Old Elizabethans 1st XV v Dings Crusaders 2nd XV
14th December 2024

After not playing last week due to Storm Darragh, Old Es 1st XV, this week, switched their attention to table topping Dings II XV knowing that a heavy defeat to them earlier in the season, set OEs with a real challenge in this rerun of the fixture at the home ground of Fortress Hallen.

1st XV SQUAD: Greg Foord, Fergus Blyth, Conor McGrath, George Hollingbury, Tom Bendall, Matt Bailey, Fred Thefaut, George Burnie, Tom Cole, Monty Nash, Ollie Lunt, Alex Potts, Pat Dore, Will Monro, Arthur Mills, Callum McCarthy, Harrison Nash, Sam Hygate

MATCH REPORT:
With Christmas just a stone’s throw away Dings II XV are the first repeat fixture of the season. The heavy defeat of earlier in the season, still ringing in our ears, supporters arrived at the ground with some trepidation, however Vice Skipper Pat Dore was heard to say “There is something in the Air”. At worst a strong Es squad could at least give Dings something to think about! - maybe at least!

Despite the absence of influential players such as Will Tobin and Sam Brewer there was an air of confidence within what was still a strong Es squad which included two 1st XV debutants being Callum McCarthy and Harrison Nash.

Dings kicked off into the sunshine and the first couple of minutes were fairly uneventful. Es appeared to have started with confidence and this shone through in the stable Es scrum and early good runs from Will Monro and Fred Thefaut were encouraging. Es were awarded a penalty just to the left of the left hand upright about 15m out but rather than opt for a kick at posts Es opted for a scrum. The ball was won and it was shipped out to the right wing where Will Monro slipped past his opposite number to score a good early try for Es with Monty Nash adding the extras (7-0), a superlative start which we hadn’t dared wish for!

Early from the restart the referee felt the need to march Dings back 10 metres for verbals and almost immediately were penalised again for flying into the ruck off their feet! An early blow for Es saw Ollie Lunt leave the field to be replaced by debutant Harrison Nash.

Dings started to settle into the game with some attacking rugby but were penalised by the Ref, this time for a mysterious unknown reason! In this spell of the game Dings also kicked the ball dead giving Es further relief before a great attack from Es once again via Will Monro and Es were awarded a penalty and this time chose to take the points through a kick from Monty Nash to extend the lead to (10-0).

A big clearance kick from Arthur Mills received a supporters jeer as the receiving Dings player knocked on. From a brilliant Es scrum the ball was spread wide and Will Monro needed no second invitation and ran in his and Es second try and conversion from Monty Nash (17-0).

Did we dare believe!! Further great attacking rugby followed from Es before a penalty awarded to Dings would surely see them kick to the corner for a lineout, however their kick didn’t make touch! The Es great Blue Wall was standing firm with some great marshalling from Alex Potts. More great attacking rugby followed from Es from the base of the scrum with Fred Thefaut and subsequently Pat Dore but unfortunately led to Es giving away a penalty as the final few minutes of the half led to some intense tackling from Es, a lineout to Dings in our 22 was lost to Es as the referee blew to end the half.

Half Time score (Old Elizabethans 17 - 0 Dings).

Es start to the second half was definitely not as assured as the first half and despite a great tackle from Pat Dore Es succumbed to a Dings scrum, break and try duly converted (17-7) and suddenly supporters started to doubt that Es could hang onto the lead.

Matt Bailey off and Callum McCarthy on for his debut. Will Monro then put in a storming tackle in our 22 but Dings recovered quickly to score an unconverted try in the far corner (17-12).

A period of kicking from both teams did neither any real good but another great run from Will Monro lifted confidence briefly! Fergus Blyth was adjudged to have dumped the opposition in a tackle but escaped with a warning! Arthur Mills off and Ollie Lunt, fully recovered, back on and Tom Cole had given way to Sam Hygate giving Es some fresh legs.

A good attack from firstly the forwards and then the backs through Will Monro and Pat Dore saw a number of chances for Es to score come and go before a mistake saw Dings break all the way down the field into the Es 22 but their attack was snuffed out through Will Monro. A series of Es’ scrums 10m and 7m out applied pressure and the crowd became increasingly nervous which wasn’t helped when Fred Thefaut was shown Yellow for what the referee called a ‘Professional Foul’. Es survived again as a Dings lineout put in was crooked and further defensive scrums followed with Alex Potts shoring up the scrum at No 8 and a great break from him and Tom Bendall again relieved the pressure.

The Dings pressure however, mounted again as they could sense a tiring Es and a chance to grab a last minute win, but Tom Bendall managed to steal the lineout and a clearing run from Matt Bailey met with a high tackle for which the Dings player was rather harshly shown Yellow.

A scrum won by Es and the ball kicked into touch signalled the end of the game and a fantastic defeat of table topping Dings. It probably won’t dent their season but it just goes to show what the Mighty Es can achieve and hopefully is now a foot up into a higher league standing in the second half of the season.

Special mention has to be given to the front row of Greg Foord, Fergus Blyth and Conor McGrath who put in a hell of a shift along with locks George Hollingberry and Tom Bendall enabling Es’ scrum to really take the game to Dings.

This game was a real pleasure to watch and a fantastic scalp for Es to take especially given the result of the same fixture at the beginning of the season.

One more game before the Christmas break with Es travelling just up the road to take on Southmead RFC next Saturday, hopefully see you all there!

FINAL SCORE: Old Elizabethans 17 – 12 Dings II

Man of the Match: Everyone 1-18, this was a real team effort and everyone deserves this accolade.

Spectators Man of the Match: Will Monro, strong in attack and defence and setting Es moving forward a number of times and of course securing Es two tries!

SCORERS:
Tries: Will Monro (2)
Conversions: Monty Nash (2)
Penalties: Monty Nash

Full League Table and Fixture List below

Report by: Paul ‘Blakey’ Barrington

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