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1st XV Match Report: Magnanimous Medicals Victorious In The Mud.
Tries: Sharples (2), Logan (2), Bull
Conversions: Neville (3)
Pens:
Drop Goals:
Having returned from their Easter "conditioning" camp in Cornwall the Medicals made the trip up to St. Albans looking to put the narrow defeat at home to Stevenage behind them and re-establish their push for a London 3NW play-off position. However, St. Albans, who had held the Medicals to a 34-34 draw at Teddington on the opening day of the season, were hoping to maintain their position in the top half of the table.
Unavailability of key players over the Easter break meant that the Medicals skipper Austin Dekker was forced to re-shuffle his troops. Into the second row came Dimitri Amiras, whereas Anakan Navaratnam and Will Melia joined on-field captain Nick Farren in the back row. Injuries to Tom Maynard and Tim Sinnett meant that Simon Bellringer joined Dan Neville at scrum-half and fly-half respectively whilst the back three saw James Sharples came in on the wing and Guy Martin start at full-back.
Playing into a gale and horizontal rain in the first half the Medicals set their stall out to frustrate the home side and negate their advantage. Great work by the visitor's defensive line meant that St. Albans found it difficult to get on the scoreboard. Despite much of the game being played in the Medicals' half the visitors always looked dangerous on the break. Wings Suna Bull and James Sharples always had the beating of their opposite men and Bull showed his pace when put free on the left wing. Leaving his opposite man for dead, Bull was able to run in from half way and touch down just to the left of the posts. Neville added the simple conversion.
St Albans were to fight back almost immediately as powerful running from the forwards created space out wide. Spreading the ball right the home side were held out by a spirited defensive effort, however, as the ball was moved left St. Albans made good use of their numbers allowing the wing to score near the corner. The conversion sailed wide of the left post.
Stirred into action the Medicals began to establish themselves in the game and enjoyed a period of territory and possession. Despite the tricky conditions Crawford was pinpoint in finding Amiras and Chris Hallewell at the lineout providing the Medicals with a solid platform. From an ensuing breakdown the back-row supplied quick ball for Bellringer and Neville who put James Logan through to run in. In blustery conditions Neville was unable to add the tricky conversion. St. Albans again pushed for an instant reply, however, the home side turned over the ball on the Medicals twenty-two from where James Sharples easily had the legs on his chasers to run the length of the field and touch down under the posts. Neville duly added the extras.
With half-time approaching the Medicals hoped to shut out the game until the interval, however, the difficult conditions conspired against the visiotrs. The St Albans restart skipped along the sodden turf and rebounded off the legs of Anakan Navaratnam as he tried to gather. Recovering their composure the Medicals drove the ball up but as Bellringer tried to find Neville for the clearing kick the ball squirmed loose and Neville was forced to carry the ball over giving the home side a scrum five metres out. The home side exploited the situation and some meek Medcials tackling to crash over. The conversion was added making the half-time score 19-12 in the Medcials' favour.
Now with the gale at their backs the Medicals were dteremined to play the game in the St Albans half, however it was the hosts who opened the second period the brighter of the two teams. Powerful pick and goes from around the ruck put the Medicals on the back foot. Eventually the pressure told and the St Albans forwards were able to burrow over from close range. The conversion was unsuccessful.
The Medicals replied with the games champagne moment. With his options closed down in mid-field fly-half Dan Neville spotted James Sharples in space on the right wing. Judging his cross field kick to perfection Neville's kick landed perfectly in Sharples' arms and the flying wing used his pace to dive in at the corner. Neville slid the difficult conversion across the face of the posts.
St Albans again came back strongly as the ding-dong scoring continued. With conditions making it tricky for both sides a passage of good St Albans play put them deep in Medcials territory. Again, despite some exceptional last ditch tackling, the home side were able to find space out wide to cross for their fourth try of the afternoon. The conversion was missed but the Medicals' lead was down to only two points.
Just as Stevenage had done to them before Easter the Medicals delivered the Medicals delivered the coup de grâce as the home side searched for the winning try. Again turn-over ball by the St. Albans mid-field allowed the Medcials quick ball in broken play. The ball was shipped on to James Logan who maintained his exceptional scoring form to cross for his second and the Medicals' fifth try of the afternoon. Neville added the extras to take the visitors two score clear.
Towards the end of the game Ed Pickles and Anakan Navaratnam were forced off with head injuries and their replacements Johnny Fisher-Black and Greg Thomas helped steady the game as the Medicals held on for a much needed victory. With a weekend off next Saturday the Medicals should have a full squad to choose from for the home match against Datchworth on 12th April and with London New Zealand losing the Medicals' now have a two point gap over their nearest challengers Hammersmith & Fulham.
Jez
Ed Pickles
Ruairidh Crawford
Jeremy Bartosiak-Jentys
Dimitri Amiras
Chris Hallewell
Anakan Navaratnam
Will Melia
Nick Farren (C)
Simon Bellringer
Dan Neville
James Sharples
James Logan
Graham Sidorowicz
Suna Bull
Guy Martin
Replacements:
Johnny Fisher-Black (for No.1 after 55mins)
Greg Thomas (for No.6 after 60mins)
Rory Hutchinson (unused)
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