Saturday 10^th December 2011

Canterbury Shield Division 3

Old Reigatians 15 Hammers 17

The boys dodged a bullet. In fact, they dodged a full magazine of them, Matrix-esque, barely snaking a try in the final minutes of the game to taken the score out to 17-15 against 3rd place Old Reigations. Their temples grazed, the Hammersmith & Fulham 2nd XV left the field proud to have finished the calendar year undefeated and top of the table, but chastised with just how close they had come to losing not only the game, but also their position at the top of the league.

It hadn’t started ideally, the boys hampered by a short preparation and the usual mix of team changes that saw them take to the field a disrupted outfit. Nevertheless, they were confident that despite these issues, and the cold and muddy conditions which did not lend themselves to the usual blend of running Rugby so favoured by the red-and-blue, they would walk away with another win and finish the year unsullied.

Old Reigations didn’t read the script . From the outset they wanted it more, much more, and in almost every aspect of the game they were hungrier. Their tackles were lower, their forwards more purposeful, their clearouts more effective, and their passes shaper. The Hammers by contrast, were lethargic and loose, with a still-sick but brave Andrew Lynch (12) - who the night before, had praying at the porcelain altar thanks to a bad prawn salad – unable to bang it up the middle effectively. Hampered by that lack of centre-field go forward, the Hammers chose to swing the ball wide, only to find their outside backs closed down by a pressing Reigation defence. Passes become forced, balls went to ground, and opportunities missed. It was a only matter of time before a Reigate try was run-in, their winger streaking down the sideline with purpose and crossing near the corner flag to open the account 5-0.

That woke the forwards up a little but not enough. Good busting runs by and Alex Dudley (4) and Charlie Baillie (8), were wasted as Reigate’s lose forwards pilfered the ball or counter-rucked, spoiling the Hammers momentum and not giving Haddow (9) quick ball. Strong counter-runs by a vocal TVF (13) and a piercing run by Tom Jacobs (15) - who fell agonisingly short of the try-line on at least two occasions - were wasted when supporting players did not secure the Hammers ball. Heartened by these failures, Reigate crossed again when a Hammers scrum went backwards inside their own 22. Matters become more serious when Adam Cryar (14) fell to an unseen sniper and limped off the field. Despite the mouthy Ali Lines taking his place, the half still saw the boys down 10-0.

A stern talking to by Super Coach Neale (Kiwi) did not arrest the slide. A misfiring Hammers line out was severely tested on numerous occasions, and so it was when an accurate Regiate kick to the corner saw them lose the line-out and Reigate drive the ball over from 5 meters out. Now down 15-0, and with only 25 minutes to go, the game looked to be well-and-truly slipping away. Proportionate to this tally, the Reigate chat also increased, sticking the knife in further. The game looked lost.

It wasn’t. After witnessing the display on the sidelines, an agitated Simon Cross (7, replacement) and Paul Arthurs (5, replacement) were put into the game. Moving the direct running Rory Rigney (7) to 12 to replace the brave but wearied Lynch, the backs suddenly were on the front foot, with Cross and Arthurs linking with Captain Ade Furniss (1) to put some lead in the Hammers pencil. A great period of play followed, numerous hit ups and violent clear outs finally giving Haddow the right kind of ball which he could feed to Winter (10). The Hammers finally broke through when Captain Furniss raced through which an incredible burst of front row speed on the blind. Hands followed, before the hard work of Charlie Baille paid off and he crossed the chalk. 15-5.

There was hope. Back and forth the boys went, probing for weaknesses. Morris (2), Pettitt (6) and Leon (14) and all injected themselves. So strong was the will-to-win a cheeky Reigate intercept runner was run down from across the field by TVF and stopped with him with meters to spare. Adding cream to this cake was the subsequent sin-bin, which saw the whiter-than-white TVF confused with a very ebony and incredulous Mr Beautiful, Leon Joseph who was given his marching orders! Minutes later, a thundering Arthurs trucked it up the middle with Cross up his backside, getting over the advantage line and giving Haddow the quickest of quick ball. To Winter, to Rory, to TVF, to Lines…..try! 10-15. Five give minutes to go.

Play slowed, with a desperate Reigate trying to hang on. Pick-and-drive, pick-and-drive they went, before the Reigate 10 tried to kick for the corner. Miss-kicked, it found the waiting hands of Jacobs on the 10 meter line, who counter-ran on the open side brilliantly. His pass found Rory, who found the waiting hands of TVF…..who ran 40 meters and scored under the post! Converted by Winter – Win! 17-15.

It was a thriller that never should’ve happened, but it was well earned. Man-of-the-Match Dudley earned his pint, his positive attitude when all was dark rewarded, as was Cross, whose injection along with Arthurs turned the attitude of the boys on the field around, and should remind all just what a long hill to climb awaits us in the months ahead.