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Sat 21 Sep 2013 · Premier West
Sidcup III
A XV
42
5
A XV Lose in Season Opener
Anthony Proctor23 Sep 2013 - 16:08
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The first game of the season for the OD'S A XV was a tough match away to an organised Sidcup 3's side.
For the majority of the side it was the first 80 minutes of rugby since last season and with some new faces, the team needed some game time to get up and running.
Sidcup scored their first try very quickly after the start with poor decision making inside the 22 and turnover ball allowing Sidcup to score down the left hand side. This gave OD'S a wake up call and a some close exchanges were played out in the OD'S half. The common theme letting the Old Boys down was their rucking game. Allowing the ball to be turned over from being isolated or just out rucked, this gave Sidcup a lot of ball, with their back line effectively working 2 set moves, the Old Boys found themselves 3 tries down. However this side has a strong spirit and kept attacking Sidcup, resulting in good phase play and ball retention. Dave Aylmer caused Sidcup's backrower to lose his cool and punching out in front of the referee, leaving Sidcup down to 14 for the rest of the game, Aylmer himself having a 10 minute rest. With set plays working well the majority of the time, into the last 10 minutes of the half with a series of phases and pick and goes complemented with some good off loading ended up with Alex McCulloch crossing the line for OD's.
The second half began with hopes of building on the performance at the end of the first half. However again the Old Boys let themselves down with some poor tackling allowing Sidcup to run through on several occasions. Tiredness was also creeping into the game, and with the OD's strong in the scrum this advantage was taken away due to a Sidcup injury and scrums going uncontested. Although due to injury the OD's also lost a man in the scrum and played the last 20 with 14. The game finished with a final Sidcup try leaving the OD's with plenty to build on before next weekend's home game v Southwark. There were a lot of positives to take from the game with some strong performances and a resilient spirit. A big welcome to the new guys playing their first competitive OD's game as well.
Report by Simon Orange
Team Sheet: Arthur Hawks, Doc Proctor, John North, Paul Laker, Martin Howard, Will Popham, Dave Alymer, Anthony Faithful, Cairnsey, Simon Orange, Dele, Chris Shotton, Alex McCulloch, Perry Hanafin, Phil Price.
Sidcup scored their first try very quickly after the start with poor decision making inside the 22 and turnover ball allowing Sidcup to score down the left hand side. This gave OD'S a wake up call and a some close exchanges were played out in the OD'S half. The common theme letting the Old Boys down was their rucking game. Allowing the ball to be turned over from being isolated or just out rucked, this gave Sidcup a lot of ball, with their back line effectively working 2 set moves, the Old Boys found themselves 3 tries down. However this side has a strong spirit and kept attacking Sidcup, resulting in good phase play and ball retention. Dave Aylmer caused Sidcup's backrower to lose his cool and punching out in front of the referee, leaving Sidcup down to 14 for the rest of the game, Aylmer himself having a 10 minute rest. With set plays working well the majority of the time, into the last 10 minutes of the half with a series of phases and pick and goes complemented with some good off loading ended up with Alex McCulloch crossing the line for OD's.
The second half began with hopes of building on the performance at the end of the first half. However again the Old Boys let themselves down with some poor tackling allowing Sidcup to run through on several occasions. Tiredness was also creeping into the game, and with the OD's strong in the scrum this advantage was taken away due to a Sidcup injury and scrums going uncontested. Although due to injury the OD's also lost a man in the scrum and played the last 20 with 14. The game finished with a final Sidcup try leaving the OD's with plenty to build on before next weekend's home game v Southwark. There were a lot of positives to take from the game with some strong performances and a resilient spirit. A big welcome to the new guys playing their first competitive OD's game as well.
Report by Simon Orange
Team Sheet: Arthur Hawks, Doc Proctor, John North, Paul Laker, Martin Howard, Will Popham, Dave Alymer, Anthony Faithful, Cairnsey, Simon Orange, Dele, Chris Shotton, Alex McCulloch, Perry Hanafin, Phil Price.
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