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1st XV Match Reports

13 Mar 10: Wimbledon 3 - Sidcup 18

Sidcup avenged another earlier season defeat on Saturday when they travelled to Wimbledon and emerged victors by a goal, a try and 2 penalty goals to a penalty goal in their London league 1 encounter.

Despite South-West London having the penetrability of a black hole, your correspondent only got lost once on the way to the ground this time although the journey was further hampered by a dastardly ploy by the Water Board who decided to place major road works on the only way into the ground. Having eventually arrived, the pitch was found to be in good condition and the above ground conditions were almost Spring like.

The early play was in the Wimbledon twenty-two with Sidcup moving the ball well and the first scoring opportunity came after 5 minutes when Jim Hardy missed a penalty attempt. Once Wimbledon gained possession they began to show why they have achieved a number of good results recently. Their mobile pack were handling and supporting each other well and full back Dave Charles and winger Jonny Rawlinson looked to be dangerous runners. The pressure on the visitors was eventually relieved by a good run by Richard Roddis. Jon West nearly scored after a free kick but Sidcup conceded a penalty the position was lost.

Sidcup were starting to get on top. The line out looked solid and the Wimbledon throw was being disrupted. After 20 minutes the visitors were awarded a penalty on the twenty two in front of the posts and Hardy made no mistake. Sidcup messed up the restart and Wimbledon were immediately on the attack. Home pressure forced Sidcup to give away a penalty for offside in front of their posts which Rawlinson kicked to level the scores. At this stage the game was evenly poised. Although the Sidcup pack looked to be gaining the ascendancy, Wimbledon still looked dangerous with the ball although the visitors defence was coping with the miss passes without too much difficulty. With 35 minutes played, another good run by Roddis was carried on by Sam Eydmann who fed Jamie Cutler. Cutler was stopped by what looked like a high tackle but the referee’s decision was that the ball had been held up. The attack continued with the ball being moved right and left and eventually Wimbledon fell offside and Hardy retook the lead.

On the stroke of half-time, an excellent move down the right ended with Ryan Hudson crossing in the corner. The Wimbledon touch-judge was satisfied that the ball had been grounded in play but the referee inexplicably overruled him and awarded a line-out although he then decided that it was half time.

This decision looked as though it might be expensive for Sidcup as Wimbledon began the second half the better side. A score for the home team was only prevented when, for once, the ball was moved away from the support. This proved to be the last time Sidcup looked in danger. Good running by Richard Pilgrim and Hudson saw the visitors return to the attack. The result was placed beyond doubt when two Wimbledon players were binned within a minute of each other. It seemed as though Sidcup had lost an opportunity to score from the kick to the corner following the second binning when the throw went wrong. However Wimbledon, with a depleted scrum opted for another line-out. Jack Hague stole the ball and burst over the line; Hardy kicking an excellent conversion.

With the Wimbledon binnees reflecting on their alleged sins, Sidcup continued to attack after the Pilgrim-Hudson combination once more made ground. A line-out on the twenty two was gathered in and the pack trundled on. For the second week running, Danny Mizen was holding the ball when the testudo reached the line. A quarter of an hour remained and, although Sidcup failed to score again, they continued to play well and the lead could easily have been extended. A break from a maul on half-way by West was taken up by Eydmann and Mike Elliott but the ball went to ground just short of the line and the game ended with Sidcup failing to score a try when it looked easier to score than not.

This was a satisfying win. Wimbledon showed why their results have been impressive lately but, apart from the start of each half, Sidcup looked in control. The defence was solid when required. Jon West had an excellent match but the rest of the back five were not far behind. Young props, Alex Issacs and Sam Carman started together and looked comfortable in the scrums. Ryan Hudson continued his emergence as a first team player but the whole back division played with considerable confidence again.

A good day got a whole lot better with a mistake free return navigation and was rounded off when Scotland demolished England to achieve a winning draw at Murrayfield. Chichester are this week’s visitors to Crescent Farm. They are close on Sidcup’s heels in the league table and will be eager to reverse a last minute defeat in November.

RDPH - 15 Mar 10

6 Mar 10: Sidcup 35 - Cobham 5

Sidcup gained revenge for an away defeat at Cobham in November with a victory by 2 goals, 3 tries and 2 penalty goals to a try at Crescent Farm on Saturday.

