Match Report |
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| Date - 27th January 2001 | Stanford le Hope 1st -v- Old Brentwoods 1st XV |
| lost 23 - 19. | |
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A spirited performance by the in-form Old Brentwood team made sure that Stanford Le Hope had to pull out all of the stops to remain unbeaten in he league this season. First blood went to the Old boys when they secured some quick ball from Ed Gooday in the lineout & spread the ball at the first opportunity. Some fine link-up play between James Holmes and Neil Hannaway was rounded with a well deserved try in the corner by Laurie Cutmore. The pressure exerted on the home team pack was immense and they spilt the ball uncharacteristically in the backs. This allowed the Blues to grind their way up the pitch with storming runs from Alex Hughes, Peter Womersley and Mickey Laws, but they found themselves unable to convert the pressure into points. However, after a well-worked lineout, Womersley got the try that they had been looking for and suddenly the score was 10 - 0. In the last twenty minutes of the first half, the home team, supported by a vociferous crowd, began displaying the sort of form which makes them deserved league-leaders. However, the Old Boys matched them in every department & the determined tackling from the back-row of Paul Buchanan, skipper Laws and Andrew Born (making a welcome return) meant that the score at half-time was 13 - 6. The half-time introduction of the regular Stanford no 8 saw the home team look far more settled in the second period & the Old Boys had some trouble containing his explosive running. They attacked the blind side repeatedly & used their options and the conditions well but the Old Boy defence stood tall. Some magnificent tackling from Buchanan and Jason Lee kept the away team at bay, but it was let down by the Old Brentwood’s lack of discipline. Time and again, they worked their way into good positions & notched up 2 penalties in so-doing, but they let Stanford off the hook by conceding too many themselves. With 10 minutes to go, the score was 13 - 19 & the home team laid siege on the Old Boy try line. Eventually the Stanford number 8 burst over for a fine try. Suddenly the Old Boys were behind for the first time in the game. To their credit, the Blues fought back again and again and worked their way into good attacking positions with some impressive running from fly-half Doug Cutmore and the intelligent lines of centre Chris Reah. However, this was to be wasted by the Old Brentwood habit of conceding silly penalties at crucial times. The Stanford stand-off kicked the Old Boys back deep into their 22 repeatedly and a further penalty from him was to be the final nail in the coffin. Ultimately, the better team won because they played better under pressure - but they had to work hard for their victory !! |
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| Old Brentwoods Scorers Tries - Laurie Cutmore, Peter Womersley |
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| Captains player Peter Womersley | |
| Team Prop - Charlie Raymond Scrum Half - Alastair Rigden Subs - Phil Pembroke, Gareth Boyce, Paul Clancy |
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