Oswestry 20
Market Drayton 0
OSWESTRY maintained their unbeaten season with a comfortable win at home to local rivals Market Drayton.
Market Drayton had to win to stand any chance of promotion and came up against an Oswestry side unbeaten this season and with the Midlands League Four West North title secured.
As well as league positions both teams were playing for the Ken Barton Memorial Trophy, an award in the memory of Ken Barton who died back in the early 80s playing in this fixture.
Market Drayton kicked off towards the clubhouse and from the outset the tackling was brutal with both teams putting huge hits in against each other.
Market Drayton conceded a penalty and a quick thinking Luke Beckett snatched an opportunity to run through the visitors from 10 yards out to score a try.
Action from Oswestry's win over Market Drayton. Picture by Shaun Brook.
Iwan Ellis converted as Oswestry took an early seven point lead.
From the restart Market Drayton were back in the Oswestry half and the tackling was going in thick and fast with both teams suffering injuries.
After 25 minutes Paul Jehu had to leave the pitch following a clash of heads with a nasty nose injury requiring hospital treatment.
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Oswestry kicked off the second-half and were quick to apply pressure on the visitors. The pressure paid off Market Drayton were reduced to 14 men with a player sent to the sin bin.
Oswestry elected to take the penalty and Ellis extended the lead to 10 points.
Oswestry looked a different team and were back into the Drayton half and won a line out close to the try line.
From the lone out the entire pack pushed the big Drayton men back over their own line giving the opportunity for prop forward Connor Blair to score the second Oswestry try.
Market Drayton tried to get back into the game and Oswestry were forced to defend in numbers.
There was time for another attack by Oswestry who were able to get the ball 30 yards out for Jedd Corbett to run through and score the third try.
After the match the Oswestry mayor awarded the Ken Barton trophy to Captain Gaz Ellis.
Next week Oswestry travel to Yardley.
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