Men’s 1st XV v Old Elthamians 28/03/2009

Home – London 3 South East

Report by Andy Ward

Won 23-10

Some disappointment preceded the match with the news on Thursday that the London Division had ruled against our appeal, but a further appeal is to be made so enough about that for now. However, on the pitch where it really matters the team gave yet another outstanding performance. This was buoyed by the result from the Chatham area but more of all this later.

After the game I was chatting to Tags and he recounted that he had been reading the away game report prior to today’s proceedings and made some comments. So, I resolved to do the same and confirm his points. Only 2 people played in that game in the same positions that they played in this game (Jamie Waller and Glen Rankin if you wish to know) and out of the 18 involved today, 11 of those were involved on 13th September 2008. The result that day was 46-7 to Old Elthamian and, it has to be said, they were the better team.

Today, Hove were the better team. OE still had their dangerous backs, but starved of ball because the Hove pack were dominant, they could not unleash their weaponry that they did to such effect on that sunny September day.

With the same official as the Worthing game last week, the Hove boys perhaps knew the way that Mr. Bowers would run the game and at spot on 15:00 Adam was invited to commence proceedings by kicking off. Early skirmishes and exchanges as expected but OE infringed on their 22 and skipper Glenn had no hesitation in calling up Sam to have a go. Have a go he did and the three points were in the locker with 3 minutes on the clock. Point a minute? It would have been nice, but OE are formidable opposition and such thoughts are for the fairies only!

Ten minutes had gone by and OE were awarded a penalty which eluded their 10 and so Hove remained in front. This continued until the 22nd minute when the OE 14 showed a clean pair of heels to the Hove defence and went over in the left corner for 5 points. Again, the OE 10 failed with his boot – a feature of the game for both sides – and possibly down to the swirling wind.

After 30 minutes, Hove almost scored a try after a quick penalty had been taken and the ball worked out. Sadly, the player was isolated as the support wasn’t quick enough. Hove repeated the “nearly game” two minutes later when from a 5 metre scrum, Glenn had the ball and line at his mercy but contrived to knock on. Within four minutes of this, Hove were given a penalty on the OE five metres and Adam quickly slotted it into touch. All on the sidelines knew what to expect and the ball launched by Rory to the line indicated the start of the Cobra, which culminated (as last week) with Rory throwing his antipodean frame over the line for a well worked try for Hove.

Unfortunately, the kick was not made and Hove were 8 points to 5 in front a situation that lasted until half time.

The second half saw the expected surge from OE to get back into the game and this they did with their 6 breaking and clattering the Hove defence for an excellent try in the 3rd minute of the half. Again, the kick was missed and so Hove were 2 points down. Annoying but not irrecoverable. From this point on, it was Hove all the way and OE would not trouble Statto and his scoreboard again.

Seb who had been buzzing all game with some good running, good tackling and, sadly, some slightly wayward kicking got the ball out wide again and managed to shrug off his tackler but managed to knock on right at the line. A scrum to OE on the 5 metres and the Hove pack knuckled down to it. The ball was won and moved out but the OE defence was good. In a move that I haven’t yet seen on a rugby pitch, Linebacker Liam Hale picked up the ball in the melee and seeing an opportunity out wide to his right threw the ball American Football style back to the Hove players and Matt Sole ran in the try almost unopposed. The kick evaded Sam as did a penalty attempt a few minutes later so Hove were still at 13-10 to the good with about 15 minutes left to play.

Then the heavens opened and rain and hail beat down and so the sensible ones amongst us repaired to the shelter to continue our spectating. It has to be said that Hove started a bit of a kicking game and it was never very clear just why. OE were knuckling down and making the hard yards with multi phase forward play but when Hove got the ball they elected to kick it away. This so enraged one of my compadres (no names but everyone calls him Crabby!) and he was heard to say “Why are they always kicking it, they should be playing rugby instead of prancing around like a bunch of metrosexuals”. But to be fair, he had a point and the point was best made by the players themselves because in the 88th minute Dave Wattam made a break by running straight and taking the hit, offloading to Liam who did similar and now all of a sudden an attack was on. The yards were made and OE were running back and then they ball came out to Seb who this time made no mistake and ran over for Hove’s third try of the game. This time, Sam got the conversion and two minutes later from another Hove attack scored a penalty after OE infringed. So, in a moment of synchronicity, the first points in the game were a penalty by Sam and so were the last. I always like a matching pair as anyone who saw Georgia (the barmaid, not the state or country!) yesterday will understand!

About 5 minutes before the end of the game, news filtered through that Aylesford were beating Old Reigatian by 20-14 which was exactly the result that Hove needed in the post Lordswood dreamscape. And, indeed, it came to pass and that result was confirmed which now leave Hove’s fate back in Hove’s hands. Win the last two games and we are second whatever anyone (I should say any other team!) else does. Theoretically, if OE lose both their games (Away to Sevenoaks and then Home to Warlingham) and we win ours, then we could pip them for the championship, but I doubt that will happen as OE are a fine side. Aylesford too suffer from the Lordswood fall out and now have only one further fixture to play that being away to Eastbourne next week (who are now lying bottom after being turned over by Old Dunstonain and so also suffering from the Lordswood situation).

Next week sees us away to Warlingham where we attempt to reverse the defeat they inflicted upon us on 6th December (our last defeat I should add) which was by 3 points. Following that we have the break for Easter and then the final league game of the season at home to Purley John Fisher. The following week (to be confirmed) we travel to Pulborough on the Sunday to play for the Sussex Trophy in the final against Chichester who are current leaders of London SW3.

So, yet another excellent game and I will not name a man of the match again preferring to congratulate all on an outstanding performance. Keep it up guys and let’s confound them all.