Men’s 1st XV v Warlingham 26/09/2009

Away – London 2 South East

Report by Andy Ward

Drawn 10-10

Returning a day early from my sojourn to the Balearics major island, I found myself the elected driver for the trip up to Warlingham. Inviting a series of jokes about the Englishman, Irishman and the Scotsman – Irish Billy was the restaurant picker and Mad Jock Jamie was the official interpreter for the posse!

So, the merry gang set off half an hour late mainly because of Jamie’s need to kiss ass and his pro bono travails at PCC. The fleet chariot of Mr Ward soon settled to the task of getting us to the pub in Warlingham Green by as near to 2-o-clock as we could manage and after some swearing at the Sat Nav that still reckoned it was in Majorca, we scooted past the Anne Summers HQ (see last years Beccehamians’ report for more info!) and settled down to a gut busting value for money meal of gammon steak, chips, peas, tomato and double eggs for a mere £3.50 washed down with a pint of Carling for a further £2.50. Top of the class for bargain hunter Billy!

With five minutes to KO, we set off again and were at the ground in minutes only to find an Executive parking spot that was just the ticket. Out with notebook and on with sunglasses and we were set to see Warlingham start the game with the traditional kick off into the waiting Hove arms.

A period of good pressure from both sides emerged with Warlingham possibly having the better of the early exchanges. My notes say “picky penalties” and both sides had a high penalty count which is something the individual coaches will no doubt wish to address when their charges report back for training during the week.

Early good forays deep into Warlingham territory by both Hove wings no doubt caused an involuntary sphincter tightening to the assembled Warlingham throng, but alas and alack both surges were thwarted by a good defence. Hove have had personnel additions but so it would seem have Warlingham and not only did they have a big pack they also had a damn big centre.

Hove continued to make Warlingham’s job easier for them by giving away too many penalties unnecessarily. Possibly the referee was too picky – but hey – read the game guys and adapt.

In the 25th minute a kick by Warlingham split the Hove wing and full back and a degree of hesitancy was detected as perhaps both were leaving it for the other to deal. Nonetheless, between them they allowed the ball to bounce and it bounced awkwardly and Ben and Seb were left flailing in vain – grasping at the elusive butterfly of a ball amongst the undulations of the Warlingham pitch. The Warlingham back then ran through and scooped the ball and a last minute tackle by Tom Le Mehaute was just not enough to prevent controlled contact with the ground and so five points were awarded to the home side.

Fortunately for Hove, the Warlingham kicker had left his boots at home and made a complete balls up of the kick and so it remained with Hove just five points adrift of the only team that did the double over them last year. This Indian sign continued in the final at the Bournemouth Sevens when a Warlingham team beat a Hove team in one of the lower competitions and so it was high time that Hove started to put their game together.

Two minutes later, Hove were awarded a penalty and the nod was given to Ben to test out his boot and kick for goal. Agonisingly, the ball bounced off the upright and no-one from Hove had followed the ball and so it fell to Warlingham to clear the danger. But, the clearance wasn’t impressive and the ball was picked up by Tom Le Mehaute who ran forward and cut in charging towards the line. Tom was stopped but slipped the ball out to Liam who scampered over for the try and then received the illegal and unnecessary attentions of the Warlingham 8 in an unimpressive fit of pique. These people need to learn to accept the fact that they have just been beaten fair and square and not dish out these underhand little digs in a vain attempt to assuage their own inadequacies. If he was my player he’d be in the office to explain himself. I do hope Warlingham offer him that opportunity.

This time, Ben came good with the boot and Hove were in the lead at 7-5 but this was to remain for a few seconds only as we went to sleep after the kick off and allowed Warlingham to respond. The big Warlingham 12 was the player who scored in the far corner but good work had been done prior to this to get the ball out to him and Hove’s defence it has to be said were a little static at this point and there were far too many missed tackles. Again though, Hove were slightly let off the hook and the conversion attempt was badly missed.

This turned out to be Warlingham’s last points of the game and the second half only saw the single penalty for Hove to increase the score. But, I get ahead of myself and I must mention the last moments of the first half when Tom Le Mehaute cunningly stopped the ball with his gonads and then proceeded to perform some form of tribal dance which involved bending his knees, clutching his nether regions and hobbling around for a few minutes. As this distraction was amusing the crowd, Warlingham were awarded a further penalty which their kicker managed to miss as well. I rather expect he has some explaining to do to his coaches!

