Men’s 1st XV v Bromley 24/10/2009

Away – London 2 South East

Report by Andy Ward

Won 23-19

Upon arriving at the ground after sausage and mash at the George up the road from the ground we were greeted by the news that Liam had an accident in training and needed hospital treatment for a cut. So, Jack was on and the question has to be asked – “Was that a 80 minute Blood Injury or just a substitution?”. One for the law books – if you’re interested.

Hove took to the field playing up the hill and against the wind but fortunately – certainly for the spectators – the rain had stopped but the wind was swirling and strong so kicking was going to be a test for us in the first half.

The referee was patrolling the offside line like a man possessed – well, one of the offside lines at least and Hove were penalised 5 or 6 times in the first 10 minutes with three of these being kickable attempts and the Bromley 9 popped all three over with consummate ease.

It was always likely that we would be under the cosh in the first period as playing up the hill and against the elements gives on side an advantage. The idea is to limit damage in the first half and then use the advantage to better effect in the second. Good plan – but it does rely on you limiting the damage. Being 9 points down in 15 minutes wasn’t quite according to the plan as written in my book!

Hove had a chance to pull something back on the 20th minute but sadly Ben couldn’t get the better of the wind and the ball swirled just wide of the upright. Another four minutes and Hove were looking ominously inn trouble. Bromley scored a try and skipper Glen Rankin had to leave the field and Dave Wattam joined the fray and took over as Captain. So, now two of the first choice were off the pitch and, of course, we were another 5 first choice missing for one reason or another.But this is the way the game goes. You can’t have everyone available for every game (pity – but there you are) and other Clubs have to deal with the same issues so generally it should equalise over a season.

Back to the game and possibly the substitution put the Bromley 9 off his kick and the try went unconverted. So, 14-0 to the bad and things were not looking as good as they might have done. Within two minutes, Hove were granted a second penalty within distance and this time whatever set square Ben used to calculate wind allowance seemed to work and the ball sailed true to grant Hove their virgin points of the game.

Bromley, then unwittingly came to Hove’s assistance when Hove stupidly gave away two more penalties in succession for holding on – although the ref was a bit eager with the whistle on these infringements. Both kicks were missed by the Bromley 9 and the scored remained at 14-3 when it could so easily be at 20-3.

Half time was signalled by the shrill whistle of the referee and two huddles formed with a due distance between them so that the coaches could chat to their team. No doubt one with a degree of chiding to do and his team were wearing mainly blue!

Half time over and Hove took to the pitch facing down the slope and with the wind behind them. In addition, the sun had burst through the clouds for the last 5 minutes of the first half and was now shining brightly into the Bromley defensive eyes. The sage like advice from the touchline was “we need to boot the ball into death corner (the one that sloped away) and then chase the bugger and we’ll be scoring freely.

Either the message couldn’t get through, was ignored, or chances did not present themselves, but the ball never got to the danger zone until the end of the half and game – but more about that later.

Two minutes after Benny the Bolt had kicked the ball to start the half, Scotty made a good break and dodged his way through the flailing arms of a wrong footed Bromley defence and scored just by the posts. Ben’s boot did the rest and now Hove were looking good at 14-10 down and the plan (remember that – damage limitation, then go for gold) looked good.But, all good plans can come unstuck and sadly, this one did too. Within five minutes of Scotty diving over the Bromley line, Bromley were diving over the Hove line in the corner. Debutante Tom Harvey-Brown got sucked into a tackle that had been covered and the ball was slipped to the overlapping man and the try was certain. I’m sure he was gutted – but don’t worry Tom, you’ll get over it and be back. Quite possibly a very difficult game to make your debut in but these things happen and it is the measure of a player how he reacts to things. Just get back up, brush yourself down and get on with it.Fortunately, the distance and the wind combined to deny Bromley the extra two points on offer and so the score stayed at 19 to Bromley with 10 to Hove. Almost immediately Hove had a penalty from the kick off and Ben slotted this over to add three points to Hove’s score and to take them within 6 of the Bromley total. As I’m sure all you game connoisseurs and mathematicians will have worked out a converted try to Hove would see them edge in front and with 25 minutes of normal time to go – that should be on the cards.

But the minutes slipped by with Bromley attacking Hove’s line and Hove repelling. Several potential counter attacks came to nought as wrong decisions were made and the ball was chipped forward instead of hoofing the bugger into the far corner. As such, when Bromley caught it they only had to run 5 metres (instead of 80) to set up their next attack.

But the Hove defence stayed true and coming into the last 5 minutes of normal time, the prayers of the spectators were answered as Ben unleashed a huge great welly into death corner. The ball did its bit and bounced and bobbled and evaded the Bromley full back and then went into touch about three metres from the line.

A Hove throw and the maul was set up again and advance to the Bromley line. Out it came and down the Hove line to Ryan who smashed his way through and scored Hove’s second try of the game under the posts. Ben now had to remain calm and get the kick to take Hove into the lead. Square conkers time and you could have trapped a £10 not up the collective Hove arses as Ben addressed the ball. Thwack and over it went. Jubilation knew no bounds as the Hove supporters roared with delight and a good dose of relief.

Bromley took their kick off and – no doubt invigorated by the recent success – the ball was whumped once more into death corner and a similar move was re-enacted. The ball was again caught by Jamie Waller – who hadn’t missed a thing all game and was immense for Hove – and again the ball was worked out. Bromley then infringed and skipper Watty enquired of the remaining time to the ref. After hearing just enough for the kick then the ball was passed to Ben for the shot at goal and over it went for a further three points and the game was over.

So, not pretty, not good, but its two points away from home again. And after two away games on the bounce we can be justifiably pleased of the results and of the position in the league.To suffer the loss of Liam at the start and the missing men and then to turn it round as we did is excellent. Performances – well, old father Matt showed he can still hack it and he played well in the second row. I thought Scott had a decent game and was getting into the tackle situation better. Ryan, whilst not getting a lot of the ball was using it better and getting it moving.

The two flankers played well and were getting their men down to the ground and the scrum in general was paying dividends. But it was the line where Hove dominated throughout the game. If we lost one of ours – I can’t remember it and we stole most of Bromley’s. Why – mainly because of Jamie Waller who was certainly my man of the match and who had an excellent game.

Next week the Cup beckons and we entertain Guildford and Godalming at home before attention turns back to the serious matte of 2SE and on the 7th November we entertain current league leaders Tonbridge Juddians who still have a 100% record after smashing past PJF by 45-3 in Tonbridge yesterday. Reigatians overcame Warlingham by 10-8 and Lewes maintained their good run beating Deal & Betteshanger by 3-0 (epic game?).

So, the table says that TJ are top with 12 points, Hove second with 11 and Lewes third on 10. A three point gap then to the chasing pack of Warlingham, Reigatian and KCS all on 7 completes the top half of the table.

There will be lunches before both the Cup game and the TJ game. I understand the Cup game lunch will be less formal and only a fiver – so everyone come on down, have some tucker, wash it down with some foaming and get your throat ready to cheer the team on. Then – come back the week later and really go for it. We need a huge home support roaring the whole game through on the 7th and I urge you all to get it into your diaries now.

If we all turn up and get behind the team it will be like a 16th or 17th man playing and we can upset the form book (and the accountant’s ledger) and show them how Hove play rugby. Let’s see the team take that number one spot. Be there – or you may live to wish you had been.