On a pitch which was in remarkably good condition after the recent rain and everything else, Sidcup played the first half with a slight breeze in their favour. The home back division had an unusual look about it with a centre partnership of Richard Pilgrim, continuing his travels around the back division, and Darian Uys, replacing Callum Thomson who had suffered a serious hand injury which is likely to prevent him playing again this season. Cobham, playing with the slope were immediately on the attack with their beefy pack securing a supply of ruck ball. However the Sidcup defence was up to the task and the first scoring chance fell to the home side although Jim Hardy was unable to convert a penalty from distance. The scrum was an early cause of concern as Cobham asserted themselves on the first two Sidcup feeds.

Gradually Sidcup began to gain control of the game. A drive from a five metre line-out looked promising but the ball was turned over. However the attacking position was maintained and, after 15 minutes, pressure was turned into points. Cobham won a scrum on their put-in under the posts but stand-off Piers Gregory dropped the ball which bounced into the hands of a grateful Uys who wandered in unopposed leaving Hardy an easy kick. Sidcup continued to put Cobham under pressure. A good break by Hardy set up an excellent scoring chance but the ball was moved away from the overlap. However the second try had only been postponed. After 25 minutes, a turn-over forced just inside the Cobham half was followed by sharp passing and Jamie Cutler was brought down just short of the left corner. The ball was recycled quickly and moved right where Jack Hague crashed over- Hardy’s kick just missing. As is often the case, the side defending was conceding the penalties and eventually Mr Fry’s patience was exhausted and Cobham hooker Josh Brown was sent to the cooler for persistent infringement at rucks. Sidcup kicked to the corner, Hague won the ball at the front and Danny Mizen was holding the ball when the maul crossed the line.

Possibly sensing that their hopes of a play-off place were disappearing, Cobham raised their game and retained possession for an impressive period of time. Sidcup were forced to defend resolutely with Mike Elliott prominent. Eventually Cobham were harried back to the half-way line and the danger passed. Sidcup returned to the attack. A good run by Richard Roddis, who was getting a number of chances to run at the visitors, was carried on by Pilgrim who kicked ahead but the defence scrambled the ball dead when a score looked likely. The next score, on the stroke of half-time, came from an unpromising position. Matt Bramhall rescued an untidy ruck, made a half break and released Hague who bashed his way up the middle. Once again the ball was recycled quickly and Uys found space to round the defence and cruise in from 25 yards. Hardy converted with a good kick. Matches between Sidcup and Cobham have generally been close in recent years and it was difficult to know whether Sidcup were more surprised to be 24 points ahead or Cobham to be 24 points behind at this stage.

Sidcup began the second half as they finished the first, turning over a line-out and moving the ball well although Hardy was stopped just short. Cobham, doubtless smarting from a haranguing at the interval began moving the ball from all parts of the pitch with half backs Gregory and Patrick Disley-May directing play. Defending their line, Sidcup began to concede penalties and eventually Mr Fry dispatched Hague to the thinking corner for ten minutes. From the penalty, No 8, Jack Davison crossed by the posts but, to compound their day, the Cobham kicker missed.

This was pretty much the last time the home line was threatened. Hardy kicked two penalties. One after a 10 metre advance following a Cobham critique on Mr Fry’s decision making and another after a high tackle and obligatory hand bags. Sidcup saved their best try for the end. Gregory became the second Cobham player to be given detention. Hardy kicked the penalty to the right corner. Jon West took the line-out off the top, Hague drove to the posts, another ruck was quickly won and Cutler fed Ryan Hudson who had replaced Roddis with a long miss pass. Hudson still had work to do to score the try and cut inside to complete the scoring although Sidcup continued to press to the end of the game.

Since Christmas Sidcup have beaten the league leaders and the side in third place but this was the best ball in hand performance for some time. The make-shift centre partnership of Richard Pilgrim and Darian Uys looked less and less make-shift as the game progressed. Jamie Cutler and Matt Bramhall directed the game well. The forwards sorted out their early difficulties in the scrum and the line-out work was almost flawless. Jack Hague had an excellent game and he was probably helped by his enforced ten minute breather. Once again, the back row of Jon West, Alex Tomkins and Mike Elliott were tireless and Colin Cooper’s first act after replacing Elliott was to force a turnover.

