Men’s 1st XV v Whitstable 01/12/2007

Home – London 4 South East

Report by Andy Ward

Won 32-11

Although the rain stayed away (in the main) the wind had risen up and was swirling around for the whole game making handling somewhat difficult and causing the ball to misbehave in flight from time to time.Still, the game kicked off at the earlier time of 14:15 now that December has come round again and within 4 minutes, Hove had suffered a loss when wing Barry Young went off with a dislocated shoulder.

A quick reshuffle and on with a sub and Hove restarted and after 8 minutes of play, skipper James Finlason went over for the first of his “nap”.

Alex Robertson converted the chance and Hove were 7 points to the good. Whitstable then got back in the game and were pressing for points. They were rewarded by two penalties in the 25th and 28th minutes to take the score to 7-6.

In the closing stages of the first half (43 minutes on your correspondent’s watch) Hove again scored though the endeavour of skipper James. Again, Alex slotted the ball safely over and half time came with Hove at 14 points over 6.

The second half started brightly for Hove with Alex slotting over a penalty (now with the wind notionally behind him – but remember the swirl!). 17-6 to the home team.

Whitstable restarted the game and won a line out in the Hove 22. Sadly, Hove’s lineouts have not got much better with a flapping hand (note use of the singular there – when we all know that locks should be presenting two hands for the ball!) causing the ball to go to Whitstable and for them to score an easy try. Luckily for the offender, the flap was not punished any more as the conversion was missed.It then took a futher 26 minutes for a further score despite Hove being awarded 2 penalties which did not challenge the scorer.

After a good piece of play, Hove worked the ball out left and incoming winger James Finlason scooped the ball to go over whilst being challenged. A try was awarded by the official but clearly disputed by a member of the Whitstable team who decided to make his point by indulging in a bit of handbags. Such behaviour caused him to recieve a 10 minute cooling off period and a brandished card from County referee David Hague.

A bit lucky – he could have got red. Anyway, the silly chap was hoisted by his own petard as Hove scored a further two tries whilst he was contemplating the error of his ways (or possibly tonight’s curry?). So there it was, in the 72nd and 78th minute skipper James Finlason completed his five of the best – spookily enough in more or less the same spot as had been the location of the Whitstable offenders pugilism!

Such perfect synchronicity for him to ponder on the coach home…