UCSOB 1st XV vs Wasps Amateurs 1st XV
UCSOB 1st XV 22 v 16 Wasps Amateurs 1st XV
There was dappled winter’s sun over the UCS Playing Fields as the UCSOB 1st XV ran out for a crucial relegation battle with nearest rivals Wasps Amateurs. UCS dominated the opening exchanges making good yards through the forwards around the break down. Henk, Bean, Sewell and Jones all carried with purpose and kept the opposition on the back foot. A few turnovers at crucial moments kept Wasps in the game and allowed them to relieve the mounting pressure.
Wasps could not hold out forever and more good work from the forwards led to the ball being delivered to Bean in the wide channel who stepped back inside and crashed through a number of tackles to score. Stewart, having found his kicking boots, slotted the tricky conversion. The lead was soon cut to 7-3 as Wasps took advantage of a penalty in front of the posts.
Stewart replied in kind to restore a 7 point lead – 10-3 to the Gowers.
The pattern of the match continued with UCS getting go forward around the fringes but conceding turnovers at ruck time. One of these led to a kick through from Wasps which could only be carried into touch in the UCS 22. A good move from Wasps and a missed tackle by UCS led to a try in the corner which went unconverted.Wasps had wrestled moment and the penalty count was beginning to cost UCS field position. Some strong drives led to another score and UCS found themselves 10-13 behind. Discipline was poor from both sides and the referee remained unmoved by captain Arnold’s calls for some stricter punishment of the opposition’s failure to grasp the laws of the breakdown.
This allowed Stewart to keep the points ticking over and the sides went into the break at 16-16.
The game began to break down after half-time with both teams knowing the importance of getting the win. The UCS pack gained the whip hand at scrum time and forcefully repelled. Wasps driving lineout denying the opposition set piece ball to play from. The defensive line kept up this pressure and suffocated the opposition into making mistakes.
The penalties continued to flow and UCS were awarded yet another in the opposition 22. Arnold pointed to the posts: “Terrible decision” muttered Director of Rugby Boxer. Stewart calmly nudged through the posts: “Great decision” Boxer’s revised verdict.
UCS had opportunities to kill the game but continued to test the fans heartrates as the game became more and more nervy. Stewart was the cool head in the heat of the moment and kicked another penalty to extend the lead to 22-16.
The last few minutes were frantic defence for the Gowers and despite winning turnovers failed to fully clear their lines. Wasps though ran out of ideas and fittingly gave away a penalty that was gratefully banged into touch to bring the game to an end and lift UCS off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation places.
A great win that could easily have gone the other way if the team hadn’t showed immense spirit against a determined opposition. The victory was well toasted in a packed club house with an excellent social organised by the deviants Collier and Bromley.
Sewell, Henk, Ghanem, Oulton, Ovens (Warner), Jones, Zabci, Bean, Coates, Stewart, O’Dwyer, Arnold (C), Edwards, Loughnan (Day), Breakwell Pope
We CAN make it happen this season but we have to WORK for it – every team around us is out there working
for the exact same thing so it’s down to us as individuals to make it happen!
11th Feb – Welsh (A)
4th Mar – Actonians (A)
1st Apr – Barnet (H)
8th Apr – Hendon (H)
See you at training!
Nick