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Rosslyn Park 62 - 24 B&A RFC 06/03/10 |
Rosslyn Park 62 - 24 B&A RFC
Match report by Tony Pomeroy
A look at the league table would lead the neutral to forecast a comfortable home win, and so it proved. Rosslyn Park were in total control throughout the game monopolising possession and territory. Bridgwater stuck gamely to their task, even when reduced to 14 men in the second half following injuries to props, Damian Marsh and his replacement, Benn Norris. They were not allowed to bring on a replacement who could not prop and so played the final quarter a man short.
Bridgwater gave a debut to Athletic XV stalwart, John Frost, and had the recently re-registered Benn Norris on the bench.
When Rosslyn Park disrupted the first Bridgwater scrummage, the writing was on the wall for the visitors. The home side were awarded a penalty, taken quickly, and moving the ball through the phases were rewarded with a try for centre Billy O’Driscoll. Fly half Ross Laidlaw converted.
A superb break by home full back Ollie Hague almost brought a second try but Bridgwater were reprieved with a penalty. The kick was taken quickly and hoofed 80m deep into Park territory. A poor clearing kick was caught by Bridgwater and the ball reached Jack Kohler who celebrated his eighteenth birthday, scoring under the posts with a flamboyant dive that earned 9.9 for artistic merit from the Russian Judge. Greg Charlton converted to level the scores.
Laidlaw regained the lead for Park with a 30m penalty before firstly, Howard Quigley and then man of the match Morgan Jones got tries both converted by Laidlaw.
Bridgwater did not collapse and took the game to Park. Firstly, Charlton had a good run up the touchline and then Frost with a clever chip, chase and catch almost scored but was tackled just short. Bridgwater had a 10m line-out and a smart line-out move saw Matt Hastie cross in the corner. Charlton’s touchline conversion attempt was just wide.
A fourth try, this time for skipper, Rob Jewell, following a break by Laidlaw, gave the home side a bonus point and a 29-12 half time.
Bridgwater replaced Damian Marsh, who had suffered a slight injury, with Benn Norris at the start of the half but Park continued in the same vein with an early try for Jones, converted from the touchline by Laidlaw.
Bridgwater were defending desperately for ten minutes before Gavin Hancock made a great break. A chip, chase and catch saw him pressure the home defence and his clever pass released Will Topps, who scored wide out. With Charlton now off the field, Kohler converted with an excellent kick.
After 20 minutes, Norris was injured and when Bridgwater tried to bring back Marsh, who had recovered from the knock that forced him off, the officials refused to allow him on. Webster then entered the field and the game continued with uncontested scrums.
Immediately, Laidlaw, receiving the ball from a scrummage some 25m out, scythed through the Bridgwater defence for a superb try that he converted himself.
The match officials then decided that Bridgwater were not allowed to bring on Webster as a replacement for an injured prop and so removed him from the field, condemning Bridgwater to play the final 18 minutes one man short. Talk about kicking a team when they are down !!
James Strong got the seventh try, courtesy of some Bridgwater shadow tackling, converted by Laidlaw before another gift try for the home side. For some reason Bridgwater tried a quick 22m drop out, lost possession and Park moved the ball across the field where prop, Will Collier scored an unconverted try.
Park’s ninth try came from flanker, Jonny Barrett, converted by Laidlaw but there was just time for Matt Hastie to sneak an unconverted try in the corner with the last play of the game.
This try should gain Bridgwater a ‘four try bonus point’ but, having fallen foul of the ridiculous rule requiring teams to be able to replace injured props twice, Bridgwater may well suffer a two point deduction. I understand that this rule – peculiar to NCA matches – will be amended next year to fall into line with IRB requirements in such cases.
Whilst the Bridgwater tackling was perhaps the worst of the season, the spirit of the players cannot be faulted. It was obvious from the first minute that the home side were a very accomplished, fit and powerful outfit and they were always going to be far too good for a plucky, but ultimately outclassed, Bridgwater side. In this game they were up against very strong opposition who would not be disgraced in National Division 1 should they get the promotion they deserve.
Scorers:
Rosslyn Park Tries: O’Driscoll (5), Quigley (17), Jones (23, 45), Jewell (35), Laidlaw (67)
Strong (73), Collier (75), Barrett (80+)
Cons: Laidlaw (5, 17, 23, 45, 67,73, 80+)
Pen: Laidlaw (11)
Bridgwater & Albion Tries: Kohler (7), Hastie (34, 80+), Topps(60)
Cons: Charlton (7), Kohler (60)
Bridgwater Team : Will Topps, Damian Griffin, Gavin Hancock, James Stark, John Frost, Dominik Griffin, Jack Kohler, James Bryant, Matt Hastie, Damian Marsh (rep Benn Norris H/T, rep Will Webster 61/67), Ali Blundell, Steve Hunt (Capt), Dan Kemmish, Carl Brown, Greg Charlton (rep Matt Northey 57)
Replacements- Che Bryce, Ben Norris, Matt Northey, Will Webster and John Frost.
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Last Updated on Monday, 22 March 2010 21:21 |
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