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1st XV Match Report: Enfield Suffer Medicals' Backlash.
Tries: Amiras, Sharples, Bull (2), Russell, Logan
Conversions: Neville (5)
Pens: Neville
Drop Goals:
On a crisp spring day the 1st XV made the trip around the North Circular to Enfield looking to make amends on two counts. First, in order to maintain their promotion push in Londopn 3NW the Medicals needed to get back to winning ways after last week's defeat at home against London New Zealand. Secondly, Enfield were one of only 4 teams to have defeated the Medicals this season when they triumphed by 20 points to 13 at Teddington back in September. With injuries and unavailabilty taking their toll Austin Dekker was forced into a number of changes. In the pack Dimitri Amiras and Anakan Navaratnam came into the back row for their first starts of the season, whereas, the backline required more re-jigging with Paul Thirucheluam coming in at scrum-half, Dan Neville stepping in from centre to fly-half, James Logan starting at centre and James Sharples taking up his berth on the right wing. Finally, Peter O'Neill took the captain's armband for the afternoon.
With so many changes it might have been expected that the Medicals would have got off to a slow start, however, despite playing into the wind, the visitors opened the game brightly, pinning the home side deep in their half for long periods. Unfortunately, the visitors also suffered an early injury as full-back Martin Borthwick was forced off with a hamstring pull. The ever versatile Guy Martin came on at full-back, meaning that Martin has now played in every position in the backline this season.
The Medicals, enjoying complete dominance in the set-piece, were, however, still unable to secure their first points of the afternoon. To remedy this situation O'Neill turned to the one constant this season, the Medicals' driving maul. Dan Neville found a superb touch deep in the Enfield twenty-two after which the pack took control. The resulting lineout was well executed allowing the visitors to set up the driving maul. Showing good patienece and control the Medicals probed left and right before Dimitri Amiras broke off the back and crashed his way over. Neville was successful with the conversion from just left of the posts.
Enfield, who prior to the game were themselves on a good run of form, worked their way back into the game as infamiliarity in the Medicals' defensive line was exploited by the host's No. 14. Taking the ball on the Medicals' ten metre line the Enfield right wing jinked his way through a forest of would be tacklers before out pacing the cover defence to score ten metres in from the left touchline. The conversion went narrowly wide of the left hand upright meaning the Medicals' still held a two point lead.
Not prepared to let the home side into the game the Medicals launched a sustained campaign on the Enfield line. After being held up over the tryline the visitors were awarded a 5 metre scrum. The pack put on a huge squeeze and marched their opposite men over the line. With the Enfield pack splintered No.8 Nick Farren, with the tryline at his mercy, was adjudged to have knocked on, although the close attention of the Enfield scrum-half's boot may have played a large part in the knock on. And so play was to continue for the next ten minutes with the Medicals' pack pushing the Enfield forwards over their line on three occasions. However, the Medicals' endeavours went unrewarded as for some technicality or another the visitors were, despite their complete dominance, not awarded a try or even a penalty.
Determined to convert their superiority into points the Medicals once again stepped up their game. Expansive phases stretched the Enfield defence from the left touchline to the right. After Graham Sidorowicz took the ball up to the twenty-two the ball was recycled and spread to Suna Bull on the left wing. After Bull was stopped just short, the ball was swiftly switched back to the right wing where James Sharples collected, rounded the last man, and dived over to ten metres in from the right touchline. Neville was again imperious with the boot.
Leading 14-5 at half time the Medicals knew that despite holding the upper hand the gap between the sides did not reflect the possession and territorial advantage they had enjoyed in the opening period. Every effort was made to remind the players that the game was still far from won and that the Medicals approach would have to keep playing and not retire into their shells.
Thankfully, the Medicals took heed of the half-time team talk as the second half became an excercise of Medicals' attack against Enfield defence. A battle which the visitors were to win comfortably. With Paul Thirucheluam and Dan Neville pulling the strings the visitors were to go further ahead after being awarded a penalty in front of the posts just inside the Enfield half. Neville, with the wind behind him, stepped up and confidently sent the ball straight between the uprights.
From this point on the Medicals began to run in tries with, for the hosts, alarming regularity. First, Suna Bull was able to beat his man on the left wing to run in untouched in the corner. Neville was again able to add the extras. Shortly after, the Medicals were to score their best try of the day as superb off-loading in the tackle meant that the Enfield defence was unable to reorganise. Dimitri Amiras made the initial break from the back of a maul after which forwards and backs linked up well with Peter Russell on the spot to flop over the line for his second try of the season. Neville maintained his excellent kicking form to add the conversion.
The next Medicals try came from a moment of individual brilliance from James Logan. Receiving the ball from a Medicals lineout Logan showed excellent footwork and blistering pace to scythe his way through the Enfield rearguard. Nevile maintained his 100% record with the boot by adding the conversion. With the game all but won the Medicals turned to the bench for fresh legs with Xander Ancock replacing Jeremy Bartosiak-Jentys and Jonny Fisher-Price coming on for Anakan Navaratnam.
The changes briefly unsettled the visitors allowing Enfield to exploit the blind side and score an unconverted consolation try. However, the Medicals were to finish the game strongly as good hands by Ed Pickles and Peter O'Neill, standing at fly-half and inside centre, released Suna Bull to complete his brace. Neville was unsuccessful with the boot for the first time but the lack of a conversion proved immaterial.
After this fine victory the Medicals now go into their UH Cup semi-final against Bart's next weekend full of confidence. However, with the chasing pack also winning at the weekend the Medicals need to maintain their form to keep the pack at bay.
Jez
Many thanks to Sophie for providing physio cover.
Ed Pickles
Peter Russell
Jeremy Bartosiak-Jentys
Peter O'Neill (C)
Chris Hallewell
Dimitri Amiras
Anakan Navaratnam
Nick Farren
Paul Thirucheluam
Dan Neville
James Sharples
James Logan
Graham Sidorowicz
Suna Bull
Martin Borthwick
Replacements:
Alexander Ancock (for No.3 after 60mins)
Jonny Fisher-Black (for No.7 after 65mins)
Guy Martin (for No.15 after 5mins)
© Imperial Medicals Rugby Football Club 2008
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