Match Report
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| Date - 24th September 2005 |
Wasps Cubans -v- Old Brentwoods 1st XV |
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| Wasps Cubans 24 Old Brentwoods 5 |
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| OBRFC were much in demand this week, having to turn down the offer of a
fixture from one big name London Club, Saracens, to fulfil their fixture
with another, Wasps!
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| Their much-anticipated "away-day" encounter with the amateur arm of
London Wasps, Wasps Cubans, who play at the professional side's training
and admin HQ at Twyford Road, Acton, did not turn out to be quite what
they had expected.
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| Having done battle with London's early afternoon traffic, OBRFC arrived
to discover that Wasps had no ref, no front row and no flags marking out
the pitch! A "sting" that Robert Redford and Paul Newman would have been
proud of, let alone a wasp!
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| The lack of an opposition front row meant uncontested scrummages and
ruined the afternoon for OBRFC props Charlie Raymond and Gary Fryett,
both of whom live by the mantra "I scrummage, therefore I am".
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| The match was loose and without pattern, bearing closer resemblance to
an elongated and over-populated game of sevens than a true
fifteen-a-side match. It was Wasps' players who were better equipped for
this style of play.
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| A penalty close to the line and some poor OBRFC tackling let Wasps in
for their first score. This was swiftly followed by another drive
forward by Wasps and adept handling in the three-quarters produced a
second score.
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| At 14-0 down OBRFC were spurred into action and competed manfully in the
loose. No. 8 Billy Mullen punched large holes in the Wasps defence and
was ably supported by hooker Matt Warrilow, second rows Tim Croom and
Bill Hayes and back row tyro Chris Keogh. Allied with the snipping play
of scrum half Neil Hannaway, OBRFC started to generate some forward
momentum.
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| This hard graft provided some ball for OBRFC's three-quarters, though
with the lineout not firing on all cylinders, uncontested scrums, and an
off-side line that was rarely observed or enforced, they were always
under great pressure. It is to his credit that in such conditions, Man
of the Match and the youngest player on the pitch, Mike Cowley shone at
fly half, taking the heat off those around him with his clever breaks
and, when necessary, successfully clearing his lines.
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| Those outside him also worked hard. Andrew West and Neil Tentner making
hard yards in the centre and Dean Bourne, Tom Williams and Adam Steadman
showing their skill and pace in wide areas. Adam Steadman, belying his
slight stature, put in some thumping tackles and pushed Mike Cowley
close in the Man of the Match stakes.
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| The second half saw a number of changes in personnel for OBRFC: Alastair
Rigden came on for Neil Hannaway, Andy Godden for Andrew West and Matt
O'Connor for Billy Mullen. Their fresh legs helped reinvigorate OBRFC's
efforts.
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| Approaching the last twenty minutes, skipper Matthew Staines won a
lineout on the opposition throw, Alastair Rigden released Mike Cowley,
who made an outside break before popping the ball to Neil Tentner,
who, with a customary hand off, made the line and opened the scoring for
OBRFC.
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| At this stage the momentum seemed to be with the visiting side but an
injury to Mike Cowley and ensuing substitutions disrupted their flow and
they were unable to capitalise.
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| Two very late tries by Wasps meant the score line flattered the home
side somewhat, but they did deserve their win. Despite the mitigating
circumstances, for large parts of the match OBRFC did not step up in
defence, missing too many tackles, and in attack often tried too hard as
individuals to force the issue rather than look for support and recycle.
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| This OBRFC side have already shown that they have more to offer than was
on display on Saturday. They will draw
positives from the defeat, learn from their errors and come back
stronger for the experience.
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