Western Counties North

Berry Hill 48

Gordon League 14

BERRY Hill bounced back from last week's defeat at Old Cents with an emphatic victory over Gordon League at Lakers Road.

Back-row Shaun McRoberts starred for the Hillmen with five tries.

On a perfect day for running rugby, McRoberts soon forced his way over from a five metre scrum for the opening try of the game. Aaron Ryder, playing his first game of the season, missed the difficult conversion.

Hill's lead was short lived. From the restart, scrum-half Josh Cook, in for the injured Dave Arnott, had an attempted clearance kick charged down and the following up winger gathered the ball and touched down near the posts.

Cook soon made amends, revelling in the fast conditions with some mazy runs.

It was his break that created the opening for Lee Osborne to cross for a try near the posts, which Ryder converted.

League hit back with their second try. As the ball was moved along their back line it appeared as if it had been knocked on, but they played to the whistle, unlike some of their opponents, and made the move count.

As half-time approached McRoberts got his second try from a driven line-out.

Cook then scored a superb individual try, racing through the gap created by a superbly cleared ruck. Ryder's conversion made it 24-14 to the home side at half-time.

With the elements in their favour, Hill controlled the second half.

McRoberts secured his hat-trick with another pushover from a scrum.

The forwards dominated their League counterparts, creating two more opportunities for McRoberts to show his prowess from close range driven line-outs.

Replacement scrum-half Greg Jordan had the misfortune to find himself sin-binned before he had even touched the ball.

He had the last laugh, coming back onto the field to finish off a flowing move with a try under the posts. Ryder kicked two more conversions.

This Saturday Hill are home to Yatton (2.30pm).

Following their walkover into the last eight of the National Intermediate Cup, Hill must visit Wotton Bassett in the quarter-finals on Saturday April 2.

If there is enough demand a supporters bus will be laid on. Please contact the club for details.