Old Elizabethans 1st XV v Dursley RFC
3rd February 2024

This weekend saw the 1st XV welcome Dursley RFC to Hallen. Conditions at Hallen were dry but with a stiff breeze running down the pitch towards the clubhouse, spectators for this 12:00 lunchtime kick-off were wondering whether the wind would play a part and which team would use it best.

1st XV SQUAD: Kallan Martin, James Brooke, Tom Brewer, Adam Skyner, Tom Bendall, George Burnie, Dougal Broom, Ben Charlton, Sam Hygate, Matt Carr, Angus Clifford, Alex Potts, Alex Lee, LloydE RoblingC, Arthur Mills, Henry Oughton, Henry Kirkpatrick, Matt Bailey

MATCH REPORT:
Es kicked off with the wind and gave some good early pressure. With the first scrum there were some ominous signs as the heavier Dursley pack bullied Es’ pack. Dursley survived this early pressure well and for the first 15-20 minutes things were very even but then out of the blue Arthur Mills the Es’ Fullback kicked through the Dursley defence and his chase was rewarded with a good try, converted by Sam Hygate (7-0).

Soon afterwards Es were rewarded with a penalty and Sam Hygate’s kick took Es further ahead (10-0).

Es kept up the pressure and Arthur Mills was enjoying seeing the ball as Es attacked again. Dursley looked rattled and Tom Bendall had to step-in to stop some handbagging! Alex Potts was orchestrating the 3’s and was himself putting it about. Es were enjoying the best territory advantage, not necessarily due to the wind. Es were also managing to disrupt the Dursley line out and the Es’ jumpers were able to steal a good few of their put-ins.

Dursley kept plugging away but this was matched by Es’ defence, Alex Lee putting in one good tackle to keep them from progressing and good runs from the likes of Angus Clifford and George Burnie keeping up the Es’ pressure. A good penalty kick gave Es a 10m line out and the drive was almost successful but the referee adjudged that the ball had been held up. On a couple of occasions, it looked like Matt Carr had broken clear only to be brought back by the referee’s whistle and so Dursley slowly built their pressure and a good penalty kick to the corner, a good line out, the ball was spread along the 3’s and Dursley ran in for an unconverted try.

Half Time Score: (10-5).

So, it was Dursley’s turn to enjoy the wind at their backs and on a number of occasions throughout the second half they were able to hoof the ball down field relieving pressure but also giving them the opportunity to mount pressure on Es and from one of their lineouts in Es' 22 they broke through and scored a converted try (10-12).

Play for Es became a bit messy benefiting from the Dursley restart kick not going ten but then being pulled up for a line out throw not straight. Es’ new winger having his 1st XV debut was testing the Dursley defence with a couple of good runs and Arthur Mills and Angus Clifford combined well to clear further pressure as Es started to get pinned back by some good Dursley kicks using the wind.

However, Dursley were not getting it all their own way and a good 3/4s move saw the LloydE RoblingC run in for an excellent try with the conversion kick just missing the left hand upright (15-12).

Dursley then seemed to up their game somewhat and a good break by them would have resulted in a try but for a knock on 5m out. Es’ defence was standing firm for now but the penalty count against Es was allowing Dursley to pin Es back more and more although Es were able to clear their lines. In a number of ways Dursley kept coming but good defence from HKP, Potts, Robling, Henry O, Bailey and others gave the Es’ supporters hope.

However, this hope was dashed soon after with a good Dursley try and conversion (15-19).

It was now all about whether Es could hang onto the Points Difference bonus point but this was very quickly dismissed as Dursley punished Es with two penalty kicks (15-26) ending the game.

A close game but one that Dursley probably just deserved to win. Es seemed to have run out of steam in the last quarter and Dursley certainly used the wind to their advantage. Both teams played well - a game that could have gone either way.

Next week, the 1st XV have a free weekend but the Es’ Thundercats travel across the old Severn Bridge for a short distance to play Caldicot RFC II XV. Kick off time TBC but please make every effort to get across and support.

FINAL SCORE: Old Elizabethans 15 – 26 Dursley

Spectators Man of the Match: LloydE RoblingC - well played.

SCORERS:
Tries: Arthur Mills, LloydE RoblingC,
Conversions: Sam Hygate
Penalties: Sam Hygate

Full Table and Fixture List below

Report by: Paul ‘Blakey’ Barrington

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