Old Elthamians 1XV A v A Tunbridge Wells 1XV
(Match abandoned after 56 minutes. No result)
Wells travelled to South London for this London & South East Division 1 Game grateful to be back in the groove after two weeks of cancelled games due to the weather. Perhaps it was an omen of things to come when after less than 2 minutes of play Siti Turagaiviu made a searing outside break and put Lewis Thorneycroft away on the wing with just the fullback to beat, as Lewis went to round the fullback he tore his thigh muscle and took no further part in the game as young new boy David Coombes took his place.
Wells continued to create scoring chances despite having a difficult time in the tight with Matt Murtagh narrowly missing a penalty kick from 30 meters on 15 minutes, before OE’s really put wells under the cosh on their own line by twice opting for scrums rather than kicking easy penalties. It was much to the credit of the Wells pack that they defended 5 set scrummages in a row and finally cleared to halfway.
On 28 minutes it was the Wells packs time for pressure with Mark Higgins narrowly failing to touch down after a kick and chase and on 30 minutes as one more cycle of play would have seen the ball mauled over the line but the ball was passed inaccurately to the backs and the try was lost.
Halftime saw the score level at 0-0, but with the introduction soon after the break of Tim Daplyn at tight head and the Wells backs showing signs of losing their ring rustiness Turagaiviu made another blistering reak up the blindside and found Dane Hurley in just the right position to score halfway out with Murtagh adding the conversion. There were now real signs of a Wells offensive as Ollie Rogers began to get the backs moving and Mark Wilson at Scrum half made one or two physical breaks through the line out and the loose with No 8 James Lineham having an outstanding game and Rob Greig producing some good yardage in a direct manner. Wells were just warming to the task when referee Iain Mitchell got too close to proceedings at the whistle and was fallen on heavily by several players. Sadly his cruciate ligament was badly damaged and despite trying to continue lasted less than a minute after treatment.
No one can prevent bad luck such as this and with no other Level 6 referee to be found the game was abandoned and the League management Committee have designated Easter Saturday as the only available gap week for Wells for the replay. Neither referee or either side would have wanted this conclusion to the game but there was little anyone could do other than say it was a useful training exercise.
Coach Paul Hathaway can at least be happy that Wells imposed themselves on this game by the time the injury took place and felt confident that the visitors would have added to their tally in the last 24 minutes of the game. Equally Elthamians would have thought that they still had a chance and that a replay was the only fair conclusion.
Wells go back to the drawing board to prepare for the visit of second placed Dover at St Marks this Saturday KO 2:30pm and the Wells camp feel that having played well with a rearranged side at the Channel port earlier in the season that if they play the right tactical game they are in with a chance.
SQUAD: Lewis Russell, Mark Higgins, Richard Sparks, Tim Daplyn. James Gwinnett, Peter Binham, Rob Harrison, Dane Hurley, James Lineham, Steve Daly, Mark Wilson, Lewis Thorneycroft, David Coombes, Matt Murtagh, Sitiveni Turagaiviu, Rob Greig, James Warren
TRY: Dane Hurley.
CON: Matt Murtagh
For more pictures of this and other games visit Bruce Elliott's site HERE
Tunbridge Wells 2XV 15 v 7 Sidcup 3XV
With most of the team not having played since before Christmas it was vital for our league challenge that Wells won this game. Despite a very late change the pack had a familiar feel to it, with Dan Bettice and Nige Follows propping with Paul Miles at Hooker. Ben Burgess and Tom Pithouse were paired in the second row, with James Kenway, Chris Richards and Ian McCaul in the back row. There were a few changes to the backs, with Jai Kench debuting at fly half outside regular scrum half Mark Goff, with John Crees and Ben Tuite paired in the centres and Simon Beamish, Ben Alexander and Iwan Shotton making up the starting back three.
The game began tightly, with Wells dominating possession whilst Sidcup were very lively in the loose making it immediately clear that they had travelled with an experienced side. With just five minutes on the clock Kenchy sliced a chip to the Sidcup Outside Centre who fed his winger who had bags of pace and ran the length of the pitch to score under the posts. The conversion was good and Wells found themselves 0-7 down with the game barely underway.
From then on it was a different story. Wells enjoyed at least 70% of the possession, and spent the vast majority of the first half in Sidcup territory, but despite good first phase ball, we were unable to play through sufficient phases to breach the Sidcup line. Having created the platform we were too often turned over in the loose, or spilled the ball through basic errors. Meanwhile Sidcup looked dangerous in the backs, with Wells defending well when required.
Whilst the pressure did not yield any tries, Mark Goff was accurate with 3 penalties, edging Wells into a narrow 9-7 lead at half time.
After the break Wells stepped up a gear, with the entire pack upping the effort to ensure we contested all the breakdowns. With the home side in control of the set scrums and imperious in the lineouts, Sidcup were forced to withstand wave after wave of attacks, which, to their credit, they did extremely well. Very few defensive tackles were missed by the visitors, and Wells, despite their efforts, were unable to cross for the elusive try.
Goffy extended the lead to 15-7 with two more penalties, but even when Sidcup lost a flanker to the bin for persistent infringement in the loose they managed somehow to hold out the rampant Wells pack. Ben Tuite, after a scintillating break, and Tom Doubell, on at wing for Ben Alexander, came closest to scoring.
Despite the lack of tries this was a very good team performance, especially by the pack who were totally dominant second half, and who, through thoughtful, constructive play completely controlled the possession in the second half, reducing Sidcup to desperate defenders. The backs looked lively throughout, with Kenchy impressive at 10 and both 15’s, Shots and Andy Kemp, solid at the back. Clearly there was a lack of match fitness, but this tough game will have quickly got the lads back into the groove.
Next weekend we have arranged a friendly rematch against Dover, at home, so we can see how we fare against a side that is near the top of Invicta 1. With the 1’s also at home against Dover it should be an interesting weekend.
PENS: Mark Goff x5
Edenbridge 1XV 29 v 7 Tunbridge Wells 3XV
Report to follow
TRY: Wayne Vidler-Green
CON: David Barton
New Ash Green 3XV 5 v 19 Tunbridge Wells 4XV
Wells 4th XV travelled to New Ash Green looking to complete the double over their hosts after they forfeited the first match before Christmas.
The visitors played up the steep slope in the first half but found themselves up against a very physical and competitive pack. However, there were early signs that the mobile Wells forwards linking with their backs would be the key to success. They seemed to have taken the lead mid-way through the first half when lock Graham Withers galloped in from 50 metres only to be called back by a linesman's call. From the ensuing line-out though, Paul Wheeler ran strongly from scrum-half before feeding outside half, Richard Woodhouse, who beat the cover to score under the posts. Mick Mallion converted. Wells second try came after strong work by Dave Godson which released Mallion to sprint in from 35 metres.
Wells hoped to put the game to bed as soon as the second half started but the home team were still scrapping strongly up front. Both Tim McCabe and Marco Maddalena were making big hits around the park as did substitute Paul Irwin. Eventually Woodhouse broke through again, with Wheeler converting and although a late try was conceded, it was only a consolation score.
SQUAD: Phil Nelson, Tim McCabe (C), Simon Parsons, Graham Withers, Marco Maddelena, Zak Martin, Gavin Ward, Dave Godson, Paul Wheeler, Richard Woodhouse, Mick Mallion, Mark Shergold, Luke Wrattan, Ally McNally, Paul Nadler
SUBS: Sam Gulliver, Steve Lea, Paul Irwin
TRIES: Mick Mallion, Richard Woodhouse x2
CONS: Mick Mallion, Paul Wheeler
