St.Albans 23 - Thurrock 8
acrobat distiller bajar gratisSaints welcomed Thurrock RFC to Boggymead Spring for the first time ever in a return leg of their Powergen London North 2 fixture both sides fighting hard to avoid the League relegation zone.Thurrock RFC, founded in 1928 ,are currently Essex Cup champions who easily disposed of Saints in their first ever encounter at Oakfield last September by 33-0. The visitors however hit a poor mid season patch whilst Saints were unbeaten in January so that today Thurrock lead Saints by 4 points in the League. Both Clubs plus 3 or 4 others are now like ferrets in a sack fighting to avoid the dreaded League drop.
In prospect then, a must win contest definitely not for the faint hearted !
Conditions were bright after overnight frost, a brisk NNW wind blowing straight across a well kept firm pitch ,ambient temperature of 6C but with the wind chill factor, brass monkeys (and spectators) especially those on the top touchline might say otherwise!
Mr Lee Towers,undoubtably the youngest referee in our League at just 22 years of age and born in Grimsby, got the game under way at 2.30 pm in front of a crowd of around 75 knowledgeable partisan spectators from both Clubs.
Saints kicked off from the Vet's end with much to and fro- a penalty to Thurrock then a free kick to Saints but Thurrock getting the better of the early exchanges.
Thurrock's No 8 jumping at No 2 in the lineout collected clean ball ,as he did all match,to feed a Thurrock backline that spilled the ball 15 metres from Saints' line, as they did often all match .
On 6 minutes a solid Saints' scrum on their 22 fed No10 Jack Stevenson whose educated boot took Saints back to half way.
Thurrock continued to soften Saints up using their heavy but rather ponderous and predictable pack on the charge but the Saints' back row were all putting in the big hits Richard Louw (picture 1) to the fore but County No 8 Sayers and fiery Scot Callan weighing in as well.
Thurrock won their scrum on Saints' 10 metre line and fed their backs but tall centre Phil James forced a Thurrock spill forward which he snapped up feeding mobile second row captain Dan Hillier-what was he doing there? His timely pass found streetwise fullback John Andrews entering the line at pace on the right who made 30 metres before slipping the key pass to County wing Ed "Exocet " Coy for a surprise try in the corner ,unconverted .
It was slightly against the overall run of play at the time but foreshadowed the rest of the game.
On 8 minutes Saints 5 Thurrock 0.
The next 10 minutes saw much aerial ping pong ,Thurrock's lineout going well but Saints in the visitor's faces with notable bullocking runs from props Green and Giddings plus typical sniping from scrum half Gareth Day (picture 2) and abrasive running from left wing County player Joe Shaw.His powerful step and handoff gave the visitors' backs a hard time all match both in attack and defence.
On 13 minutes Thurrock stole another Saints' lineout but knocked on.
On 15 minutes Thurrock's scrum half took a quick tap and was rewarded for his adventure by meeting Saints' hardman flanker Richard Louw-the crowd audibly wincing but the visitors' No 9 miraculously got up again!
By now Thurrock's physio had been on the field 3 times to Saints' nil !
On 18 minutes Thurrock infringed at the scrum 5 metres from Saints' line and gave away a free kick but Saints did not escape far.
Saints were under the Thurrock forward cosh for the next 8 minutes with Thurrock winning the first phase ball but often failing to get over the gain line either via their back row or their backs.Thurrock's pressure paid off on 26 minutes as Saints gave a penalty away in front of their posts on the 22-missed by Thurrock's No 13.
By now the tide was turning as both Saints' flankers Richard Louw and Dave Callan stole loose ball and Thurrock were pinned back for the next 10 minutes.
Thurrock were still securing crisp good quality lineout ball but often going backwards not getting over the gain line their centres looking hesitant not knowing what to do with the ball .At a scrum Saints' young South African hooker Brenton Lemiere took the first of 3 against the head in the match and Thurrock were promptly penalised for not binding properly.Jack Stevenson prodded Saints to 20 metres from Thurrock's line.
On 42 minutes a textbook lineout by Saints and flanker Callan set up good ruck ball ,killed by Thurrock in front of their posts 22 metres out for a penalty.
Jack Stevenson kicked an easy 3 points.
Half Time Score . St.Albans 8 Thurrock 0 .
Thurrock started the second half from the Vets end kicking into the Oaklands winter sunshine.They forced a line out 15 metres from Saints' line -promptly snaffled by Scots predator Callan and driven on by second rows Hillier and Davis but support went in at the side to gift Thurrock a penalty on Saints 22.
On 42 minutes a key moment had now arrived as Thurrock kicked for an attacking 5 metre lineout but fired the ball well into Saints' touch in goal for a scrum back.
The scrum lead to a lineout 20 metres inside the Saints' half, taken by Dan Hillier playing a blinder again today,which signalled a massive drive straight down the middle to Thurrock's 10 metre line . Going left No10 Stevenson fed No12 Alderton then Stevenson again on the loop. In support at pace, scrum half terrier of a pup Day went on a fine obtuse diagonal slice to score Try of the (Gareth) Day in the corner,unconverted.
On 45 minutes Saints 13 Thurrock 0.
Thurrock came back with a vengeance from a scrum-their star No 8 picked and drove but lacked support turning the ball over in an undisciplined shambles boots,arms and legs everywhere.
Referee Towers,quickly on the spot all game, had no option but to yellow card Thurrock's big second row Danny Bowden for reckless use of the boot at the ruck.
The game again went off the boil with more injuries mainly to Thurrock's players.
On 51 minutes Thurrock's heavy artillery,both their giant props and hooker to the fore, rumbled predictably into Saints' half only to be flattened by the usual back row suspects,Sayers,Callan and ever present Louw.
Thurrock showed their character and a bit more discipline as they reached Saints 5 metre line but spilled the ball yet again . The referee played another of his long advantages and Jack Stevenson with Kick of the Day sent the ball back to half way taking all the pressure off the Boggymead Boys.
More aerial ping pong ensued until No12 Alderton drilled a fine touchfind to Thurrock's 22.Thurrock won their ensuing lineout well but Thurrock's full back gifted the clearance ball to his opposite number John Andrews who ran the ball back for an attacking Saints' scrum 20 metres from Thurrock's tryline.
On 54 minutes, with a big blindside on the right,a quick heel fed County right wing Ed "Exocet "Coy who scorched the earth on autopilot for his second trademark try of the match near the corner,unconverted.
On 55 minutes Saints 18 Thurrock 0.