March Bears prove too ruthless for Cambridge in opening game of 2024
March Bears 95 Cambridge III 0
March Bears totted up their highest game points tally of the season with a superb display of clinical and ruthless finishing in their opening game of 2024.
Billy Robinson and Bryn Pughsley both claimed a hat-trick of tries and, with a total now of more than 500 points so far this season, this win takes them 17 points clear at the top of the table.
The game was effectively tied up within 13 minutes after March Bears ran in four tries, three of which were converted to make it 26-0.
The first after two minutes was a crisp handling move along the backs with Sam Howat going over for a try near the corner.
Two minutes later Callum Campbell carved his way through for another try which Howat converted.
Three minutes after that saw Will Paul slip through followed by an exquisite dummy then a final flourish of a pass to Harvey Davies and Howat put the conversion over.
It was then the turn of Robinson to brush tackles aside to go over and this was again converted by Howat.
After a short lull for the next 15 minutes March then carried on with another Robinson power try, yet again converted by Howat.
Ten minutes later March carried out a superb turnover move in the forwards which saw Pughsley go over for his first try and Howart kicked the extras to give March a 40-0 interval lead.
The first try of the second half was by Billy Dean, who was on the end of a repeat move as per the first try of the game, and Howart kicked the extras.
Straight from the kick-off, a short passing move saw Howat this time go over for his second try which he also converted.
By this time only 47 minutes had passed in the game and the score was already 54-0 in March's favour.
The next score was a very impressive individual run by the provider-in-chief Will Paul followed by Howat’s conversion.
Three minutes after this try, Robinson completed his first treble for the club powering over under the sticks for a converted try.
This was followed by two tries by Pughsley within four minutes as he became the second player to claim a hat-trick in the game.
Neither of these tries were converted and suddenly Sam Howat’s kicking boots had deserted him, but with the score at 78-0 it was hardly crucial.
With 10 minutes left, Will Paul provided Callum Campbell with a great slip pass and, five minutes later, Dean took advantage of some good recycled ball to run in his second try.
Finally, Jack Linard scored his first try for the club when he crashed through several tackles to go under the posts and then followed that up with his first-ever conversion.
