Cents Sign McCully 13.04.08
Cents Tame Bulldogs 13.04.08
Pre Season Friendly
St Albans Centurions 42 -v- 16 Hainault Bulldogs
St. Albans Centurions proved too strong for Hainault Bulldogs with a second half blitz that saw them finish as comfortable winners after a closely contested first half.
In the final friendly game before the season starts on April 26th, coach Shane Rampling fielded a squad of twenty players and was able to have a good look at some of the youngsters who are forcing their way into the senior side as well as other players who have returned to the club. Sunday’s line-up included Dan Hensby, back on the wing after active service with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan.
The Centurions were never behind in a game they steadily controlled until finally overpowering their Essex opponents. Adam Cox opened the scoring after only five minutes with a well worked try after Hainault had conceded a series of penalties. Pete Chapman added the goal from in front of the sticks. Hainault briefly threatened the St. Albans defence but twice lost the ball near the line and on 25 minutes the Cents stretched their lead to 10 - 0 when Chris True touched down in the right hand corner, as the ball came from the scrum and was moved swiftly along the line by Richard Smith and Shane Rampling.
The next period of the game belonged to Hainault Bulldogs as they levelled the score with two tries, one a fine length of the field affair and the other coming after the Cents were twice penalised as Kristian Warner questioned the referee’s unusual interpretation of the offside rule. Just before half time Richard Smith grabbed an opportunist try, going over from a quick play the ball after a penalty.
The second half started very well for St. Albans when, after good work by James Sach and Pete Chapman, Dave Hancock scored in the left corner. But immediately the Bulldogs hit back with a converted try under the posts. That, however, was the extent of their resistance and for the rest of the match it was one-way traffic as the Centurions ran in five more unanswered tries.
First Kristian Warner grabbed an excellent individual try, jinking through the Hainault defence after good work from Nick Surtees. Then Dan Hensby marked his return with one down the left flank, followed by another from Miles Dempsey. Unfortunately, the Cents were unable to convert any of them. The absence of a reliable goalkicker will no doubt be worrying Coach Rampling.
But the Centurions were now in complete control, perhaps demonstrated by the next score, an extraordinary solo effort from prop forward Lewis Padmore, who went fully sixty metres, evading four or five tackles and, finding no-one to whom he could offload, simply went on his own. It was a brilliant four points from smooth operator Padmore. Dave Hancock added the goal.
The last try of the match and the second for Chris True came after another burst from Padmore, good yards from Rampling and another barnstorming run from Miles Dempsey.
It was a very satisfactory afternoon for the Centurions.
Team: Hancock (try; goal); True (2 tries); Cornthwaite; M. Dempsey (try); Hensby (try); Rampling; K. Warner (try); Barnes; Cox (try); Surtees; P.Chapman (2 goals); Padmore (try); Rayner; Weldon; Sach; M. Chapman; Smith (try); R. Dempsey; Maloney; N. Fountain.
Lewis Padmore at the start of his 60 yard try scoring run
St. Albans Centurions today confirmed that they have signed Australian prop forward, Al McCully, for the forthcoming Southern Premier League season.
Al, pictured here with his partner Beck Greenaway at the club’s Colney Heath ground, arrived in England on Friday. McCully, who has played for junior club, Cardiff Cougars as well as the prestigious Wests Newcastle in Australia is a quantity surveyor. He has a two-year contract with a company based in London Colney and will be playing for the Centurions whilst he is over here. This is Al and Beck’s first time in Europe and already our weather is proving to be something of a shock to them.
“It’s great to be here in St. Albans,” said 24-year-old Al. “We really like it. But it is bloody cold.”
The Centurions are delighted to welcome Al and Beck to the club.
