Match Report

 S London II 44-14 Bedford II  

06/08/06 (Courtesy of South London Storm)

South London Storm booked their place in the final of the London League with a hard fought win over the Bedford Tigers on Sunday. Storm looked strong throughout the match and took a well deserved win in the semi final to set up the biggest weekend in club history with both the first and second teams in their respective grand finals on Saturday 12^th August.

 

Storm started strongly in the first five minutes, but Bedford came back and the first 15 minutes were nip and tuck. Both sides went close but Bedford had a try disallowed after their winger knocked on over the line. Storm’s defence held strong on their line and a drop out led to a well built period of pressure from the Storm.

 

After 15 minutes a well worked try for Pete Madigan – the first of a hat trick in a great performance by the half back – gave Storm a good lift. Strong running from the forwards lead to Pete finding a gap on the left before crossing well. Chris Bevan converted. From a similar move Madigan made another break down the left, but this time managed to offload to centre Rob Michel for the first of his brace of tries, before Cormac Lomasney found his way to the line. More strong work, this time on the right, lead to a kick through from Bevan that Lomasney gathered on the line to score a converted try.

 

Storm continued to have to fight and only on the 30^th minute did they break the whitewash again with Madigan finding another massive gap down the left to score out wide, before half back partner Chris Bevan scored a try under the sticks he converted himself. Storm’s forwards were on top and making all the running giving them a platform for the skilled half back combination of Madigan and Bevan to work off. Before half time the only blemish was scored with Bedford scoring wide to make the half time score 26-4.

 

Storm came out with real meaning after the half time break, and with space becoming more apparent as the sun took its toll Madigan found more space, after strong running from Rob Manghan and Donny Varcoe, for a converted try to start the half off. Bedford found a gap to score a quick reply before Storm set up the move of the match to give the final shot to the Tigers to finish the game off. Straight from the kick off a short kick from Rich Pitchfork fell kindly for Madigan to palm back to Phil Molloy to run 40 minutes to score under the post for a converted try. Bedford at this point were beaten and Storm just had to hang on.

 

And hang on they did. Another try down the left from Rob Mitchell stretched the lead but Bedford equalled with a try before Donny Varoce finished a fine display of forward play with a sublime chip and chase to his own kick scored to the right of the posts.