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Sat 17 Dec 2016 · London 3 South East
Park House
1st XV
12
7
Winter blues as old boys lose rhythm
Colin Sinclair21 Dec 2016 - 09:45
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As autumn turns to winter, Old Dunstonians are beginning to feel an uncomfortable chill following another defeat before the Christmas break.
What a difference from the scoring bonanza in the September sunshine, as, in markedly heavier conditions, Park House ground out a ponderous win to reverse the early season result. It leaves the Park Langley side reflecting again on what might have been and the increasingly difficult league challenge looming for the rest of the season.
The recurring theme is that, despite flashes of individual skill and invention, the OD’s are not establishing enough possession to put sufficient pressure on opponents who, by contrast, build their phases and dominate large sections of the game.
As fellow league strugglers Park House soon discovered, they were up against an organised defensive line that was good enough early on to thwart any ambition to run the ball. New centre recruit Kieran Elliot was prominent in a rush defence which initially hurried the home side into plenty of errors. Disappointingly, having earned their right to the ball, Dunstonians were unable to keep it for any length of time, coming off second best in an increasingly scrappy forward encounter. If the scrum creaks, it then becomes doubly difficult to establish a forward platform and get into the right areas of the pitch. As a result, Park House were comfortably camped in the visitor’s half when, against the run of play, OD’s broke away for the opening try. A trademark James Oddy tackle saw the ball spill into the hands of pacey full back Sam Hampson who, from deep in his own half, split the Park House defence to score a virtuoso try under the posts.
Lesson learnt, the home side quickly reverted to a tried and tested game plan that didn’t really involve their backs at all. Apart from some aimless kicking, spectators were treated to a period of pick and drive tactics which, with the help of a generous quota of OD penalty offences, took the Park House eight up to and over the old boys’ line to level the score at 7-7. With the OD pack already feeling the strain, replacement Nick Gilbey was punished for a careless boot at a ruck. His untimely 10 minute break would only further sap the precious energy of his team mates.
To the OD’s credit, his absence did not prove too much of a handicap as the game got bogged down in a protracted forward exchange. However, this was always going to favour the more belligerent Park House pack and OD’s supply of ball dried up. Fly half Mike Ubee tried every trick in his repertoire to get his forwards on the front foot, including a sparkling piece of footwork following a clever chip ahead, but his efforts went unrewarded. Normal service was resumed as Park House reasserted an attacking field position and went through their forward motions. The resulting pressure took its toll as they scored a second replica short range try.
Brief glimpses of what wingers Mal Connolly and Jamal Gobir could do with a better supply of ball flashed in front of our eyes as OD’s tried to force a winning score from broken play but final passes went astray and half chances fizzled out.
The match ended without them really getting close. – it had been that sort of day.
Congratulations to Kieran Elliot on his debut 1st XV appearance
Man of the Match: Mike Ubee
The recurring theme is that, despite flashes of individual skill and invention, the OD’s are not establishing enough possession to put sufficient pressure on opponents who, by contrast, build their phases and dominate large sections of the game.
As fellow league strugglers Park House soon discovered, they were up against an organised defensive line that was good enough early on to thwart any ambition to run the ball. New centre recruit Kieran Elliot was prominent in a rush defence which initially hurried the home side into plenty of errors. Disappointingly, having earned their right to the ball, Dunstonians were unable to keep it for any length of time, coming off second best in an increasingly scrappy forward encounter. If the scrum creaks, it then becomes doubly difficult to establish a forward platform and get into the right areas of the pitch. As a result, Park House were comfortably camped in the visitor’s half when, against the run of play, OD’s broke away for the opening try. A trademark James Oddy tackle saw the ball spill into the hands of pacey full back Sam Hampson who, from deep in his own half, split the Park House defence to score a virtuoso try under the posts.
Lesson learnt, the home side quickly reverted to a tried and tested game plan that didn’t really involve their backs at all. Apart from some aimless kicking, spectators were treated to a period of pick and drive tactics which, with the help of a generous quota of OD penalty offences, took the Park House eight up to and over the old boys’ line to level the score at 7-7. With the OD pack already feeling the strain, replacement Nick Gilbey was punished for a careless boot at a ruck. His untimely 10 minute break would only further sap the precious energy of his team mates.
To the OD’s credit, his absence did not prove too much of a handicap as the game got bogged down in a protracted forward exchange. However, this was always going to favour the more belligerent Park House pack and OD’s supply of ball dried up. Fly half Mike Ubee tried every trick in his repertoire to get his forwards on the front foot, including a sparkling piece of footwork following a clever chip ahead, but his efforts went unrewarded. Normal service was resumed as Park House reasserted an attacking field position and went through their forward motions. The resulting pressure took its toll as they scored a second replica short range try.
Brief glimpses of what wingers Mal Connolly and Jamal Gobir could do with a better supply of ball flashed in front of our eyes as OD’s tried to force a winning score from broken play but final passes went astray and half chances fizzled out.
The match ended without them really getting close. – it had been that sort of day.
Congratulations to Kieran Elliot on his debut 1st XV appearance
Man of the Match: Mike Ubee
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