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Sat 27 Jan 2018 · London 3 South East
Old Williamsonians
1st XV
10
10
Dunstonians expand repertoire for well-earned draw
Colin Sinclair30 Jan 2018 - 15:54
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Impressive game management in testing conditions
Hot on the heels of their ten try spree against Folkestone, OD’s were confronted with a completely different challenge at Old Williamsonians, as atrocious weather conditions threw the form book completely out of the window and demanded a game plan that would be rather counterintuitive for the visitors. The fact of the matter was that the game was never going to be easy against the improving Medway side, that has settled ominously well into the London SE3 league with a strong winning record at home. However, playing conditions would make it even more difficult as the home side quickly confirmed that they were well equipped for a physical forward contest and could confidently navigate their way against the elements in the first half.
Barely a minute had been played when flanker Pete Colling’s game ended abruptly with a mouth injury, which brought on Tom McNamarra a little sooner than he was probably expecting. To his credit, the imposing lock was quickly into his long stride, carrying and distributing well, but the early disruption further unsettled the visitors, who failed to establish any dominance, surrendering possession too easily and giving their opponents too much opportunity to get over the gain line. As a result, Dunstonians couldn’t take advantage of the conditions and were unable to force any mistakes from resolute and disciplined opponents. Kicking for both sides became an inexact science as the gusting wind played havoc with distance and accuracy but the lively Williamsonians backs looked more than capable of launching threatening counter attacks when given the chance from some wayward relieving kicks. However, the OD defence, led by the reshuffled back row combination of James Oddy, Phil Grayson and Pete Jefferys, held firm. The physical effort was costly though, resulting in both centre Rory Palmer and skipper Jefferys leaving the fray by half time.
At 0-0, Williamsonians would have turned around expecting a comfortable advantage in the second half against a side that was being denied any opportunity to showcase its attacking skills. However, Old Dunstonians were to produce a second half performance that would not only confound those expectations but also significantly recalibrate the team’s future potential.
It didn’t begin well. From the restart kick, Willies efficiently worked the ball to the left and launched a searing attack that left OD defenders clutching at thin air. Soon after, a long clearing kick took the home side deep into OD territory to force an attacking lineout from which the forwards peeled away to score a second try. Despite failing to convert either, it looked a lost cause for Dunstonians who were now two scores adrift and playing uphill against the strengthening wind and rain.
Throughout, Dunstonians had been scrummaging strongly and, as mistakes began to creep in to the Williamsonian game, the set piece platform became more influential, launching the OD revival. The front row gave the opposition no respite, sapping the strength and energy of a visibly wilting home pack. With the line out functioning as well as the wind would allow, the rejuvenated OD forwards were able to turn the tables and pin the home side back with phase after phase of driving play from ruck and maul. Suddenly Williamsonians were being penalised at the breakdown and Mike Ubee was able to pull back 3 points with a penalty kick that was a lot harder than it looked. Back came the Langley Park boys to immediately resume the barrage and force a continuous Williamsonian retreat. When Andy Booth did release the ball, centres Rob Deane and replacement Sam Mansfield tested a flagging defence that was desperate to slow the ball down and break up the compelling OD rhythm. A yellow card was inevitable as Williamsonians stretched the referee’s patience once too often and, against 14 players, OD’s delivered the coup de grace. Ubee’s accurate low penalty kick into the corner set up what was to be the last line out of the game. OD’s won the ball to initiate another series of punishing short drives, committing defenders who were slow to regroup. As the ball went wide, Ubee put Rhys Bozier, into space, five metres out. The mobile second row, who had run great angles all game, forced his way powerfully over the line to give his team the chance to draw level and take home 2 points. Ubee made sure that they did.
The significance of what was, after all, just a draw lies not only in the result, which was itself an achievement at a tricky venue, but more in the OD’s growing ability to change the course of a game. This was undoubtedly based on a forward effort dictated by the conditions and the need to overhaul the opposition’s early superiority. Building on the second half experience against Park House earlier this month, the pack once again showed the physical commitment and intensity required to shift the momentum of a game that was drifting away. The accuracy and patience to create the scoring opportunities and then to execute clinically revealed a new dimension to a team more in charge of its own destiny and beginning to enjoy the limelight.
