St Albans First Team
Match Reports
SAINTS OUTFLANK NIGERIAN TO WIN THRILLER !Saturday 19th November 2005
St Albans 22 - London Nigerian 12
Saints welcomed back LNRFC to Boggymead Spring for the first time in several years on Saturday.One contest between the two was in 1995 when Saints were the victors at home in a preliminary tournament round on their way to the Pilkington Shield Final at Twickenham. Since then we think Nigerian have beaten Saints both home and away in a more junior league than both find themselves today. LNRFC were only founded in 1991 by a group of Nigerian friends who had learnt and played rugby at English schools. Former England international wing Chris Oti was their coach in the mid 90's and until recently LNRFC were playing in London League 1.They are based at the Linford Christie Stadium in West London's White City.This is yet another League fixture of unknown dimensions between the visiting men in green and the hosts in blue and gold.
heromachine addonConditions were excellent with brilliant sunshine , no wind, 9C with tacky going underfoot .
Nigerian kicked off towards the Oaklands west end with much frantic endeavour by both sides.The visitors worked their way into Saints 22 with a series of lineouts. Saints drove them back with good defence but on 8 minutes conceded a penalty to Nigerian on half way.The kick at goal was missed and from the 22 dropout Saints moved for the first time in the game into Nigerian's half. Like Nigerian ,Saints used their forwards to pick,drive and maul into the visitor's 22 forcing them to be penalised.A quick tap and sprint by No 9 Gareth Day fed Aussie prop Farren Mahoney whose slick pass to prop Danny Batchelor (picture 1),naturally on the wing as always, gave the Saints nineteen and a half stoner and "Godfather" of the side a powerful opening try,unconverted.
On 11 minutes, Saints 5 Nigerian 0 slightly against the run of play.
Remarkably, it took 15 minutes before the first scrum of the game occurred.
On 18 minutes ,Nigerian took a good strike against the head as Nigerian's two massive second rows,Junior and Shimo,turned up the pressure on the Saints pack.Saints were now defending and going backwards but forced Nigerian into a penalty which Saints failed to put into touch .Nigerian returned the kick with interest and gave chase.A Saints defensive mix up on their 22 saw the ball fly loose for Nigerian to hack on.Nigerian won the footrace, many elbows and feet everywhere, to touchdown for a frantic converted try.
On 23 minutes Saints 5 Nigerian 7 .
Saints went straight back on the attack with the backs plying the northern touchline but Nigerian's backs defended well.Saints camped inside Nigerian's 22 for the next 12 minutes forcing a series of scrums and lineouts close to Nigerian's line.Excellent defence by Nigerian saved a certain try -four times Saints were held up over the visitors' line .
On 38 minutes Saints finally gave a penalty away and came away with nothing.
By now there had been several stoppages for injury.
Nigerian now managed to drive into Saints half where a fracas broke out resulting in a penalty to Saints.The two sides played ping pong rugby in midfield until 47 minutes when the half eventually ended.
Overall, Saints had not taken all their chances but a powerful Nigerian side had defended and countered well.Game well and truly up for grabs!
Half Time Score.St.Albans 5 London Nigerian 7.
At the break Saints coach Tim Andrews brought on substitutes Jack Stevenson at No10 and prop Tony Giddings for all of the second half.
From the restart Saints powered straight into Nigerian's 22 for an attacking scrum.From there the Saints backline drove to near the Nigerian line but were bundled into touch for a Nigerian lineout.Saints kept the pressure on and forced an attacking 5 metre lineout.Captain Dan Hillier caught clean,on came the drive and this time No 8 John Sayers, varying the driving angle well, scored in the corner, unconverted.
Saints had retaken the lead so on 42 minutes , Saints 10 Nigerian 7.
This galvanised Nigerian who moved up a gear and raced straight into Saints 22 .
Nigerian forced an attacking 5 metre lineout and went open ,their man mountain Junior joining the drive for Nigerian to score a good clinical try,unconverted.
On 48 minutes Nigerian had retaken the lead at Saints 10 Nigerian 12.
On 50 minutes Saints missed a chance to go back ahead when they missed a medium range penalty.
On 53 minutes Nigerian produced a massive forward onslaught on the Saints line but the defence stood up efficiently.
Nigerian continued to press but finally conceded a penalty, just as Saints had done earlier.
So far the two halves had mirrored each other's fortunes.
On 60 minutes there was more pressure by Nigerian, whose pack had found new life but kept spilling the ball after taking several against the head.
There had by now been more injury breaks ,various substitutions having to be made by the men in green.Nigerian continued to press and grubber kicked into Saints in goal, No 8 John Sayers just getting the touch down with a giant paw for a 22 dropout.
On 67 minutes,Saints drove straight down the middle with a series of mauls this time taking play to just 5 metres from Nigerian's line.Sensing blood, scrum half Gareth Day wisely fed inside to No10 Jack Stevenson who dummied right then scored left between the posts,converted by himself.
On 68 minutes Saints 17 Nigerian 12.
A midfield stalemate now developed with both packs continuing their private war of attrition with occasional sorties by both backlines .On 80 minutes Nigerian finally got to 10 metres from Saints line but gave yet another penalty away.There were more injury stoppages but the impasse was broken as the sun literally went down on the visitors .On 86 minutes from a scrum near half way Nigerian went blind but the bush-telegraphed pass to their left wing was intercepted by Saints substitute flanker David Callan who ran 40 metres outpacing everyone to score the clinching try in the corner , unconverted.Saints 22 Nigerian 12.
In the gloom ,Nigerian refused to lie down and to their credit roared back into Saints' half but time ran out after a second half of 53 minutes .With a first half of 47 minutes,everyone had witnessed an exciting error strewn high drama that had taken a full 100 minutes!
Final Score. St.Albans 22 London Nigerian 12.
Saints Coach Tim Andrews was well pleased with the performance and character shown by all 18 especially in defence and with their composed attitude all round. Captain Dan Hillier (in picture 2) was named Man of the Match for his leadership by example against seriously tough and proud opposition.