Match Report
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| Date - 18th September 2004 |
Old Brentwoods 2nd XV -v- Thames 2nd XV |
| BL Merit Table Division 4 |
| Old Brentwoods II 45 Thames 13 |
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| The Old Brentwoods 2nd XV secured their second win of the season at Ashwells
Road on Saturday afternoon.
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| Playing the first half uphill and into the wind, the Old Boys put some
good phases of play together and having secured a good lineout, Alex Hughes
at scrum half was able to find Perry Reeves at number 10. The ball went
through most of the three quarters' hands before finding Adam Stead out on
the wing, who scored the first try of the afternoon.
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| Thames came back keeping the ball tight in amongst the forwards to push and
drive their way up the park, until the home side conceded a penalty 5 yards
out. A quick tap ball was taken and the Old Boys, who were still busy
regrouping, allowed the big Thames forwards to crash over for their first
points.
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| Tenacious tackling, namely by John Costin, Mickey Bristow (in his first game back
since a cruciate ligament re-build) and Jonny Davis, kept the visitors at
bay as Thames started to take control of the game.
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| As much as Thames where keeping the play with their forwards, the Old Boys
wanted to push the ball wide. After turnover ball was secured by Scott
Inglis, Hughes and Reeves again combined to find runners John Mole and John
Barnes, who both scored quick tries. Thames started to run out of steam.
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| After half time the Old Brentwoods forwards provided the backs with more
ball than they could cope with. Dropped passes and knock-ons ensued as the
three quarters all concentrated on playing champagne rugby instead of
getting their basics right. Uncharacteristic errors from Hughes and Barnes,
both knocking on at crucial times, seemed to be a cue for the whole team to
follow their example.
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| Thames saw the frustration of the home side and started to put some phases
together themselves. Interplaying well, especially between their big back rows,
they started to creep back into the Old Boys' territory.
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| Simon Peace, following a great chase of his own kick, also managed to knock
on, but at least the home side where playing in the right half. The scrum
was won against the head, and Ian Hannaway held onto the ball to
score under the posts (having dropped the previous three passes).
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| This seemed to settle the home side's nerves, and the Old Boys' pack took the
game to the Thames forwards. Steady play by Gary Murphy, Dave Knapp and Matt
O'Connor thwarted any further Thames advances.
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| This was a good start to the Merit table campaign by Old Brentwoods, but
frankly a game best forgotten. Credit goes to Thames for a game played in
good humour despite the enormous penalty count against the home side in the
second half.
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| Roll on next week when the Old Boys II's play away against Maldon III's
(friendly), and the 1st team play away against Loughton (Essex 2 league game).
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