Match Report
|
| Date - 19th February 2005 |
Canvey Island 1st XV -v- Old Brentwoods 1st XV |
| Essex 2 |
| Canvey Island 22 Old Brentwoods 17 |
| |
| Old Brentwoods had only themselves to blame for not inflicting the first
league defeat on Canvey this season.
|
| Starting very badly, the Old Boys conceded three tries in the first ten
minutes of the game, the visitors unable to cope with the Canvey
pressure. Like startled rabbits in the Canvey headlights the Old Boys
missed tackles, were intimidated up front and generally underestimated
the early commitment required to undermine this confident, well-drilled
team.
|
| That having been said, the remainder of the half saw the visitors get back into the
game. Matt Staines, Charlie Raymond and Paul Buchanan helped drive the
visitors into promising positions and forced Canvey into errors of
their own.
|
| A well-worked move orchestrated by Chris Reah and finished
off by Dean Bourne gave the Old Boys the breakthrough they needed just
before half time, the winger breaking through several tackles to score a
well-deserved try.
|
| Unfortunately the conversion was missed by Matt Warrilow and further
disappointment was to follow moments later as the visitors allowed the
Canvey inside centre through the line to score a try with the last
play of the half. The score line of 22-5 was a fair reflection of the
game up to that point.
|
| Even with the advantage of playing with the wind in the second half the
Old Boys knew that only a fully-focused performance from the start
would give them a chance.
|
| This they got and it took just five minutes for Paul Buchanan to get on
the end of a finely worked move and score beside the posts. The conversion
was slotted over by Warrilow to reduce the deficit by seven
points.
|
| The pressure began to tell on the home team and despite their lineouts
standing firm their play in the loose and their general body language
suggested that they were anything but confident of their position.
With ten minutes to go the power of the Old Boys' pack drove the ball
to the Canvey line and with some good options being taken, Bourne went
over for his second try in the right-hand corner. Warrilow was unable to slot
the kick but the impetus of the game was suddenly with the visitors.
|
| From the kickoff the Canvey side picked up their game but never
looked like increasing their score. All the visitors needed was a break
which they got with moments to go, Neil Hannaway clearing the ball down
the pitch. The ensuing chase was won by the Canvey full-back and despite
some desperate play from the Old Boys the home team were able to secure
the ball and clear their lines.
|
| The sound of the final whistle was greeted with relief by all the
Canvey players and the Old Boys left the field knowing that eighty minutes
of full concentration would have given them the result they wanted.
|