08
Mar
MATCH REPORT 2011-2012/19
MATCH REPORT 2011-2012/19
SOUTHAM 2’S – 3RD MARCH 2012
Earlier in the Season (2nd game, on 17th September 2011 – Match Report 2011-2012-2) we went over to Southam with 11, they lent us 3 and we played the 1st half 14 vs 15 and the second 13 vs 15, as one of theirs (our Scrumhalf) went off injured at halftime. As we had 11 forwards, most, if not all over 45, vs a young well drilled and fit side, we came a distant second.
Although they were a great group of lads and the game was well mannered, there’s still enough life in the old dogs for it to stick and I was hopeful after last week that we could come out on top for the return fixture. However, before we go any further, to scotch any wining, we were going to try with a minimum of help from the 2’s, who had cried their game off, i.e. we had 2 in our backline.
From the off we competed hard up front, knocking them back and pressing their defense and threatening their lines. Their defense, on several occasions turned us over, but unlike our first encounter, we had the backline to tackle them and minimize the ground they pulled back. On one such foray into their 22, Adrian Marsh (first game back after several weeks off injured) found himself wandering around the Serengeti and stumbled over for our first try (he was later heard to recount the story, with the usual embellishments, the stumble becoming a 100m sprint, dodging rampant wildybeasts, from only he knows where).
Throughout the first half we failed to dominate in the scrimmage, the lack of pies up front causing us a bit of a problem, loosing us some ball and making it hard for Jonno (Hooker), playing out of position at Scrumhalf. As a result, their Captain / No. 9 made the most of our distress and nicked it several times, scoring at least once. At halftime, fearing that the opportunity to redress the balance was ebbing away, I made some changes, to Front Row and Second Row (apologies Scotty, I should have left you on), with minor tweeks to the backline, as Paddy had to leave.
The second half was much more relaxing, for me, as we held their pack and ran amok out back, Benno directing Ops from No. 10 and starting to giggle again The game continued along those lines throughout the second half, the score settling at Kenilworth 40 to Southam 20.
Kenilworth scorers were: Ader 1 try, Matt Jenkins 1 try, Mark Johnson 1 try, Jai Purewal 2 tries and Mark Bennett, with 1 try and 5 conversions. Man of the Match for Kenilworth was Martin Howel. As he had to leave shortly after the game his jug was donated to Southam 2’s.
Worthy of note were:
Ader… rucking and mawling not good enough for you anymore? You feel the need to wander around in space?
Mark Johnson, for firing out repeated dive grubber-passes. CPW would have kicked the buggers back to you!
The Southam Captain / No.9 for getting the put-in nearly straight, once.
Next week we have Old Laurentians at Home, meet at 1.30 to 2.00 for a 3.00pm KO. We are now officially on a roll and in danger of becoming the most successful side in the Club, so lets make a good effort again.
Simon Bladon
