Learning curve continues for many, weather was nice though

The Fireworks event at the club meant that we were a little unsettled from the beginning. Some arrived at the club, some the actual meet point of the top left of the Tesco car park and them some going direct. This disjointed start was mostly continued through the afternoons events.

The 2pm kick off threw some out a bit but by the time we fought our way through traffic .. well, lets just say we were glad to hear the ref was happy to let it slip a bit to allow for a proper warm up.

We were informed during our warm up that they lacked a complete front row and had to play the full game as unopposed. I likened this to playing golf without being able to putt. A huge part of the game that we had worked to get a front row for. Obviously the disappointment was immediate.

The pitch was very small with something like a 4 yard deep try zone to the deadball line and no real wind nor sun advantage.

We kicked to them with the idea of playing with good support play from forwards to allow a good driving platform from which we can see how the backs do. They were a mixed side with quite a few backs scattered throughout that suggested they fancied the running game.

Stu Newman kicked and a good chase saw pressure in broken ball. They gathered and chose to take several pick-and-carries through their forwards. This gained a few yards from which they then kicked clear to gain field territory. This style of play pretty much summed their forwards up with carry 1,2, move back to clearing kick.

We enjoyed several open periods of play with strong runs by Foster (6) and Fisher(7) and Sutcliffe(12). The reshuffled back line were trying to find their feet and were under a lot of undue pressure from the consistently re-offending Ilford backs being offside by a mile.
When asking the Ref about their offside play we were reassured that they were not offside. Ask James Dummer as he had to avoid passing straight to them from the scrum when he looked at Newman(10). Interesting to say the least.

Our support play in the forwards was far better than our opposition and several good probing runs made good ground. Our backs were continually stiffled by offside defenders on the postage stamp of a field.

15 mins in and through sustained pressure from carries by Chris Grey (1) Cairns(5) and Merle(4) resulted in a penalty in front of the posts. A try was called and a pick from Diddy(8) resulted in a driven over try converted by Newman.

Our main flaws seemed to be the ability to make first-up tackles to provide pressure on them, as well as composure / discipline through frustration.

The Ilford Wingers proved to be quite rapid and elusive. They managed to move the ball through hands very rarely and most back attacks came from either of these players picking the ball up deep and making good surging runs into support or kick/chasing. Several missed tackles in mid field and then this being echoed on our left saw their right wing clear through for their first score (unconverted), 7-5.

Blues gathered and again replied with good sustained pressure and small carries and gains. Ilford pretty much preyed on our lighter ball carriers by turning ball over or ripping away at contact. Several illegal but many perfectly so, saw our frustration levels rise again as we neared half time.

Ilford again managed to scramble better ball than us and managed to free their right wing again who slipped through several gaps. Last gasp tackles by Doolan(15) and Gillespie(11)were unable to tag the flyer who rounded under the posts.(converted) Possession was mostly with the blues but Ilford seemed to make the best of their few opportunist breakaways.

Blues hit back yet again through their superior ball handling between all forwards to make better progress up the centre of the field. Finally releasing the ball to the backs to the right ending with Chris James(14) who gathered a pass from Dan giles(13) on the wide right and went over for a try as the last play of the first half. Unconverted.
Half time 12-12.

Second half continued in much the same ramdom vein with broken play all over. Some dubious decisions of offside. Gideon Sutcliffe(12) made several surging runs and presented good 2nd faze ball to the support. Several hard fazes, a couple of failed moves from penalties and continued pressure resulted in Diddy driving over for a 2nd try with good support to get the score.(17-12)

A late lapse of concentration saw Wanderers exploit a weakness to the blindside where they made a run, chip through and strong chase to convert into a try and scores level.
The Ref summed up his performance by informing us 2 minutes from restart to the end .... reclaimed kick off and formed a good driving maul going straight at the posts and the whistle went for time.

A learning day where adapting to pitch size, unopposed scrums and learning how to out-think opponents really were the points we can take from the game.
A nice club house with open fire, big screen, Myleene Klass/Vanessa May fat lookie-likey behind bar, bangers mash and peas (gravy!) were top notch for rugby grub and we were made to feel welcome.
We know we can play a lot better and the team was 'composite' but we conducted ourselves well and would be welcomed back.

Match on Tuesday at Club Vs Essex Police, KO 7.30pm.
Lets put Ilford down to experience and move on to Essex Police and then Newmarket Development Team on Sat 13th.

thanks
Diddy
ps Picture for the benefit of Gilo!!