The second half kicked off at 15:51 according to my chronometer and we welcomed Adam Phillips to the action for the first time this season after Scott was replaced during the interval. After 11 minutes Adam tested his boot with a drop goal attempt but this was sliced and didn’t threaten the scorer’s ability. Warlingham then threatened the Hove line and the referee adjudged that Liam had killed the ball and so he was given an extra 10 minutes R&R and navel contemplation whilst he could ponder precisely how his contribution to the team effort was improved during this period!

Possibly as a consequence but certainly as a temporally sequential occurrence, Mark replaced Nick in the pack. Warlingham were then given another chance to score but their kicker failed again with his attempt. Ben then kicked off for Hove – but the ball didn’t travel 10 and so proceedings were brought back to the centre spot for an 8 versus 7 scrum now that Liam was idling behind the posts. Seems the kicking malaise was spreading!

Ben made up for this somewhat with an excellent chip ahead and chase but just couldn’t pick up the troublesome ball and a knock on occurred. By this time, the Hove pack were up to full strength again with Liam having been invited back to the party following his fall from grace! After some shenanigans on behalf of the Warlingham pack, Hove were awarded a penalty and Ben stepped up and slotted the ball over to take the score to level terms at 10 each.

Hove continued to press for a further score and were offered a potential match winner in the 41st minute of the second half but sadly the ball just shaved the wrong side of the posts. That proved to be the last meaningful contribution to the game and shortly afterwards the referee brought the game to a close with the score stuck at 10-10. Was this portentous given the reprise of the Sevenoaks away game last year? Hopefully not as that game Hove led 10-0 at one point and in this game we fought back from behind to get level.

A point earned then, but you just had the sneaking feeling that we could have walked away with both points and edged up the table one position. But it was not to be.

Next week at present is a free week although there may be a cup game – watch for news.

Man of the Match, well, Liam was a contender but no-one who spends 12.5% of the game watching from the sidelines will ever receive that award! Good performances – the front five were awesome in the scrum and the line and we were winning ball that would have been beyond us a short while ago. The back row didn’t have any contenders for me and the 8-9-10 didn’t seem to work as well as it could have. The two wings did well when they had the ball – which wasn’t as much as either they or I would have liked.

Ben seemed subdued and Scott went off so, you should have figured it out by now that Ryan gets my vote for strong, direct running and always being ready to take the ball and start things moving.

Roger Finlason Reports: Hove kicked off and the first twenty minutes saw Hove putting pressure on W. This was made possible by a series of kicks by W straight to the Hove Full Back Ben Coulson who returned with much advantage down the slight hill of the pitch. Other returns by Warlingham were kindly sent straight to the wings Tom Le Mehaute and Seb Eubank who ran in their returns with dividends. There were several penalties in the first quarter of the game but it wasn’t until around 15 minutes that Warlinhgam got into the Hove half.

Unfortunately for Hove there were several turnovers in W’s favour. At 26 mins against the run of play but with missed tackles from Hove, W scored a try. This was not converted. Whilst Hove had had much possession the W defence were well up on H’s backs preventing the ball getting to the wings. Although this happened throughout the game there seemed little conscious effort to vary the form of attack. Pressure from Hove scrums kept Warlingham on the back foot and W were caught offside.

Ben C took the Penalty which hit the posts. On the half hour some good interplay from Hove forwards, backs and then back to 2nd row forward Liam – resulted in his scoring a fine try just to the right of the posts. Ben scored the conversion – 5 – 7 the score. Warlingham restarted and as if in complacent shock Hove were sucked into the W forwards who spun the ball out down the line for a try by their 12 Score 10 7.

Fortunately the conversion failed. Hove restarted but the ball didn’t go 10 but the W prop was penalised for boring at the resultant scrum and the Ben C put the penalty kick deep into their 22. Just before Half time a penalty to Warlingham ended the half with a speculative kick from the halfway line which fell short in Watt’s arms who made a mark. A kick to touch and the half time whistle was blown.Second half Adam Phillips came on for Scott Patto.

