20 Sep 2008 - Old Culverhaysians 1st XV 11 Nailsea & Backwell 1st XV 16
We're lucky to have been provided with TWO match reports this week!!! Please read BOTH below!
Old Culverhaysians 1st XV 11 Nailsea & Backwell 1st XV 16
Another improvement on last week’s performance. In what is traditionally a difficult place to go and play, Culverhaysians were last year one of the best sides in the division It was a good, important away win. The strength of “the squad” that the coach has been working hard to emphasise also reflected in the team that played.
He felt that the team were in fact stronger this week in certain areas than last.
There was a debut for Liam Harris in the centre and his pre season progress has gone really well. He made one or two decisive breaks, hurting the opposition defence and picking some good running lines. He will get other opportunities to play senior rugby at first team level the rest is up to him.
The general decision making of the team on occasions must be better, it let them down four or five times. The quality of passing also meant Nailsea missed two early opportunities to score. There is a tendency for forwards on occasions to not do the hard work and appear in places they should not be. However the openings were created and that is really positive. The game understanding to be where they need to be is there for some however some find it very hard to appreciate hard work often comes before the prize. Once they get used to challenging themselves to build phases and be patient more opportunities will arise. We also have some new faces who are finding their way in a new group. Some of the patterns of play that enabled back row players to break the gain line really caused Culverhaysians problems and following a couple good of early penalties from Rob Baker an opening appeared for Dickie Palmer which he took it very well going over from 22 metres. The inclusion of James Stayley who is still learning what is expected of him is really pleasing and he is responding in all the right ways. Saturday also saw the introduction of Darren Shinnet late on and he really brought something to the side for the last 20 minutes. Culverhaysians competed well in the tight five and asked questions of the Nailsea forwards fitness. In the second half Jason Patch scored his third try in two games from fullback running hard to get in at the corner after the ball was worked wide quickly.
Patch is another player who has the ability to do lots for this team if he wants to. Overall it was a good win. There are things that can be done better and I’m sure the players will respond to the challenge being set them. The team now look forward to the visit of St Bernadettes Old boys who are a strong side coming down from the division above and looking to go straight back up.
Late withdrawals, key players absent, rookie scrum half (more on that later) and a late arrival resulting in a rushed warm up. Condusive to a first class all round team effort and the deserved pocketing of the points? Well. er.....yes, actually.
OC's are a rugged bunch and are a real test for anyone in this league, but N&B played with such purpose and conviction that they won rather more convincingly than the scoreline suggests.
N&B didn't get on the scoreboard until well into the first half but two fine penalties from Rob Baker put the visitors into the lead. A storming run from the OC's No 8, who was a handful throughout, brought the score back to 6-5 and thats where it stayed until half time.
The third quarter was where N&B played their best rugby and scored two fine tries. With the forwards exerting control and the backs moving the ball with great fluency the pressure finally told.
Jason Patch finished of a wonderful flowing move that started on the opposite wing with all the backs handling sweetly to register the first try, then the hard working Dickie Palmer touched down to extend the lead to 16-5.
A try on seventy minutes brought OC's back into the game and gave the home side some encouragement. It could have led to a nervy last ten minutes with some back to the wall defensive heroics. It didn't as N&B maintained their composure, kept playing the bright, attractive rugby they had played all day and finished the game on the front foot.
A terrific all round display from the squad and a very fine win. By the end of the game, N&B had teenagers at 10,11,12,13 and 14, not that you would have guessed it such was the maturity and composure in their play.
The rookie at scrum half? Matt Stone, playing in an unfamiliar position, did a splendid job for the side.