Stortford 4s 6 - 5 OA 4s

Match Report 20th October 2012.
Bishops Stortford 4s 6 – 5 Old Albanians 4s.

Despite going into this game with a good run, we were playing an OAs team who had been relegated last season, and OAs at worst are a strong team so I was happy to see a pretty much full strength team on paper and then on the pitch, at least until Aaron, last weeks man of the match opted to tweak his hamstring with 5 mins to go to the match!

We won the toss and chose to kick after which the match settled into a clear pattern. Our kick went about 9.79 metres and so went back for a scrum from which OAs pushed down into our 22. Stout defence held OAs fairly clear from our try line before turn over ball allowed us to clear our lines and kick and run the ball into their 22. This pattern continued with both teams getting into the opposition 22 but not making a decisive move, then swinging back the other way, us perhaps fractionally the unluckier of the sides, for example JC charging for the line with the ball and being guilty of obstruction..?

Both sets of backs were very strong with creative 10s, strong running centres and fast wings (and Doc). Both backs superb tackling ensured that no decisive breaks were made by either team and the game gradually became more forward based. We tended to make our ground running up through the centres with Liam excellent again in the bullocking run department, Noel's fancy footwork, and Lippi placing himself well to support his players, equally well backed up by Doc, James and Spencer. OAs tended to kick more perhaps after the realisation they couldn't run through us, and unfortunately did so well.

As the game became more forward orientated our forwards stepped massively upto the plate. Lineouts were marginally going OAs way, although with J|C and Aaron presumably having springs in their boots and causing problems most of their throw ins so little clean ball was won but when we did win our rolling maul was effective. Scrums however were a better tale with more and more dominace in the first half, thanks to Frosty and Jerry, and again JC and Aaron in the engine room. I don't think Russ lost a put-in, and we won about half theirs, something that may have led to more points if their backs weren't consistantly 2 – 3 metres off side.

Deadlock was finally broken thanks to a penalty just in their 22 to the left of the posts, well taken by Lippi. Half time 3-0 to us and 30 tired players!

The second half saw the same see saw pattern, except their scrum had been shored up by more front row, and a superb back was introduced to OAs line who on 2 – 3 occasions ran about 120 metres, thankfully largely sideways and round people, but never got round the last man. The effort and determination from our team during these phases was incredible, players always getting back, and helping to keep them out. 3 phases of tackles stood out all of which stopped certain tries – James Mitchel being wrong footed but turning, diving and catching hold of the shorts of their wing; Jerry hitting about 7 big tackles as they targetted him in a few minutes (48 but still got it); and their fast new back ran round most of our team to get sandwiched by Dave Walker and Liam Grimes both at full pace in an absolue crunching tackle that was heard on the opposite touchline. To his credit, he got up and 5 mins later and smiled.

The intensity also produced a few flash points, one involving Doc (AKA Mike Tyson) resulting in him getting a yellow to their players red, both for a handbags which summed up the desire on both teams. Unfortunately after 70 minutes, we had stopped several phases of attack, but finally ran out of men as they spread it right to score a good piece of play near the right corner. Confident they would miss the kick, I shouted at our players for about a minute to get them to come in and pleaseantly suggested I had no intention of going home the losing side after all our effort, after which at least heads stopped pointing at the floor.

We carried on as we had through the game and the see saw once again ended on their 22 about half way to the left touchline with OAs giving away a penalty. Corner or points – with Lippi in your team why would I even question that!!??? I chose to kick for points, gave Lippi the ball and said several prayers as a lot of players wanted the line out. He kicked the ball, and as the ball was halfway to the posts heard him scream “YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”, then watched the ball sail through the posts. 2 minutes to go, they kicked, we caught, they robbed the ball and knocked on in the tackle. Our scrum, our ball but then also our penalty for OAs pushing up in the front row and Noel kicked the ball safely into touch for a very, very satisfying victory.

Man of the Match went to Lippi for his running, tackling, constructive play, but particularly for the successful hugely pressured kick with 2 mins to go. Honourable mentions go to Jerry, JC, Aaron, Frosty, Liam and Noel all who had great games, although every player to a T had one of the best games I have seen playing here, leaving me a very happy and proud captain. Well played chaps.

Dick of the Day – Doc, not for any rugby reason, but for getting caught.....

Chris