Match Report
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| Date - 14th February 2004 |
Thames -v- Old Brentwoods 1st XV |
| Essex Division 2 |
| Thames 15 Old Brentwoods 31 |
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| Old Brentwoods produced their best performance of the season last Saturday to defeat
the league leaders and increase their chances of automatic promotion.
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| The visitors started well, winning the first four scrums, two of which were against
the head. This set out the Old Boys’ intentions and brought added confidence
to the side. All the early play became confined to the Thames half and sustained pressure enabled the pack to drive forward until a jinking run through the Thames defence from number 8 Billy Mullen brought the first
try after ten minutes. Paul Sier converted the try and the Old Boys were
good value for their early lead.
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| The pattern of play continued and although Thames did push forward in
phases it was the sustained commitment from the visitors’ pack coupled
with incisive running from the backs that created further openings.
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| The second try came from Neil Hannaway, the winger capitalizing on the
great work from the forwards to score in the left corner. Although the try
remained unconverted it was not long before Sier would have another
opportunity at goal. A fine jump from James Holmes in the line-out and
some great interplay from Matt Warrilow and captain Chris Reah gave the latter
a chance to attack the Thames line. The home team seemed reluctant to
bring him down and successive dummies culminated in a great try. Sier
made no mistake with the conversion and, but for the sin-binning of Reah
for foul play five minutes before the break, the visitors remained
untroubled and were worth their 19-0 halftime lead.
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| Thames did not take long to stamp their mark on the game following the
break. From the restart they pressurized the Old Boys, who were
penalized for not releasing in the tackle. The penalty attempt was
successful and five minutes later the deficit was further reduced with
Thames capitalizing on some slack defence and some good fortune to score
their first try in the right corner. However, the try, which remained unconverted,
rather than reducing the visitors’ resolve proved instead to galvanize it.
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| With Reah back on the pitch it was Old Brentwoods that picked up the pace and
took the game to Thames. Powerful runs from Neil Tentner and Jerry
Shouksmith pushed the Old Boys past the game line and good support play
from Peter Womersley and Gary Barton among others kept the ball moving
forward. Thames continually stemmed this flow with kicks over the top
but mid-way through the half it was from this tactic that the visitors
increased their lead. A good pick up and run from full-back James Faiers
from deep in his half brought the ball back to the halfway line. A
great run from Neil Hannaway bisected the Thames defences in midfield and
with good support from forwards and backs alike it was hooker John
Demaray that finished the move to score beside the posts. The conversion
went over and with the score line at 26-8 Thames were looking at only their second defeat of the season with just a quarter of the game remaining.
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| The visitors’ pack worked tirelessly throughout the game with second
rows Paddy Bache and Pat Stroud never letting up in the scrums and the front
row of Charlie Raymond, John Demaray and Gary Barton continually pressurizing
their far bigger opponents.
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| The Old Boys’ final try came from a scrum in midfield that the visitors
comfortably secured. The ball was taken up by Mullen and quickly recycled
to Neil Hannaway whose incisive run split the Thames defence. His try
underlined the visitors’ overall dominance of the game and despite a
consolation penalty try for Thames in the last minute there was no
doubting who deserved the victory, the 31-15 scoreline fairly reflecting
the game.
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| More play like this in their remaining league games, starting with
Burnham next weekend, could still give the Blues the chance of
promotion.
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