OWRFC|Match Report
Match Report by Phil Scott.| Date: 1st November 2008 | Opposition: Shooters Hill | Venue: Shooters Hill |
Shooters Hill 10 Old Williamsonian’s 3
Disappointment often breeds despair and the old Boys will be hoping to avoid the latter. After three losses on the bounce, two in the league and 1 in the cup a trip to Shooters Hill was always going to be difficult. Torrential downpour made the challenge all the more difficult as Willies had failed to pack climbing gear in their kit bags in order to reach the summit of the home sides pitch.
Stand in skipper Phil Scott voiced the necessity to get points in the first half heading down hill after losing the toss. The conditions did not adhere to the usual expansive rugby style that has become common place for the old boys and dropped balls lead to a very stop start game, which I am sure pleased the front 5 to no end. When the old boys did get the ball wide they looked threatening with Ross ‘savage’ Savin looking powerful in space, unfortunately for all those involved with the visiting side Savin had clearly washed his hands in Teflon before kickoff. A couple of ambitious penalties did not hit the mark with half time fast approaching. Welch slotted a well struck 3 but for all their possession this was all Willies could muster in a frantic first half.
With the second half under way it would not have taken Mystic Meg to calculate how this one was going to play out. Shooters Hill played their own game, hiding the ball under their shirts like a pregnant teenager frustrating the old boys, however defence stood firm facing into the wind and hill, and a neat breakaway from ‘The real’ James Brown provided the visitors with an opportunity to kill the game off, unfortunately Willies were unable to convert the opportunity and Shoots were back down the other end to score.
At 5-3 to the home side the game was far from over, Willies regrouped and a break from substitute Tom ‘El Capitain’ Lord almost bought about a Barbarianesque try however with a running style which resembled John Prescott running in treacle he was soon tackled short of the line. A couple of minutes from time the home side broke down the defence and drove over for a powerful try.
The old boys will be keen to bounce back from this slump with a victory over Orpington in two weeks time but there is much for them to work on. Attention needs to paid to the breakdowns, the organisation which saw them champions last season seems to absent at present. Whilst the aggression was vastly improved this week, the young team need to learn to deal with teams that are looking to kill the ball. Congratulations to Shooters Hill they had a game plan and played to their strengths but these are games that Williamsonian’s should be winning, with an international break approaching it is time to reflect and look at where they are going wrong.
Special mention goes to Chris ‘Dawson’ Norris for making a nuisance of himself, and appreciation must be shown to captain Tom Lord for a gutsy injured performance. Jamie ‘Timu’ Collins once again proved that running downhill is of no issue to a man of his experience. The Swain and Son man of the Match goes to ‘The real’ James Brown who is enjoying the form of his life, hopefully this will continue when his radiant girlfriend decides to drop.
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