Searle helps Totts soar (From Daily Echo)

Searle helps Totts soar

8:00am Tuesday 15th December 2009 in Sport By Clive Downton

Tottonians reclaimed their place at the top of London 2 South West with an uncompromising victory over bottom-of-the-table Winchester. Robbie Searle ruled the roost, contributing a personal match tally of 21 points in the 41-8 mauling.

For 26 minutes the home side severely tested Tottonians – the visitors conceding a succession of penalties for minor infringements with Simon Rogers helping himself to three points from one of them.

Tottonian’s full-back Robbie Searle then burst over the line and kicked the conversion which marked a turning point in the game.

By half-time fit-again Dan Stocks had put Totts 12-3 ahead.

A well-drilled and physically superior Tottonians XV showed they also had staying power as they added a further 29 points to their score in a one-sided second half.

Searle nailed a penalty before Adam Slaughter grounded his side’s third try. The ubiquitous Searle then scored unopposed under the posts, his conversion a formality.

A Winchester revival saw prop Stuart Moreton claim his club’s only try when a goal-line clearance was charged down. The unconverted score was sandwiched between two further Tottonians goals, the first a breakaway move run in by Nick Jones, the second grounded by Joe Jarvis and both converted by Robbie Searle.

The final quarter of the game descended into a fractious affair and Tott’s second row forward Mike Green was red-carded after being deemed to have thrown a punch.

Totts coach Gavin Williams said: “The defence was excellent and we took our chances well. Had we not lost Mike Green on the 70th minute to a bizarre sending off I am sure the winning margin would have been greater.”

Full Rugby round-up in today's Southern Daily Echo.