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Sat 03 Feb 2024 · Counties 3 Herts/Middx (Phase 2) Middx
First TeamU.C.S.
Penalties: Z Taylor (2)
6
26
A’s kept tryless at home defeat
Steve Partridge6 Feb - 19:54
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Saturday 3rd February couldn’t come soon enough for Actonians 1st XV as it provided an opportunity for redemption after suffering defeat to UCS some 76 days earlier by what the opposition Captain termed at the time a ‘dubious decision’.
After a high-quality warmup and some motivating words from the Head Coach, the Skipper rallied the lads and demanded that the team fronted up at every opportunity and would not take a backwards step for the next 80 mins.
The A’s started the match running towards the Clubhouse End, fabled for being our 16th man and helping us to a number of late wins. Despite a poor kick off going out on the full, the pack assembled and won a penalty on half way against the feed. Our first foray into the opposition 22, only 90 seconds into the game failed to yield any return with the A’s conceding an easy penalty and providing an exit route for UCS.
A scrappy 15 mins of rugby ensued, the A’s choosing the wrong pass more than once with a couple of handling errors in the mix too. A soft penalty in midfield off the back of good turnover ball gave UCS the chance to stick it into the corner and attack the A’s try line for the first time. A solid lineout and rolling maul saw UCS flop over for the first score after 20 mins, the conversion making it 0-7.
Another poor restart gifted the ball back to UCS with a scrum on half way. The pack assembled again, and the A’s front row obliterate their opposite numbers to spare the blushes of their fly half. Disappointingly the attacking lineout was lost and so to another chance to test the UCS defensive line. The A’s then soaked up a few phases of pressure before the industrious David James won a fantastic jackal penalty on the edge of his own 22 allowing us to clear our lines.
More pressure inside the UCS 22m zone followed, the A’s continued to probe for gaps. The backline executed their usually clinical ‘slice’ move which has seen Captain, Jon Perks dot down untouched on a number of occasions this year but to their credit the UCS defence held firm. The rugby ball changed hands frequently, neither team really creating much but the A’s had the lion’s share of possession and territory but things just weren’t quite clicking.
35 mins in, after putting together some great phase play and entering the 22 once again, UCS conceded a penalty for offside. Decision made, 3 points, go again… 3-7 to UCS. From the kick off, the A’s worked their way into the UCS 22 again. Play broke down.. again.. UCS broke from their own line and if not for the lightning speed of winger Ted Kenny who tracked his man from the opposite side of the pitch to put in a tackle 10m short of the try line (which is a contender for seasons best) the A’s would have been a further 5 points down. Another 3 points were on offer on the stroke of half time and were duly taken. Halftime score 6-7 to UCS.
The second half began as expected, a real arm wrestle for both territory and possession. Neither team having much consistency. We can only apologise to the brave few who watched on from the side-line. Errors and ill-discipline allowed UCS to build some pressure and after what must have been only their 5th venture into the attacking zone after almost 60 mins of play, credit to them however, as they came away with another 7 points. 6-14 UCS.
The A’s did not give up, they huffed and puffed, began dominating possession and territory again but penalties and phases in the 22 led to nothing, with UCS benefiting from our inaccuracies. As the game drifted to its conclusion, UCS capitalised and scored a couple of tries in the last 8 mins to blow the score out and seal the victory 6-26 on a day of frustration as to what could have been for the A’s.
With a fortnight until the next fixture, the squad will take these next weeks to build on the positives and iron out the inaccuracies as we prepare to welcome Bank to Popes Lane on February 24th.
After a high-quality warmup and some motivating words from the Head Coach, the Skipper rallied the lads and demanded that the team fronted up at every opportunity and would not take a backwards step for the next 80 mins.
The A’s started the match running towards the Clubhouse End, fabled for being our 16th man and helping us to a number of late wins. Despite a poor kick off going out on the full, the pack assembled and won a penalty on half way against the feed. Our first foray into the opposition 22, only 90 seconds into the game failed to yield any return with the A’s conceding an easy penalty and providing an exit route for UCS.
A scrappy 15 mins of rugby ensued, the A’s choosing the wrong pass more than once with a couple of handling errors in the mix too. A soft penalty in midfield off the back of good turnover ball gave UCS the chance to stick it into the corner and attack the A’s try line for the first time. A solid lineout and rolling maul saw UCS flop over for the first score after 20 mins, the conversion making it 0-7.
Another poor restart gifted the ball back to UCS with a scrum on half way. The pack assembled again, and the A’s front row obliterate their opposite numbers to spare the blushes of their fly half. Disappointingly the attacking lineout was lost and so to another chance to test the UCS defensive line. The A’s then soaked up a few phases of pressure before the industrious David James won a fantastic jackal penalty on the edge of his own 22 allowing us to clear our lines.
More pressure inside the UCS 22m zone followed, the A’s continued to probe for gaps. The backline executed their usually clinical ‘slice’ move which has seen Captain, Jon Perks dot down untouched on a number of occasions this year but to their credit the UCS defence held firm. The rugby ball changed hands frequently, neither team really creating much but the A’s had the lion’s share of possession and territory but things just weren’t quite clicking.
35 mins in, after putting together some great phase play and entering the 22 once again, UCS conceded a penalty for offside. Decision made, 3 points, go again… 3-7 to UCS. From the kick off, the A’s worked their way into the UCS 22 again. Play broke down.. again.. UCS broke from their own line and if not for the lightning speed of winger Ted Kenny who tracked his man from the opposite side of the pitch to put in a tackle 10m short of the try line (which is a contender for seasons best) the A’s would have been a further 5 points down. Another 3 points were on offer on the stroke of half time and were duly taken. Halftime score 6-7 to UCS.
The second half began as expected, a real arm wrestle for both territory and possession. Neither team having much consistency. We can only apologise to the brave few who watched on from the side-line. Errors and ill-discipline allowed UCS to build some pressure and after what must have been only their 5th venture into the attacking zone after almost 60 mins of play, credit to them however, as they came away with another 7 points. 6-14 UCS.
The A’s did not give up, they huffed and puffed, began dominating possession and territory again but penalties and phases in the 22 led to nothing, with UCS benefiting from our inaccuracies. As the game drifted to its conclusion, UCS capitalised and scored a couple of tries in the last 8 mins to blow the score out and seal the victory 6-26 on a day of frustration as to what could have been for the A’s.
With a fortnight until the next fixture, the squad will take these next weeks to build on the positives and iron out the inaccuracies as we prepare to welcome Bank to Popes Lane on February 24th.
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