Old Elthamians 1XV 0 v 13 Tunbridge Wells 1XV
Wells travelled to Chislehurst for this game knowing that if they came away with a win in this London 1 South game then they would have secured their fifth consecutive season at this level and sent Old Elthamians down to London 2 South East. If the result went against them then it would be OE’s who survived and Wells who would be likely to take the drop. A pitch with surface water 2 hours before kick off dried well and no further rain meant that surface conditions by kick off were starting to move in Wells favour with a team whose strengths would suggest they moved the ball wide.
This game had been abandoned in January when the referee had been injured and the game followed a remarkably similar pattern in the first half as OE’s attempted to dominate in the forwards and Tunbridge Wells looked to try and establish continuity ball to the backs.
Wells were to some degree hampered when only five minutes into the game Peter Binham, a key line out jumper injured his ankle, and Steve Daly playing in the back row sustained rib injuries. Binham lasted only until the 20th minute being replaced by Nick Doherty whilst Daly remained until half time before being withdrawn. Skipper James Gwinnett and Tom Hathaway providing line out ball thereafter.
Both sides swapped long range penalties Luke Giles being close on the right in the 10th minute before OE’s missed in the 19th.
With the first quarter gone OE’s worked their way into the Wells half and after smart handling on the right got their winger away to the corner. Had Wells conceded at this point it is difficult to predict how the game would have unfolded but as the player dived for the corner he was tackled so hard by opposite number Stuart Morten he knocked the ball forward and the try was not allowed. This was a key moment because of the tackles effectiveness and the sensible use of three referees to handle touch and the whistle and OE’s never got close to the visitors line after this incident.
For the next 10 minutes OE’s pack tried to force Wells back in their 22 but despite several offensive scrummages and rolling mauls Wells spirit enabled them to clear the lines and even put the Old Boys under pressure on their own line before the halftime whistle came to leave the score at 0-0. Just as it had been back in early January.
At halftime Paul Hathaway substituted Steve Daly with Sitiveni Turagaiviu leaving the centre for the back row and Mike Doherty coming onto the left wing with Morten moving inside, and Tom Hathaway into the second row being replaced at 8 by Nick Doherty.
Strangely and again like the game in January Wells started to dominate as James Warren put in two 45 metre runs on the right which prompted the move of the match on 46 minutes as the ball moved through five pairs of hands in a flowing 65 metre build up with Luke Giles and Dane Hurley doing most of the carrying to put centre Jon McMahon in halfway out for the try and for Giles to make no mistake with the conversion. 0-7.
By now the Wells pack was turning over ball with Turagaiviu especially enjoying being close to the action, with this ball and some of the best narrow channel picking and driving the Wells forwards have produced for some time OE’S were trapped for long periods in their own 22.
On 50 minutes after sustained pressure they were caught offside in front and Luke Giles made no mistake with the kick 0-10.
When OE’s tried to break out the pace of the Wells defence knocked them down without territory and when they kicked full back Toby May and fly half Giles pinned them back 40 metres.
Despite this the home side did well to keep Turagaiviu, Mark Higgins, Lewis Russell and Mick Sedgwick from going over on the drive but they could not get into areas of the field where a score was likely, further pressure saw a penalty conceded wide out on the left but again Giles made no mistake to widen the points gap 0-13.
In the last 10 minutes Wells kept OE’s pinned in their own half , and the final whistle came with them pinned in their 22.
Wells had a big set of supporters and their own desire for a win to thank for securing their London 1 South position for next season, along with some astute substitution and positional changes from coach Paul Hathaway to deal with what could have been damaging injuries. The desire for the win being underlined by 8 of the side having come through the clubs junior set up.
This Saturday Wells defend a run of a draw and two wins in recent weeks as they take on Beckenham who will be looking to avenge a one point loss to Wells in S London in the first game of this season back in the first week of September KO 3 00pm at St Marks.
For more pictures of this and other games visit Bruce Elliott's site HERE
SQUAD: Lewis Russell, Mark Higgins, Mick Sedgwick (Richard Sparks 79 mins), James Gwinnett (capt), Peter Binham (Nick Doherty 20 mins), Steve Daly (Mike Doherty 40mins), Dane Hurley, Tom Hathaway, David Coombes, Luke Giles, James Warren. Sitiveni Turagaiviu, Jon McMahon, Stuart Morten, Toby May.
TRY: Jon McMahon
CON: Luke Giles
PEN: Luke Giles x2
Tunbridge Wells 2XV 35 v 0 Folkestone 2XV
The 2XV completed the double with a Home win over Folkestone 2XV following their Away victory last week, earning themselves the full 7 points in the Invicta 2 league.
Full Report To Follow
TRY: Murray Galbraith-Lowe, Will Vernon, Stephen "Billy" Harvey, Paul Miles (C), Mark Wilson
CON: Mark Goff x2
PEN: Mark Goff x2
Tunbridge Wells 3XV
Rest Week
Tunbridge Wells 4XV
Rest Week
