The 6 try bonus point win secured the necessary points to guarantee that Aston cannot be overtaken, and sees them promoted as Champions of Midlands Counties 2 West (East) with 2 league games left to play.

Having lost by a single point (18-17) to Southam earlier in the season, Aston knew that they had to be at their best, and were fortunate to be able to select from almost a full strength squad. The conditions were perfect for a running game of rugby, and both sides attempted to do so and delivered.

Despite the scoreline, Aston were pushed hard at times by the visiting side, and only determined defence prevented Southam from scoring, whilst some superb individual skills and team work ensured that Aston kept the scoreboard ticking over regularly.

Unusually, Aston started the stronger and the first score came after 10 minutes when a series of forward drives close to the line sucked in defenders, and the ball was moved smartly along the backline where Harry Pickard made a fine incursion from full-back and ran through to score close to the posts, giving Richard Squires a straightforward conversion.

The visitors line-out was working well for them providing plenty of clean ball, whilst Aston’s scrum had a slight advantage. In the loose Aston began to concede penalties as they came under pressure, and one kick at goal from 45 yards by Southam drifted wide before Aston extended their lead.

Aston moved the ball left and right along the backs, and generated space for Prince on the left wing, but as he was in the act of scoring, he was high tackled and a penalty try was awarded to move the score to 14-0 after 30 minutes.

3 minutes later, Southam were denied a try of their own, when having driven over from a 5 yard line out, the referee appeared to be the only person who failed to see the grounding. Southam continued to pile on the pressure, and captain Ethan Channer was yellow carded after a series of penalties were conceded. Southam declined to kick for goal and attempted to find a way over the try-line, but resolute defence from Aston held then out on multiple occasions.

Despite being down to 14 men, Aston responded and after some well orchestrated forward moves Jake Connolly popped up in the open, to cut inside a defender and go over from 15 yards out. The touchline conversion was missed, but at 19-0 up, Aston could sense that the bonus point victory was not far away.

Almost immediately after Ethan Channer’s return to action, Aston were again reduced to 14, when another yellow card was shown to Ash Rana for offside – but at the next scrum Aston’s depleted set-piece shoved Southam off the ball.

Aston still had some defending to do, and only some superb cover tackling by Ewen Tweedie, Marcus Taylor and Harry Pickard prevented the visitors from scoring in the corner before half-time.

The second period saw Richard Squires kick an early penalty from 30 yards to extend the lead to 22-0, before the 4th try came. Some excellent inter-passing, support running and decision making involving Ray Brown, Richard Squires, and Tom Dartnell, saw Marcus Taylor receive the final pass to score between the posts. Richard Squires added the simple kick.

Harry Pickard was involved in the next try too, when he made a sharp break from his own half, and chipped over the advancing full-back. Unfortunately for him the bounce of the ball took it away from him, but the ever alert Prince was on hand to gather and glide over between the posts, to give Richard Squires another simple 2 points.

Almost immediately from the restart, Prince picked up his second try of the afternoon, running in fluently from 60 yards after some neat hands in the backs had created space. Again, Richard Squires added the conversion, and the score increased to 43-0.

With the game well won, despite Southam’s gallant efforts, there was still time for the crowd to be entertained by prop forward Jack Perry’s 40 yard break down the middle of the pitch, including side-steps, dummy passes and body swerves, which should have generated another try, but a forward pass later in the move with the line at Prince’s mercy denied him his hat-trick.

The final action saw yet another yellow card for Aston, this time for George Roberts but yet again with a man down, and under pressure, Aston’s resolve to keep the try line intact was impressive.

Marcus Taylor and Ewen Tweedie were named as Forward and Back of the Match respectively.

Congratulations to everyone involved in the double championship win – the extended 1st XV squad, the 2nd players who have put pressure on those in their position in the 1st XV, those ‘veterans’ who have helped out when the squad was depleted, the coaching staff of Blake Bennett, John Munro and Anthony Edge, our physio Liv Platt who has worked tirelessly to get players back into action as soon as possible after injury, our other paramedics who have filled in when necessary, to the spectators who have supported home and way, and to everyone else involved in running the club.

Particular congratulations should go to captain Ethan Channer and vice-captain Lea Ross for their outstanding leadership throughout the season both on and off the field.