Tunbridge Wells 1XV 7 v 34 Gravesend 1XV
Wells knew that after their close away win the week before this was going to be one of the more difficult games in their first 5 of the new league season. Despite a narrow defeat in the last game of the 08/09 season at St Marks against the same opposition Gravesend are a side looking for the form that brings promotion and the town side would have to be at it’s best.
Despite G’s being the first on the score sheet with a rather soft try after 7 minutes scored by right wing Tom Goss and converted by fly half Gary Gray 0- 7 Wells enjoyed at least 50% of the ball in the first 20 minutes and applied pressure to the visitors defence. Tom Bugge and Sitiveni Turagaiviu made several half breaks whilst Mike Doherty was feeling for the gaps as well.
Despite this G’s went farther ahead on 18 minutes with a Gray penalty 0-10 and yet it was Wells who were doing most of the attacking but failing to find finishing passes.
On 24 minutes Wells finally got their reward as fly half Ollie Rogers made the original break 40 metres out to loop and send Mike Doherty on a 20 metre straight run under pressure to score under the posts with James Warren converting 7 -10.
As the game approached the halfway mark G’s were beginning to starve Wells of first phase ball and had upped the pace of the game. On 30 minutes centre Ashley Mourey cut through halfway out despite the attentions of Turagaiviu for an unconverted try 7-15.
Wells continued to defend manfully with young Tom Hathaway performing minor miracles protecting the ball at the base of the scrum but the game pattern was set with G’s enjoying most of the ball and Wells not using the ball well under severe defensive pressure.
Despite the hope that the Wells could reach halftime with no more damage up popped right wing Goss again on Mourey’s shoulder on 39 minutes for G’s third try of the half and a half-time lead of 7 -20.
In the second half Wells had a mountain to climb if they were to secure the points. If anything, however, G’s increased their grip on possession and their Man of The Match skipper Jamie Forsyth acted as the pivot in a range of midfield moves which kept the Wells defence moving about.
Wells did well to keep Gravesend out until the 59th minute when Forsyth himself scored near the posts after a forward rush with Gray converting. 7- 27.
Wells threw on their subs with Jonte Vander Meulen moving to fly half and Tom Bugge to scrum half, Ian McCaul replacing the injured Pete Binham, Nick Rabas taking over from Richard Sparks and Matt Murtagh coming into the backs.
With the Wells back row of Hathaway, Iain Bartley and Dane Hurley working their socks off the townside came more into the game with Ross Fleming, Murtagh and particularly Mike Doherty , now back on the wing featuring well. Doherty went on a terrific 60 metre run beating two men and handing off another two only to be forced into touch a metre short on the right. Rabas brought some stability to the scrimmage and more ball resulted.
However, whenever you try to play catch up Rugby things are open at the back and Gray’s inside pass put Mourey in at the posts for Gray to convert and make the final score 7-34.
This game was a bad day at the office for Wells. The positives are that they have had the benchmark standard laid down for a competitive season and that their spirit in defence was high. If they are to have a good season , however, then much more attention to line out and scrimmage basics are required over the coming weeks. They have the individuals to do it and must quickly blend into a team.
TRY: Mike Doherty
CON: James Warren
For more pictures of this and other games visit Bruce Elliott's site
HERE
Aylesford Bulls 2XV 8 v 16 Tunbridge Wells 2XV
TWRFC’s seconds enjoyed a very satisfying victory to kick off the new season against a competitive Aylesford side who had beaten them comfortably towards the end of last season. Both sides were relegated into the newly formed Invicta 2 league at the end of the last campaign, and both teams will be expecting to do well in the new league, so a solid win for TWRFC gives them confidence going forward.
It was our first game of the season so predictably there were plenty of errors, fitness levels varied considerably and new players were finding their feet. However there were plenty of positives, not least that we won the game. Whilst we struggled all day in the lineouts, our scrummaging first half was excellent, with plenty of power being developed from the locks and 8. This gave us sufficient possession to dominate, both in terms of possession and territory, such that we never looked threatened in the first half.
Both sides bagged early penalties, ours slotted by a composed Ollie Allman. The rest of the half saw the Wells backline, bristling with youth and talent, busting holes in the home side’s defence, but the opportunities created were all too often squandered as we turned over possession at the breakdown. Eventually we were able to string a set of phases together and Steve Jones cruised over to score in the corner. At this point we had the chance to put the game to bed, but we lacked the ball retention skills required to give the backs more 3rd and 4th phase possession with which to finish off Aylesford.
Heat and fatigue combined with our opponents sensing they were still in with a chance, made the second half a much tighter affair. Our scrummage, which had been rock solid in the first half, began to creak, and possession became hard to come by. What ball we won we struggled to retain, as the Aylesford pack continually stole ball at breakdowns. Wells did increase the lead after another fine break by the backs was neatly finished by Simon Beamish, but the conversion was missed and the game still hung in the balance.
The final fifteen minutes saw the home side pile on the pressure, but Wells’ defence was outstanding, with the tackling solid and the defensive organisation excellent. Eventually we were breached by an Aylesford try in the corner to take the scores to 8-13 with five minutes to go. Fortunately new boy Lee Walker stepped up to slot a 35 metre penalty to relieve the pressure and the game was won.
This was a good performance for the first game of the season, gutsy and committed, strong in defence, and dangerous in attack. The difference between a narrow victory and a whalloping victory is often a fine line, and in this case we simply lacked the polish to play through the phases and cut loose; this will come if we train and play together regularly, so the signs have to be good…. providing of course we do make the effort to train and play together! Top stuff.
TRY: Steve Jones, Simon Beamish
CON:
PEN: Ollie Allman, Lee Walker
Tunbridge Wells 3XV 22 v 54 Dover 3XV
Wells were under the impression this would be a gentle friendly following last years close match down in Dover. But no, a growing Dover has made their 3XV a development squad and a young and fit bunch turned up in shirt & ties looking for business.
The experience in the Wells squad paid dividends with the game running very evenly and tries being run, barged and sneaked in at both ends. New Skipper, David Barton started the season with a try, along with two for team stalwart Wayne Vidler-Green and one for impressive young new boy Andrew Kemp. The additional points were slotted in by Full-Back Pete McLoughlin.
Both teams had reasonable size squads and rolled players on and off to rest them from the heat and concrete-like pitch. Fitness and a lack of determination in the tackle in the latter 20-mins saw Dover take a one try lead at half-time and run off with the score, despite Wells taking the first blood after the break.
The only issues with Wells were basic - Erratic passing under pressure & Lack of commitment to tackle. These can be improved with training, which will help with the third issue of fitness. (yeah, I know - look who's talking....!) That being said, the line-outs were dependable and the scrummaging was solid and dominant. With ball in hand the Backs made the hard yards easily and used width and space very well.
Roll on the league next week at home to Cranbrook
SQUAD: Gavin Simpson, Dave Skinner, Alan Maxted, Ollie Godbold, Phil Parr, Taz Ahmed, Etienne O'Neill, Lance Close, David Barton, Richard Woodhouse, Ali McNally, Wayne Vidler-Green, Mark Shergold, Simon Waymont, Pete McLoughlin SUBS: Angus Brey, Simon Parsons, Christian Chapman, Andrew Kemp, Seb Olmos
TRIES: Barton, Vidler-Greenx2, Kemp
CONV: McLoughlin
