St Albans First Team
Match Reports
WIMBLEDON WITHSTAND SAINTS 19 POINT COMEBACK!Saturday 29th October 2005
Wimbledon 37 - St Albans 22
Saints travelled to Wimbledon RFC for the first time ever in their history knowing that they were up against illustrious Rugby Union opponents from a byegone age. Founded in 1865,Wimbledon RFC touched down their existence in the area well before a certain private All England Croquet Club was founded in 1868 later playing tennis in 1875.Some of Wimbledon's founding rugby players later wrote some of the RFU's original laws,including one player L.J Maton who later became a President of the RFU in 1871.
dvd film dowloandWimbledon have been playing continuously at London 2 standard for about 5 years albeit in the South sector.So history,pedigree ,home advantage,experience and form were all on Wimbledon's side as they welcomed the new boys of London North 2 journeying again into the unknown this season.
Conditions were good,15C ,a light to moderate south westerly wind blowing straight down a very large green pitch in leafy picturesque suburban London.
The only environmental blot on the day was that the match had to be halted several times during the 80 minutes,for clearing up operations because the animals of the area clearly did their training or straining on the Wimbledon RFC pitch during the week too!
Wimbledon kicked off into the wind and were immediately awarded a penalty for Saints offside .The kick was missed and from the dropout Saints drove into Wimbledon's half.
By 7 minutes,Saints had progressed to Wimbledon's 5 metre line but turned the ball over and came away with nothing.Wimbledon's heavy pack, featuring a 19 stone prop and an equally heavy second row,held firm and eventually clawed their way upfield helped by a couple of poor Saints mis-tackles.
A mistake ridden 10 minutes by both sides culminated in Wimbledon camping on Saints 5 metre line for a series of attacking lineouts from penalties,Wimbledon finally fumbling the ball over Saints line for a 22 metre dropout.Wimbledon should have scored from the restart but were penalised for a double movement on Saints line.
Despite all Wimbledon's pressure and territory ,it took until 24 minutes before Wimbledon were awarded a penalty which they converted to take a deserved 3-0 lead.
Saints had been living dangerously on the offside line all game and on 28 minutes Saints winger James Dickinson was yellow carded for needlessly killing a ruck near half way.
Wimbledon kicked downfield and capitalised on 30 minutes from a good solid scrum on the Saints 5 metre line.They spun the ball down the line to their powerful No 11 winger who scored a good converted try near the corner.Wimbledon 10 Saints 0.
Only good Saints defence ,including several try saving tackles by full back Joe Shaw ,stopped the floodgates opening.
Saints scraped their way into Wi's half only to concede a lineout.
The ensuing sharp blindside lineout move by Wimbledon put their No11 in the clear again for a scorching touchline run to record his second try in the corner,unconverted.
On 36 minutes Wi 15 Saints 0.
Not to be outdone,the visitors pressured Wimbledon inside their 22 who were penalised for crossing. Saints No 10 John Andrews kicked the penalty to make it Wimbledon 15 Saints 3.
Half time score. Wimbledon 15 St.Albans 3.
Things went from ominous to worse for Saints in the first part of the second half as Wimbledon scored a converted try on 47 minutes followed by an unconverted one two minutes later.Their pack was setting the platform and the backs were running the tries in despite valiant but numerically inadequate Saints defence.
On 49 minutes,Wimbledon 27 Saints 3.
Saints Coach Tim Andrews now made a series of inspired substitutions and positional changes whilst Wimbledon sat on their lead and fell asleep.
Saints new 18 stone rugby league signing, centre Farren Mahoney was switched to prop,Donald Onyuma joined the pack and young Dave Mitchell became left wing.
The turning point for Saints came on 66 minutes when Wimbledon kicked a ball down to the Saints goal line gathered in the corner by wing James "JD" Dickinson.He confounded the opposition and almost everyone else by going on a long unopposed 60 metre diagonal run infield, crossing half way before passing to winger "Macca" McMullen supported by ever-present full back Joe Shaw.The move foundered but from the ensuing scrum on Wimbledon's 22,No 8 John Sayers fed terrier of a scrum half Gareth Day to fly in untouched for a spirited converted try under the posts.On 67 minutes,Wimbledon 27 Saints 10.
Saints continued in similar vein ,young hooker Brenton Lemiere blasting holes in Wimbledon's defence several times in the course of the match especially in the later stages.
On 72 minutes Wimbledon woke up ,drove downfield and kicked a penalty to make it Wimbledon 30 Saints 10.
On 75 minutes ,Saints forced a scrum on Wimbledon's 22 .Scrum half Gareth Day popped the ball up to full back Joe Shaw on the crash who handed off weak Wimbledon tackling to score a fine converted try under the posts.Wimbledon 30 Saints 17.
Christmas then came early for Wimbledon as on 78 minutes ,Saints Donald Onyuma impetuously took a quick lineout throw in to midfield on his 22 ,the ball going loose for Wimbledon to scamper over for a soft converted try under the posts.On 78 minutes Wimbledon 37 Saints 17.
On 82 minutes,Saints had the last word.From a scrum on Wimbledon's 22,Saints spun the ball all the way down their backline to evergreen winger "Macca" McMullen who scored his second try in as many weeks,unconverted.
Final score Wimbledon 37 Saints 22.
Saints were beaten fair and square by a settled experienced Wimbledon outfit whose heavier pack had the edge overall but whose backs were the big difference too often having surplus pace and power -their No 11 particularly outstanding.
Saints gave away too many penalties,wasted quality possession and conceded a yellow card. Impressing again this week with his spirited attacking runs was hooker Brenton Lemiere.He just keeps getting better and fitter!
Saints defence has to improve if they are to return to winning ways against class opposition.Our beloved "Swede" sets the standard but he can't do it all!
A special accolade therefore goes to full back Joe Shaw (picture 1) for his tireless work in attack and defence ,heroic try saving tackles and faultless fielding of the high ball all afternoon.His try ,complete with trademark handoffs in the dying minutes exemplifies the Saints spirit.You never beat Saints , with a Millenium of other experience,you just sometimes score more points than them!
Saints Coach Tim Andrews applauded his team in adapting to 5 enforced player changes since last week several late on and showing traditional fighting character until the final whistle.Unbowed ,he remained positive that at the return match Saints will have learned and progressed to give Wimbledon a warm welcome in our Cathedral City on 21st January of the New Year.