St Albans First Team
Match Reports
IMPROVED SAINTS GO DOWN FIGHTING THE PLAYAS !Saturday 17th December 2005
London Nigerian 24 - St.Albans 10
Saints travelled to the Linford Christie Stadium in West London's White City to play London Nigerian on Saturday. This was the return leg of the earlier League fixture in the Powergen London North 2 between the visitors in blue and gold and the men in green. Just a month ago, Saints won by 10 points at home-could they do a League double before the pies and turkey take their toll during the Christmas break?
Cross Stich crackConditions were cold with bright sunshine, 4C and a moderate northerly wind blowing straight down a Stadium pitch in fine condition.The wind chill factor ensured a record crowd attendance of around 20 people,half of them visiting Saints including officials, all totally dedicated to the Rugby Union cause or full of Christmas anti-freeze or both!
Referee Mr Andrew Gaynor got the contest under way.
Saints kicked off into the wind towards the west (Wormwood Scrubs Prison) end and there was much to and fro as all concerned sized each up.The first scrum of the game to Saints gave them a good solid heel on their 22 ,No10 John Andrews playing the touchline.Nigerian were penalised at the ensuing lineout,scrum half Gareth Day taking a quick tap and go . Nigerian were penalised for in at the side to give Saints a kick 30 metres out head on to the posts.New signing this season,winger Mark Kentish (picture),kicked Saints to 3 nil up after only 4 minutes.
From the restart Nigerian's juggernaut pack drove straight down to Saints' line where the visitors were penalised. They defended a quick tap but were again penalised on their 22.Nigerian's No 10 Richard Small kicked the 3 points to level the scores.
On 7 minutes it's Nigerian 3 Saints 3.
For several minutes a war of attrition between the 2 packs saw Saints drive to Nigerian's line .Good smother tackling defence by them held up "Godfather" prop Danny Batchelor and the forwards on the tryline.From an attacking scrum Saints conceded a penalty for holding on and Nigerian escaped.The hosts worked the touchline and began mixing the game up ,backs and forwards ,scissors and dummies,all applying the pressure but spilling the ball.From a scrum Saints set up a maul but were again penalised for offside 25 metres out,head on to their posts.
Nigerian's Small kicked them into the lead for the first time ,6-3 after 17 minutes.
Nigerian went off the boil for a while,still spilling the ball and Saints stealing their lineout throw -the first of several during the match.Saints however did not capitalise much mainly due to good Nigerian defence, in the visitors' faces all afternoon.
Nigerian clawed their way into Saints' 22 ,their pack really rumbling now .Their big men Junior,Shima and the No 8 all bludgeoned away before feeding an eager Nigerian backline- the No 12 scoring a crisp,slicing try - unconverted.
On 25 minutes,Nigerian 11 Saints 3.
Nigerian spent the next 10 minutes in Saints territory, but wasted several attacking opportunities under pressure from Saints' offensive defence.
Steal of the Day came on 30 minutes after Nigerian kicked a penalty to Saints 5 metre line for an attacking lineout.Catching the vibes from the Scrubs Prison end,prop Danny Batchelor committed daylight robbery of Nigerian's clean catcher , drove up field and forced Nigerian to concede a penalty .The Godfather had literally got Saints out of gaol - the Wormwood Scrubs variety !
The rest of the half went mostly to Saints with several bullocking runs by the front row union hooker Brenton Lemiere ,prop Farren Mahoney and the Godfather all making ground but getting isolated and twice being penalised for holding on.On 41 minutes Saints forced a kickable penalty on Nigerian's 22.
Showing brave commitment ,Saints opted for a scrum but failed to capitalise from the ensuing series of rolling mauls as they were bundled into touch 5 metres out on 44 minutes.
Half Time Score. London Nigerian 11 St.Albans 3.
Nigerian restarted the second half kicking towards the Scrubs end ,but Saints counter-attacked and got to Nigerian's 10 metre line.All their good work was nullified as they conceded a penalty.Man mountain,twenty one and a half stone Junior took a quick tap and five Saints with him before releasing 10 metres inside Saints' half.More spilled ball by both sides but Nigerian steadily gaining ground in open play with both their forwards and backs having the edge.The pressure finally told first a lineout then a scrum Saints defending well but Nigerian's pacy backline pouncing for a good, patient well worked try,unconverted.
On 54 minutes,Nigerian 16 Saints 3.
The game became more frantic in the mid field without gain to anyone.
On 64 minutes ,Saints Coach Tim Andrews brought on evergreen winger "Macca" Ian McCullen and young prop Andy Weldon for the rest of the match.Later he brought on flanker Dave Stanford.
This galvanised Saints into their best spell of the day.
On 65 minutes from a scrum ,Saints drove to Nigerian's line but this time wisely spun the ball wide all the way left with fullback "Mighty Swede" Joe Shaw (picture) entering the line 10 metres out .He showed why he is a County player by taking himself ,the ball and 3 defenders over the line for an excellent powerful try wide out.
There was more good news for Saints as new acquisition Mark Kentish ,taking on the kicking duties, kicked a fine conversion right out of the top drawer!
Suddenly,it was game on .On 68 minutes Nigerian 16 Saints 10.
Nigerian's assistant coach ,Dave,grey already,confided nervously to me that things had now become very interesting!
He need not have worried as Nigerian gained a free kick on half way.Gentleman giant Junior made the hard yards ,but saw it all nullified as his No10 kicked the ball dead into Saints' touch in goal for a scrum back.
On 73 minutes the crucial point in the game arrived.
Saints bungled the pickup from their rock solid scrum and conceded a penalty head on to their posts 30 metres out.Nigerian's No 10 who had been rather ponderous all afternoon redeemed himself with a good penalty strike.
On 75 minutes,Nigerian 19 Saints 10.
Saints did not lie down and got to Nigerian's 22 .Saints' captain Dan Hillier ,leading from the front,made a good lineout take only to see it spilled further out.Nigerian pounced and scampered 50 metres upfield before spilling the ball 15 metres from Saints' line.
There followed a series of series of scrums and lineouts near Saints' 22 until on 82 minutes Saints spilled the ball yet again.Nigerian swooped to feed their pacy No12 on the crash ball to slice through for a good well angled try ,unconverted.
Final Score. London Nigerian 24 St.Albans 10.