A Game of Missed Opportunity

We'll look back on this game as a missed opportunity but a good learning experience. Against a big pack we held parity for most of the game and crafted some nice chances but our opponents had scored all their 41 points before we got on the score board with 3 lively tries of our own in the last 15 mins. It could have been a much closer game had we finished the opportunities we created.

A planned move in the Centre bringing the power of Ed in from the blind side wing, opened the mid field. He was hauled down agonisingly short, and being quite new to rugby didn't realise the base of the post protector which was with in reach, counts as a score. He knows now! Then slick hands on the right involving Ben twice linking play, Dan, Ed again put Harry in at the corner but he lost control while grounding. Soon after Charlie G picked up a long pass and rounded the defender but made a double movement grounding in the same corner. Tom H and Will both looked likely to score driving for the line. A heavy hit dislodged the ball from Toms grasp and Will fell victim a a strong ripping arm and I haven't mentioned Swiff being held up over the line, good line defence from our opponents.

In contrast Wath took their chances and looked livelier out wide than they have in the past. Will, Midge and Harry all had good games, especially in defence around the breakdowns. Charlie G looks to be hitting a purple patch with some strong runs, i think you'll score soon! Charlie S stuck manfully to the task of propping despite carrying an ankle injury which was aggravated and Adam and James looked lively.

Determined not to come away pointless we awoke in the last 15 mins and showed what we are capable of. First a long pass found Winger Loz arriving in the Centre channel to straighten, cut through the gap and twist through the last tackle for a determined score. Shortly after, Scrum Half Harry, made the most of two quick rucks to break blind to score from 25 metres. Ed made another powerful break up the middle being hauled down 5 metres short. From a similar position Tom G showed how it can be done, hitting a flat pass in to traffic, breaking through and accelerating away for a 60 metre score.

It takes resilience to finish as you did today and with a little more poise this would have been a much closer game. Our mistakes lead to two of the Wath scores and there were 6 other very good chances we created which we didn't take today .... food for though!