Scorers:
Try: Bozier
Con: Ubee
Penalty: Ubee
MoM: Jamie Pecorella, Conor Mitchell and James Mann – as part of a genuine 18 man effort in terrible weather, the revival was triggered by an increasingly effective scrum and an energetic front row that also made its presence felt at the breakdown.
Barely a minute had been played when flanker Pete Colling’s game ended abruptly with a mouth injury, which brought on Tom McNamarra a little sooner than he was probably expecting. To his credit, the imposing lock was quickly into his long stride, carrying and distributing well, but the early disruption further unsettled the visitors, who failed to establish any dominance, surrendering possession too easily and giving their opponents too much opportunity to get over the gain line. As a result, Dunstonians couldn’t take advantage of the conditions and were unable to force any mistakes from resolute and disciplined opponents. Kicking for both sides became an inexact science as the gusting wind played havoc with distance and accuracy but the lively Williamsonians backs looked more than capable of launching threatening counter attacks when given the chance from some wayward relieving kicks. However, the OD defence, led by the reshuffled back row combination of James Oddy, Phil Grayson and Pete Jefferys, held firm. The physical effort was costly though, resulting in both centre Rory Palmer and skipper Jefferys leaving the fray by half time.
At 0-0, Williamsonians would have turned around expecting a comfortable advantage in the second half against a side that was being denied any opportunity to showcase its attacking skills. However, Old Dunstonians were to produce a second half performance that would not only confound those expectations but also significantly recalibrate the team’s future potential.
It didn’t begin well. From the restart kick, Willies efficiently worked the ball to the left and launched a searing attack that left OD defenders clutching at thin air. Soon after, a long clearing kick took the home side deep into OD territory to force an attacking lineout from which the forwards peeled away to score a second try. Despite failing to convert either, it looked a lost cause for Dunstonians who were now two scores adrift and playing uphill against the strengthening wind and rain.
Throughout, Dunstonians had been scrummaging strongly and, as mistakes began to creep in to the Williamsonian game, the set piece platform became more influential, launching the OD revival. The front row gave the opposition no respite, sapping the strength and energy of a visibly wilting home pack. With the line out functioning as well as the wind would allow, the rejuvenated OD forwards were able to turn the tables and pin the home side back with phase after phase of driving play from ruck and maul. Suddenly Williamsonians were being penalised at the breakdown and Mike Ubee was able to pull back 3 points with a penalty kick that was a lot harder than it looked. Back came the Langley Park boys to immediately resume the barrage and force a continuous Williamsonian retreat. When Andy Booth did release the ball, centres Rob Deane and replacement Sam Mansfield tested a flagging defence that was desperate to slow the ball down and break up the compelling OD rhythm. A yellow card was inevitable as Williamsonians stretched the referee’s patience once too often and, against 14 players, OD’s delivered the coup de grace. Ubee’s accurate low penalty kick into the corner set up what was to be the last line out of the game. OD’s won the ball to initiate another series of punishing short drives, committing defenders who were slow to regroup. As the ball went wide, Ubee put Rhys Bozier, into space, five metres out. The mobile second row, who had run great angles all game, forced his way powerfully over the line to give his team the chance to draw level and take home 2 points. Ubee made sure that they did.
The significance of what was, after all, just a draw lies not only in the result, which was itself an achievement at a tricky venue, but more in the OD’s growing ability to change the course of a game. This was undoubtedly based on a forward effort dictated by the conditions and the need to overhaul the opposition’s early superiority. Building on the second half experience against Park House earlier this month, the pack once again showed the physical commitment and intensity required to shift the momentum of a game that was drifting away. The accuracy and patience to create the scoring opportunities and then to execute clinically revealed a new dimension to a team more in charge of its own destiny and beginning to enjoy the limelight.
Scorers:
Try: Bozier
Con: Ubee
Penalty: Ubee
MoM: Jamie Pecorella, Conor Mitchell and James Mann – as part of a genuine 18 man effort in terrible weather, the revival was triggered by an increasingly effective scrum and an energetic front row that also made its presence felt at the breakdown.
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