of both the physicality and intensity this match was being played at.
Half time
Steyning got the second half under way and it wasn’t long before Stu Cotter finished some more intense work with a fantastic run down the wing taking the score to 24-0. A handful of substitutions were made again from both teams and at this point it was showing that Steyning had benefited from extra fitness work during the summer and a simple but very clear game plan that was being executed by the whole squad, this includes Jeff Brown who after some “robust” tackling got his rewards with a well worked try, 29-0 and surely now the game was won? Phenomenal in defence and confident in attack Steyning looked to secure the win without conceding a point too… Markers being placed by various players, the only momentary lapse coming from Damo Roberts who it seems had got wind that Strictly Come Dancing was on this evening as he looked to complete a triple salco whilst kicking the ball in to touch, missed the ball but landed the salco perfectly! DoD awarded.
Thankfully there was more to celebrate than berate as Steyning broke into the St Francis half and after a few more hard yards from Tom Hoare and quick play out the too right wing, the ball got to David Neale who slid over the line to add a sixth and final try to our score sheet, 34-0. Steyning then shored up and went through the motions knowing that the final whistle wasn’t far away. Full time score St Francis 0 - Steyning 34. Man of the match was awarded to Peter Carter, well deserved.

Steyning host Sussex Police next week in what promises to be another tough game. Well done to the team and a huge thank you to those who travelled to Crawley, it makes a difference.