This week’s trip is to Wimbledon, a ground your correspondent has never been to the same way twice. Wimbledon seem to be in good form- in particular achieving an impressive victory against Dover. One would expect there to be a good crowd but, once again the arranging of international matches seems to ignore people who do actually go to watch rugby rather than get their fix from the television and so some potential spectators may be absent. If your correspondent does actually manage to find the ground then he will be spared the pain of trying to watch Scotland from behind the sofa.

RDPH - 8 Mar 10

20 Feb 10: Sidcup 30 - Tunbridge Wells 10

Following a brief hiatus as Dover made their bid to stage the Winter Olympics, Sidcup returned to action at Crescent Farm on Saturday and won their London league 1 match against Tunbridge Wells by 3 goals, 2 penalty goals and a drop goal to a goal and a penalty goal.

In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the Tunbridge Wells mid-field had a purple patch of 20 minutes scoring 21 unanswered points and, in previous seasons, Sidcup have generally had difficulty with the visitors who, more often than not, seem to be in the same division. The Sidcup pitch, normally an excellent surface was showing evidence of the inclement weather and was very wet in places although the early morning frost had gone out of the ground.

Initially, Tunbridge Wells had the territorial advantage. A good run by left wing Simon Beamish was followed by a break by Matt Murtagh and a try was only prevented by an excellent tackle by Steve Amura, covering from the other wing. Early scrums proved to be encouraging for Sidcup as the visitors went backwards and struggled to clear the ball from the base. However the line-out was going with the throw although it was from a Tunbridge Wells line-out on a quarter of an hour that Alex Tomkins arrived at the stand off at the same time as the ball, somehow collected the ball and made his way into the opposition half. Luke Drury was in support and carried the play on and, with the referee playing penalty advantage to Sidcup, Jamie Cutler dropped a goal.

The Sidcup pack was getting up a head of steam and, from an attacking line-out organised a rolling maul which Tunbridge Wells stopped on the line. Jon West nearly drove over but the ball was then moved left and Ryan Hudson, making his league debut, scored near the corner. Jim Hardy converted with a good kick. From the kick-off, Sidcup were penalised for holding in a ruck in front of their posts and James Warren opened the scoring for Tunbridge Wells.

Play was mainly between the twenty two metre lines with the Sidcup pack and the Tunbridge Wells mid-field both trying to impose themselves but not quite being able to. With 5 minutes left until half-time, Hardy kicked long from just outside his twenty two but was late tackled. The kick was from 35 yards and in front of the posts and Hardy had no difficulty extending the lead. The curse of the “score before half time”, which had been banished in recent weeks, returned when Tom Hathaway crashed over from short range following a series of rucks on the Sidcup line; Warren converting.

With their lead reduced to 3 points, it was important for Sidcup that they scored first in the second half. Within 5 minutes, a handling move with Tomkins and Richard Pilgrim prominent, ended in a penalty for a tackle off the ball and Hardy extended the lead to six points. Sidcup continued to dominate possession and territory. The scrum was putting Tunbridge Wells under a lot of pressure and the home side was dominating the breakdown. Although the visitors backs still looked as though they had a try in them, excellent defence in the centre by Hardy and Callum Thomson and by the back row meant that they were contained.

Twice Sidcup went close to scoring tries following rolling mauls after attacking line-outs- one going from the twenty two. In both cases the maul seemed to be pulled down just short of the line but the referee disagreed. However pressure was eventually turned into points when, after a turnover, West found a gap and went over from 15 yards, Hardy converting. Concern that Tunbridge Wells were not finished as an attacking force looked to be well founded when Sitiveni Turagaiviu made a break from his own twenty two and had covered 80 yards before being stopped by an excellent tackle by Darian Uys who had replaced James Roberts although this was at the cost of a penalty. Tunbridge Wells battered at the Sidcup line and drove over. However the ball was held up and from the attacking scrum, another Sidcup drive and a hack at the loose ball sent play back to the halfway line. With five minutes remaining, Jack Hague who had replaced Mike Elliott, charged down an attempted clearance kick; Thomson gathered the ball and scored by the posts leaving Hardy with an easy kick.

