Old Mid-Whitgiftians 23 Tonbridge Juddians 12
Report from Geoff Pettitt
This was a bottom of the table clash from which the winner would benefit from the proverbial "four-pointer". The first match between the two clubs back in October had been a pretty turgid affair with both sides lacking class and inspiration and it had ended in an all-penalty 3 - 6 win for the Surrey side. TJs should at least have drawn that match and with that thought in mind hopes were reasonably high last Saturday that they could secure a much-needed win.
TJs played the first half into the wind and the sun. The start was lively from both sides with OMWs showing that they could and would throw the ball about and they also seemed to be better organised than did TJs.
It was clear from early in the match that TJs were going to struggle to get their hands on the ball and it was therefore essential that when they did they should hang onto it. Far too often they failed to do this. Time and again they kicked away their hard-won ball and allowed OMWs to run the ball back at them.
The game was fast, scrappy and a little frantic on both sides and it swung from end to end. TJ's scrum half Piacevsky made a good break for the line following a line-out but was hauled down five metres out. At the other end OMW's left wing evaded a tackle and crossed the line but had put a foot in touch.
It was thirty minutes into the game before the first score came. TJs were penalised for offside at the ruck and OMW's fly-half kicked the goal that gave the home side a three nil lead.
Ten minutes later TJs put together a good three-quarter move from just inside OMW's half. Wesley made a half-break and found debutant wing-forward Ward on hand to take his pass. He made ground and in turn passed outside to the diminutive Piacesvsky who dived over in the corner. The conversion attempt by Smyth did not quite cope with the strong cross-wind but this score had put TJs in front.
The first half concluded with an attack by OMWs which nearly produced what would have been a lucky try. A speculative kick-ahead bounced wickedly away from TJ’s full-back Mitchell and it was only the speed and quick-thinking of new boy James Farmer that enabled him to reach the ball before the following-up player and then to clear to touch. Half-time came then with TJs holding a slender 3 - 5 lead, relieved that the final OMW assault had been resisted.
Soon after the start of the second half TJs just failed with a penalty kick at goal. OMWs responded positively to this let-off. TJs, once again, kicked away possession and allowed the home team the space to run the ball back. Their inter-passing was sound and it culminated in OMW's hooker crossing for a try half-way out on the right. It was converted by the fly-half.
TJs were under steady pressure in the scrum and they were far from secure at the line-out and they struggled to win good, clean ball. At the same time OMWs became more confident as a result of their try and they followed it up ten minutes later by scoring again also by their hooker and pretty much in the same position - about half-way out on the right. This time however the conversion attempt failed but OMWS had established a promising lead at 15 - 5.
Things now looked more than a little bleak for TJs and it was to their credit that they bounced back almost immediately. Kirkpatrick won a clean catch at the line-out and with some crisp passing the ball reached Ravilious who burst through the first tackle and found fellow-centre Wesley outside him to receive the pass. He jinked and twisted his way over the line and under the posts. Smyth converted and TJs were now back in the match at 15 - 12 down.
Hopes of a win for TJs were dashed when they were penalised rather dubiously for deliberately turning the scrum. The penalty straight in front of their posts was kicked and took the score to 18 – 12. This meant that TJs had to score a goal to win the match. But it was not to be and two minutes later the final blow fell. TJs were rucked off the ball - not for the first time - and OMWs, capitalising on the unexpected turn-over, broke down the right hand side. Their centre three-quarter took the final pass and crossed to touch down in the corner. There was no conversion so that the score at the end of the match was 23 - 12 - a deserved win for OMWs.
In many ways this did not look like a bottom of the table clash. It was certainly of better quality that the October encounter between the two teams. Play was lively and fast and the tackling was fierce. OMWs particularly showed some good, classy touches in attack. They were determined and well-drilled at the ruck and their scrum and line-out were both sound. They were also deft with their off-loads out of the tackle.
TJs lacked a certain solidity in the tight phases. They struggled to produce good, quick clean ball at the scrum which allowed OMW's defence ample time to organise itself. They also kicked ahead far too often - a sign perhaps that they lacked the self-confidence to run at their opposite number. As a consequence, what was probably the fastest set of three-quarters TJs could field, did not see enough of the ball and had little opportunity or space to show their undoubted paces. Carroll, Wagstaff and Carlton in the pack had good all-round games and Wesley tackled well in the centre.
Tonbridge Juddians 1st XV: Mitchell; Jonny Farmer, Ravilious (Pemble 75), Wesley, James Farmer; Smyth, Piacevsky; Stevenson (Ure 45), Wallace (Stoor 40), Underhill, Fitzpatrick, Carlton, Wagstaff, Ward, Carroll.
Next week, TJs will try to re-arrange and play their postponed match against Aylesford at The Slade, kick-off 2.30 pm.
