GREENE KING MERIT TABLE PLATE COMPETITION SEMI-FINAL March Bears 0 St Neots 2nd XV 18 MARCH went into this game expecting to win a final place. Earlier in the season the Bears had beaten St Neots 2nd XV on their own ground with 14 men. What turned up fro

GREENE KING MERIT TABLE PLATE COMPETITION SEMI-FINAL

March Bears 0 St Neots 2nd XV 18

MARCH went into this game expecting to win a final place.

Earlier in the season the Bears had beaten St Neots 2nd XV on their own ground with 14 men.

What turned up from St Neots was a well-organised outfit, with several changes to the team March faced early in the season.

Playing in bitterly cold and windy conditions it was St Neots who made most of the conditions with the wind behind them, and put March under considerable pressure from the start of the game. But March's defence stood firm, denying the visitors from crossing the line.

On the odd occasion March did venture into St Neots half, the support play was poor and March could, and should have scored a couple of tries.

March who continually gave away needless penalties and the visitors kicked the only points of the first half via a penalty to go in at half-time 3-0 in front.

With the wind behind them in the second half March were confident they could put points on the score board, but again giving away too many penalties, enabled St Neots to capitalise by running in an unconverted try to extend their lead to 8-0.

With the odd penalty March did get, the wrong decision was made to run with the ball instead of kicking for line position and St Neots backs were upon March quickly, before they could gain any advantage.

March's normally well-organised defence crumbled in the latter stages of the game as St Neots ran in two more unconverted tries.

March put in a good performance but too many penalties were given away, and tactical errors let them down.