With Old Brentwoods having fought themselves into joint second at the halfway point this season, the team hotly anticipated their last game of the year hosting a strong Kings Cross Steelers side for the second match up this season, having not lost a game at Home all of 2023.
Despite foggy and frozen conditions, the stage was set for Kings X to kick off. After some quick kicking back and forth it was the Home side that found themselves with controlling possession in optimum field position, electing for a close attacking lineout. With the team sheet bolstered by returning regulars missing the past few weeks, the Forwards choreographed a tight rolling maul which began a piercing march from the 22 before moving the ball from coast to coast stretching the defence. With the Visitors’ holding firm and a penalty awarded in the shadow of the posts, Woodies gratefully took the points [3-0]

From the resulting kick off, the Woodies again found themselves on the offensive and attacking well. Making ground through crisp movement of the ball and strong carrying, the barrage was paused with the fall of strongman Bob Levoir who was forced to retire from the game injured. Undeterred the Home side launched another attack, only to again be met with an unbroken Kings X defence. Keen to be rewarded for their efforts another direct penalty was converted to extend the marginal lead. [6-0]

After some open play, the Visitors’ finally were able to gain enough possession to launch their attack, demonstrating just how threatening they can be with ball in hand. However they were met by an unflinching wall of Blue defenders showing a willingness to fight both sides of the ball. With both sides now firmly in the game, the arm wrestle was finally snapped with a break by Tim Mason through the middle winning a third penalty infront of the posts which he dutifully slotted. [9-0]

The ticking scoreboard pressure however was immediately relieved when a knock on from the return kick off allowed Kings X to negate the hard-fought score with a penalty of their own. [9-3]

With the scoring opening the Visitors’ came back hard, taking territory from back to back penalties to move uncontested up the pitch. With another breakdown penalty on the 5m line, for which winger James Sullivan was shown a yellow, they launched some training paddock trickery to burst over the line for the first try of the game and closing the difference. [9-8]

Old Brentwoods almost found themselves at risk from another score shortly from the reset with messy play releasing the Kings X winger deep within their own half, chipping the Fullback only for recovering defenders to fall onto the bobbling ball. With Woodies unable to clear their lines and Kings X dominating the breakdown area it wasn’t long until they crossed the whitewash for a second time, identifying an overlap and cutting back inside - this time making the conversion. [9-15]

With 15 unanswered points in quick succession momentum had truly swung away from the Home side, largely (they felt) from their own poor play rather than their opponent’s creativity. With a stern talking under the posts they were able to rediscover their tempo.Ttime running out the Old Boys were able to play into the opponents half working their way towards an attacking lineout in the corner. Having had their maul turned away earlier in the game, this time the Forwards were able to tighten around the ball and stomp over the line, captain Stu Smyth etching his name onto the score sheet on behalf of his powerful pack. [14-15 HT]

With the ice thawing to mud the deteriorating conditions had an impact on the quality of the game in the second half, with icy fingers unable to grasp the slippery ball and inaccurate kicks not finding their mark. Despite pinning their opponents into their half and finding overlapping opportunities the Old Bs were unable to execute for points, with the returned James Sullivan getting closest to the line before being stripped of the egg.

After a long passage of play in the middle of the park and possession exchanging hands regularly Kings X began to find some momentum through some clever offload play and tactical short kicking, scattering the so far solid line of Home defenders but alas were still unable to break far into scoring territory before the Old Boys cleared the lines. The physicality of the game refused to let up, both teams emptying benches amid charging carries and thunderous tackles

Regardless the tireless Visitors’ pressed on, leading a multiple phased drive up the field through direct rugby only for a knock on to be seized on by Old Brentwoods. With their opponents over committed the team found space out wide from within their half, then reversing the direction of attack to the width of the pitch with a scything kick behind. The exciting 7 minute end to end rally ended with Kings X awarded a scrum on their 5m line only for the impassionated Home pack to win against the head. The victory cries however were short lived when the Visitors’ held strong and turned over a subsequent lineout releasing field pressure.

Again a period of back and forth play resumed with the middle half of the pitch reverting back into a contested battleground, the referee’s whistle regularly breaking each team’s momentum. One such occasion earned more than just a merciful break in play when a Kings X player was sent to the bin for a high in the air tackle, only for him to be joined by his Fullback teammate for a cynical inception attempt the next play. With blood in the water, time running out and now a numeric advantage, a quick tap penalty kept the pressure on – the Hosts’ finally seeing the opportunity for points for their endeavours. Manipulating defenders from one side to the other they finally broke the deadlock with Fullback Rhys Town finding daylight down the short side and galloping in for the all important try, as well as a much deserved Man of the Match accolade. [19-15]

With only moments left in the game, Old Brentwoods clicked into game management mode, with only one exception. Scrum half George Barrett, usually handsome and cool headed, launched an All Blacks through the legs pass from the back of the ruck only to be rescued by the ref’s whistle. The moment of madness rightfully garnished him the DotD award despite an uncharacteristic Smashville application earlier in the game. The final long-range penalty was unconverted closing a truly hard fought but enjoyable game. [19-15 FT]
An incredible game of rugby in testing conditions against a respected and great side. Woodies now prepare for Barking Away next week ahead of the Christmas break, having succeeded in defending Fort Ashwells for a full calendar year!

Author G.Barrett & A.I.