Lightwater 3 - 8 Wandsworthians (21/02/2009)
With a number of our first team unavailable this could have been a match that went either way. It didn’t and we won. I’d gladly have the determination shown by the boys that stepped up for the badge this weekend, every weekend.
The game was by no means a showpiece event, but when rugby was played well it was played by us. We were on them from the off with good running leading to territorial advantage. For the first twenty minutes we pressured them and had our attacks turned away by their good defence or stopped by our own mistakes. After a third penalty for uncontrolled rucking, we took the three points through Rob Tindall who had an excellent game with the boot. The game continued along a pattern in which we had most possession with good breaks through the backs and good forward support ensuring territory. Lightwater pounced on some of our mistakes and turnovers and we were forced to make defensive tackles in the backs, particularly through Darren Baker and Paddy.
They then gained some ground in the last five of the first half and were able to convert this to make it 3 – 3 at half time. We were frustrated but sure of our ability to come back at them.
In the second half we were on the back foot for the first five – ten. We then made ground through the boot and good follow up gave us field position. Our try came through some good backs play where we managed to punch up and through their defence. Richard Pennington latched on to good forward support and made a 20 yard break through their defence. Quick clearing out enabled us to keep the momentum and we went over for a try through the back row to make it 3 – 8 to us.
The rest of the game was somewhat frustrating. We stemmed a brief tide of their attacks and were unable to convert the possession we had. We were stopped short on a couple of occasions, and ruled in touch for a disallowed try. However, the final score saw us get the win and that is what mattered on the day.
Match Verdict: Well done all for stepping up, working hard and getting the W. Let us capitalise on this.
(Match report by Ash Ali, 1st XV Captain)
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