Warlingham started with their tails up with the slight downhill advantage. Scrappy play with several balls being knocked out of hand. 9 mins penalty to Hove a couple of mins injury time for W Wing with ankle twist.

W scrums were stronger and they wheeled some of ours. W kept out by good tackles as pressure rises on Hove. Liam yellow carded 20 mines into second half for tripping W player whilst on the ground. Nick Giles subbed by the 21. W rolling mauls looked good. W penalty for diving through but they were off side at the kick and we got the penalty.

Hove scrum in front of their post which they won and ran back to our half. Hove fought back for territory and a penalty from their half in front of the posts. Ben steps up and its 10 all! Some minutes later hove expect another penalty within kicking range as Ryan is smacked in the face off the ball.

Everyone sees except the Ref! W are awarded a scrum but Hove drive through it and hold the territory. W over throw a lineout for the second time in the half which is caught by Watts who makes ground from their mistakes. Phillips very speculative drop kick failed, Last minutes of the game and W holding onto the ball result in Hove getting a penalty. Ben C to take the penalty 35 yards out 20 degrees off centre, kickable. This could win the game. Tension Ben kicks and and misses! W breath sigh of relief. Last minute pressure both ways and everyone is thankful when the whistle goes to mark the end of the game.

Richard Lewis Reports: There is no doubt in the writer’s mind that this year’s senior team is the finest in the club’s history. All positions on the field show no weaknesses with plenty of serious competition from the reserves and 2nd XV as witnessed by their showing this weekend. Last week key players were absent but we achieved a resounding victory against 7-Oaks. This week late changes in key positions did not appear to weaken the team or its performance.

Credit surely must surely be given to the players themselves, the team spirit and also to the coaches.

Saturday’s opponents were recognised as being a major challenge to our ambitions this year following their own 2 fine victories in their opening games. For us to win away from home was always going to be a major achievement but an away draw against a quality side is very satisfying and we may well have won this stirring encounter.

As to the match: Hove kicked off and immediately subjected sustained pressure on the home side for the opening 25 mins. We were strong in the scrum but lost possession all too often at ensuing rucks. Warlingham were relieved to kick out of defence where both Seb and Tom fielded confidently and counter attacked with determination and effect. It was against the run of play when a deep clearance kick bounced awkwardly on the hard surface to wrong foot both Seb and Ben for their wing to seize his opportunity and race to the line at 26mins. The conversion from half way out failed.

From the restart Tom gathered kick athletically to set up a driving movement into the heart of W’s defence. A clearance straight to Ben Coulsen at fullback was run back, a link up with Tom, back inside for the forwards to drive the ball forward. It was Liam who emerged to race to line to level the scores. Ben added the conversion points (30mins) for Hove to lead 7-5. Up to this stage Ben’s raking kick had helped to pin Warlingham deep in defence.

W’s response was almost immediate, Hove for once deep in defence from the restart. A W scrum set their powerful centre on an outside break brushing aside 2 attempted tackles to score midway out. Again the conversion missed. (35min)Half time 10-7 against and it was agreed by most observers against the balance of play.Substitutions at half time brought Adam to fly half for Scott. Adam’s attacking flair however brought no change from the dominant W midfield defence who throughout quickly stifled Hove’s possession in midfield resulting in few opportunities for our two wings who looked threatening throughout. Whereas the 1st 30 mins belonged to Hove the 1st 30 mins of the second period belonged to W. Here again it was strong organised defence by Hove throughout that prevented W from extending their narrow lead. This included a period midway through the half when Liam was yellow carded for failing to retreat following a penalty. With both sides prepared to attack both defences were tested but were not found wanting. It was Hove who finished in the ascendency. A Ben Coulson penalty beautifully struck from 40m which levelled the scores with 12 minutes remaining. An opportunity to win was narrowly missed with 2 mins remaining.

Hove’s unit skills throughout the match showed that we are amongst the best in our league. Scrummaging went well with the opponents always under pressure.. The lost of our early lineouts was overcome as the match progressed. Defences dominated, including Hove’s (a distinct improvement this season). Also our tactical kicking and awareness has greatly improved. But it is the spirit of the team that strikes one.