Men’s 1st XV v Old Dunstonian 14/02/2009

Away – London 3 South East

Report by Andy Ward

Won 37-18

A game that never really achieved what one hoped it might. Quite possibly because of niggly and unusual refereeing; quite possibly because of changed personnel given the Cup game tomorrow, quite possibly because the opponents were wishing to play a containing game and to stop proceedings at every opportunity.

A game that was characterised by too many yellow cards – most for reasons only known to one person. Anyway, the game started some 10 minutes late because of the referee being held up – not as long as Scott was and, he blamed his Mum. Can you believe that!.OD’s got the delayed game underway and first blood was to Hove with a penalty from the boot of Sam who was to have 100% record in this game and showed ODs a lesson or two in place kicking. Well done and a deserved Man of the Match award for that alone, but then also coming up with a try.

Getting ahead of myself again. After Sam’s 6th minute strike, ODs countered with a penalty a further three minutes into the game. Play then was mainly with Hove but too often the play was stopped when an advantage should have been utilised and as soon as the whistle went, there was always someone on one knee holding an ankle or rolling around on the floor slowing the game down. Oh, and it wasn’t us. ODs briefly took the lead with a second penalty score in the 20th minute which was countered by Sam in similar fashion a mere two minutes later. As a spectacle, this half didn’t really ever get going but not for want of the Hove team trying. Finally, in the 42nd minute, Ryan Morlen broke through and the whistle was silent and raced over for a try which Sam converted to take the score to 13-6 where it remained until the referee blew for half time.

The second half started similar to the first with Hove kicking a penalty to take the score to 16-6. Within minutes, and against the run of play, ODs scored an unconverted try, but Hove soon got into their swing again with a try by Adam Phillips in typical fashion and then another by Sam Whiting after an intercept and a run almost the length of the pitch. Sam dispatched both of these and the score edged to 30-11 in favour of the visitors.

A final Hove try from Dipo – again with a long run and the expected conversion from Sam took Hove to an unassailable 37-11 before we all witnessed the strangest decision of the game and perhaps, our careers. After a couple of scrums on the Hove 5m line, where ODs were standing up, the referee gave a penalty try to OD for Hove “pushing sideways” whatever that means. So, a simple conversion and the score was at 37-18 where it remained until the final whistle when the game was put out of its misery.

The Hove players were in control for the whole game, but it was marred as a spectacle by the stop-start nature of proceedings and too many yellow cards. Had these been obvious, then it would be churlish to argue. That they weren’t just made everybody incredulous.

But well done to Hove for knuckling down and obeying the diktats of the referee without question even as they must have been raging to ask “WHY?” at several opportunities. Job done and another tick in the win box and off to Bognor tomorrow. Let’s hope that Bognor want to play rugby. A good team performance and one we can be proud of.