This was a good victory against a side that played well above their position in the league. Once again, the forwards laid the foundations for the win, dominating scrum and breakdown. The back row all played well but Alex Tomkins was outstanding both in defence and creativity and the front five provided the necessary grunt. Callum Thomson, in addition to defensive duties also carried the ball well into the Tunbridge Wells defence enabling the pack to go forwards to the breakdown. Mark Bramhall played well at scrum half keeping the visitors back row busy and Ryan Hudson showed some promising touches on the wing.

There are some difficult fixtures on the horizon but if the team continue to play as they have in recent weeks then they can approach them with confidence. Whether the first of these games will be away at Dover this Saturday is still to be determined as a fixture merry-go-round is involved. It is to be hoped that the game will go ahead as the alternative will be to watch England beat Ireland which, following the almost certain defeat of Scotland in Italy, will be sufficient to dispatch your correspondent into a sloth of despond.

RDPH - 22 Feb 10

30 Jan 10: Sidcup 28 - Old Elthamians 0

Sidcup overcame Old Elthamians, their rivals from the far side of the A20, at Crescent Farm on Saturday, winning by 2 goals, a try and 3 penalty goals to nil.

Unlike the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the period before the match was a largely blissful silence broken only by the sound of the ice being scraped off the pitch. Once this was done, both sides and the referee seemed satisfied that the conditions were playable, to the surprise of one spectator at least. However overfoot conditions were sunny and there was little breeze.

Sidcup were immediately on the attack and, on their first visit to the Elthamians twenty-two were awarded a penalty for a ruck offence which Jim Hardy kicked. If the home side thought that this meant an easy passege they were mistaken as Elthamians camped in and around the Sidcup twenty-two for the next 15 minutes. The visitors were also putting the Sidcup scrum under a bit of pressure and Jon West had his work cut out to control the ball at the base. The home defence stood firm and eventually the pressure was relieved.

A couple of penalties enabled Sidcup to make their way into the Elthamian twenty-two and from an attacking line out, Jack Hague took the ball and the maul made its way towards the line. With the referee playing penalty advantage, Sam Eydmann spotted the undefended short side and touched down. Hardy added the conversion.

This proved to be the only try scoring chance of the half for either side. Defences were on top and the Old Elthamian first up tackling was particularly impressive with Sidcup, although having teritorial advantage, being unable unable to threaten the visitors line again.

In the first 15 minutes of the second half, Sidcup could easily have scored three or four tries. A series of attacking line-outs and scrums came to nothing due to a combination of determined defence, wrong option and a bit of over-excitement. It looked as though it might turn into one of those games when squandered chances are regretted later in the game. However, from another line-out in the corner, West broke through the defence to touch down. Although the final pass was given as forward, Elthamians were penalised for offside under their posts and Hardy was left with an easy kick.

With 25 minutes gone, Dave Harris suffered a foot injury and was replaced by James Roberts with Alex Tomkins moving to the wing. Roberts immediately made his mark on the game, conceeding a penalty for a late tackle that was born of enthusiasm rather than malice. However it led to Elthamians having an attacking line-out from which they moved the ball to the posts and nearly scored. A couple of 5 metre scrums followed but the Sidcup scrum stood firm and back row pressure on the half backs relieved the situation. This was to prove the visitor’s only scoring chance of the half. Sidcup worked their way up the pitch, were awarded a penalty on the half-way line and Hardy’s attempt never looked like missing.

Sidcup dominated the rest of the half. An excellent move ended with Richard Pilgrim, restored at full back, kicking ahead down the touch line. With the ball a couple of feet short of the try line and the defence nowhere in sight, his tap over the line managed to go dead. Unkinder elements on the touchline felt that he didn’t fancy diving on the frozen ground in the corner but your correspondent, who knows a thing or two about lack of moral fibre on the pitch, put it down to a poor contact. In the event it didn’t matter as a couple of minutes later, following a scrum on the twenty two, West broke through. Although he was tackled just short of the line, the ball went loose. Roberts, in support, made a better contact than Pilgrim and touched down by the posts. Hardy made no mistake with the kick.

With 10 minutes remaining, Sidcup scored their best try of the game. The forwards did well to force a turnover in mid-field. Slick passing by West, Jamie Cutler, Eydmann and Pilgrim led to Tomkins running in from outside the twenty-two. Although Sidcup continued to attack, they were unable to add any more points although a good move saw Richard Roddis go close in the last move of the game.

