Great come back from Toc to stay top of the league

Toc H 2s impressive start to the season continued with a hard-fought win over Widnes 2s on Saturday. In atrocious conditions Toc came from eight points down with 10” left to make it five wins on the bounce ahead of Saturday’s top of the table clash vs Wilmslow.

Toc started brightly but indiscipline crept in to give Widnes a foothold in the game. They didn’t need a second invite and proceeded to dominate possession and territory as the first half wore on. Toc dug in and to their credit held a big, powerful Widnes pack to a solitary penalty as half-time approached.

Before the clock hit 40” there was time for the Toc pack to put together one of their now customary driving mauls. With a lineout on halfway the Widnes pack went backwards like they were skating on ice. It was truly a sight to behold but unfortunately didn’t lead to points on the scoreboard. Widnes three to the good at the half.
Conditions worsened as the second half kicked off making handling a lot more difficult but Toc knuckled down and put their game plan together. With Seb Sheratte calling the shots at 10 the Toc pack began to get the upper hand. After a sustained period of pressure, the evergreen Mike Hyde snuck over for the first try of the game. It was Hyde’s third of the season from a combined total of two yards out. Sheratte converted to leave it finely poised (3-7) as the hour mark approached.

Widnes hit back with two tries of their own (one converted), giving them a 15-7leadwith 10” to play. Lesser teams would have folded but this Toc team has made a habit of overturning similar deficits this season so didn’t panic.

Toc worked their way down the field and won a penalty courtesy of an outstanding turnover by Fenton Martinez which Sheratte knocked over (15-10). Both sides sensed the game was theirs for the taking and it required a moment of class to tilt it in the visitors’ favour.

Powerful carries by Charlie Bunn, Mark Harrison and Ben Manley gave Toc good field position just inside the Widnes half and when they decided to switch play down the blindside Vinny showed some deft hands to put Jack Powell away down the right wing. With work still to do Jack finished with aplomb, adding to his equally important brace against the Gentlemen of Moore at the beginning of October. 15 apiece with 75” gone.

With the clock ticking down Didsbury continued to hammer away, eventually winning a kickable penalty to the right of the Widnes posts about 25 yards out. Seabass held his nerve to put Toc up by three with 4” to play. Cool heads were required to see the game out and the Didsbury pack duly obliged, winning a scrum which was to be the last play of the game. Manley picked at the base and sent the ball onto the adjacent railway tracks to give Toc the win.

This was a mightily impressive victory for the 2s in trying conditions. There were worthwhile contributions from 1-17 highlighting the strength in depth the club is building this season. It’s now seven wins in eight to leave the 2son 36 points. Saturday sees us travel to Wilmslow for a top of the table clash which doubles as a cup game.