In the end it was a convincing victory which made a change from the nail biters of recent weeks. The forwards were excellent. The back row of, at various times West, Tomkins, Roberts, Mike Elliott and Steven Evans hounded the Elthamians mid-field and created a lot of turn-over ball. Richard Pilgrim played well at full back and Jim Hardy looked impressive in the centre. Callum Thomson tidied up a lot of loose ball and kept it available. If the finishing had been more clinical in the early part of the second half then the victory would have been more convincing.

This Saturday there is a re-re-arranged game away to Maidstone who will be anxious for a victory. Unfortunately your correspondent, thinking that the game had only been re-arranged, has made a familial commitment. Unless another supporter with an interest in creative writing can be found there will be no report of the game. This weekend also marks the return of xenophobia.

RDPH - 1 Feb 10

23 Jan 10: Old Colfeians 26 - Sidcup 28

Sidcup, once again, recovered from a half time deficit to beat Old Colfeians at Lee by 2 goals, a try and 3 penalty goals to 2 goals and 4 penalty goals in an exciting game where the lead changed hands three times in the last 20 minutes.

Despite the recent inclement weather, the pitch at Lee was in excellent condition- a quality which could not be ascribed to the car park. A chill breeze blew across the pitch favouring neither side. The first few minutes were inconclusive until James Poole opened the scoring for Colfeians with a penalty from 40 yards. Sidcup’s scrum was under a lot of pressure and the visitors were also guilty of taking incorrect options when in possession. However after 15 minutes they made their way into the Colfeian twenty-two and put the home side under pressure through a series of rucks. The ball was moved to the right; Jim Hardy was just short but the ball went loose and was seized on by Jamie Cutler who scored an unconverted try.

Sidcup made a mess of receiving the restart and immediately gave away a penalty which Poole kicked. To make things worse, the Sidcup restart was bungled and the visitors were back in their twenty-two. Eventually Sam Pemberton-Hill gathered a kick, made ground through some indifferent tackling and released Dan Jeal who scored by the posts leaving Poole an easy kick. Poole had the opportunity for further practice 3 minutes later and landed another penalty to increase the Colfeian lead.

It took Sidcup 25 minutes to mount their trademark rolling maul which covered 20 metres into the Colfeians twenty-two. Although it was pulled down, Sam Eydmann was able to feed Culter who accelerated through a gap to score by the posts. Hardy converted.

Sidcup had got to within four points with half time approaching but came off worse in a kicking duel when the ball was allowed to bounce and regathered by Colfeians. Eydmann suddenly found himself facing a phalanx of five Colfeians with no back up himself. The attackers had time to decide that Jeal should score his second try and Poole added the conversion.

Sidcup arrived at half time well behind and it was unclear how they could find a way back into the game. Colfeians had been quicker in thought and execution. Their backs were impressive in attack and the mobile pack were causing the usually reliable Sidcup scrum problems at the set piece. Alex Isaacs replaced Dave Jones, who had been unwell during the week, in the front row.

The second half started with a bit more promise for the visitors as, after 4 minutes, Sidcup forced a penalty on the Colfeians twenty-two and Hardy made no mistake with the kick. Colfeians were back on the attack and Nick Miller put Sidcup under pressure with a good run and kick to the Sidcup line. On reflection, the game turned on the next few minutes. Sidcup had two scrums on their own line but a monumental effort by the pack saw them won and the pressure relieved.

This seemed to lift the whole side. A good kick by Hardy led to a break by Tom England which was carried on by Cutler: Sidcup won the ruck just outside the Colfeians twenty-two and Alex Tomkins appeared in the centre, beat the defender on the outside and scored from 20 yards. Hardy was successful with the kick from halfway out. The deficit was now a single point and Sidcup were looking an entirely different proposition to the first half. They looked likely to take the lead when Eydmann ran a penalty to the line. Sidcup won a series of rucks but the chance was lost when Luke Drury was penalised for foul play and sent to the bin.

Despite being a player short the attacks continued and on the hour a Hardy penalty saw the visitors take the lead. From the infringement, Jeal joined Drury in detention thus evening up the numbers. At 25-23, the lead was fragile but Sidcup continued to exert pressure. The defence of Callum Thomson and Rob Jones in mid-field was, once again outstanding and Colfeians were unable to make the inroads they had earlier in the game. By now James Roberts was on for Mike Elliott and, although Drury was back on the field, all the Sidcup replacements had been used so when Cutler was forced off through injury, Sidcup were a player short once more.

Colfeians made full use of their numerical advantage as Pemberton-Hill made a long run down the left and was only stopped by a wonderful tackle by Richard Pilgrim who had moved to his favoured position of full-back in the reshuffle caused by Cutler’s temporary absence. Colfeians were awarded a penalty which Poole inevitably kicked but conceding three points was an awful lot better than the seven that had looked likely, particularly now that Sidcup seemed on top.

The visitors were playing with confidence and were back on the attack. With injury time approaching, a ruck just outside the Colfeians twenty two seemed harmless enough until a defender dived over the top. If Hardy felt the pressure it didn’t show and he restored the lead. Colfeians hared after the kick-off but Thomson kicked the ball from one twenty two to the other and the Sidcup line was safe.

This was an excellent win for Sidcup against a very good Old Colfeian side. The way they managed to haul themselves back into the game was commendable. The line-out was secure throughout and the scrum recovered from it’s initial difficulties. Jamie Cutler had an outstanding match and showed the confidence to back himself to score his second try, Jim Hardy was secure at full back and Richard Pilgrim made what turned out to be a match winning tackle. The back row caused problems for Colfeians at the breakdown and Alex Tomkins becomes better with every match. Danny Mizen showed excellent leadership when the game looked like getting out of control.

The travelling support deluded themselves that the result was never in doubt but it is important for Sidcup to start getting control of games from the start rather than chasing the game in the second half. Everyone who managed to extricate their vehicles from the car park will have the means of getting to Crescent Farm for the most localist derby against Old Elthamians this Saturday. At least, whatever happens, there will be no pre-match music this time- will there?

RDPH - 25 Jan 10

2 Jan 10: Sidcup 18 - Gravesend 15

Despite seeming to be down and out at half time, Sidcup staged an impressive recovery to overcome league leaders Gravesend at Crescent Farm on Saturday by 3 tries and a penalty goal to a goal, a try and a penalty goal.

The afternoon was sunny with a slight breeze favouring Gravesend in the first half. The pitch was, at best crisp, reminding one spectator of skin shredding afternoons in the North-East of Scotland forty years ago. Despite the proximity of the holiday period, Sidcup’s side was pretty much at full strength; the only notable change being the replacement of Mr Hugh Beresford-Webb by Mr Paul Bensley as touch-judge.

Early play was inconclusive with the game being played largely between the ten metre lines although Gravesend gradually gained the ascendancy. What ball Sidcup won was in their twenty two. It came as no surprise when, after fifteen minutes, Gravesend broke down their right touchline, second-row James Newman put in a deft kick ahead which John Clement gathered on the full to touch down for an unconverted try.

It took twenty minutes for Sidcup to mount their first attack, driving into the visitors twenty two and forcing the concession of a penalty which Jim Hardy kicked. This proved to be a false dawn. Gravesend were winning the kicking duels to maintain field position and two excellent kicks to the corner by Tom Bishop put Sidcup under pressure. From a scrum five, Dave Dorton gave a short pass to full-back Scott Curley who found a gap to score under the posts, Dorton converting.

Gravesend continued to dominate and were able to extend their lead when Dorton kicked a good penalty from 45 yards after 35 minutes. At this stage there seemed to be only one side in the match. Sidcup were making a lot of errors and only good defence was keeping the score down. The only chink of light for the home side was a 30 yard rolling maul into the Gravesend twenty two on the stroke of half time.

It was clear that, to have any chance of getting back into the game, Sidcup had to score first in the half and they managed to do this after 5 minutes. A tremendous drive on a Gravesend scrum on the twenty two resulted in the ball coming loose: Alex Tomkins hacked on and followed up to touch down for an unconverted try.

The whole pattern of the game was changing. Sidcup were retaining the ball and were dominating both scrum and line-out. Gravesend were now struggling to get out of their own half. Jim Hardy was kicking intelligently to Gravesend’s left corner and Sam Eydmann and Jamie Cutler were managing the game well. Sidcup, on the attack conceded a penalty in the Gravesend twenty two but it was reversed enabling the kick to the corner. The maul looked as though it would cross the line but was stopped short and from the ruck, Eydmann dived over. The kick was unsuccessful but Sidcup were now within two points.

A sortie by Gravesend into the Sidcup half was relieved by an outstanding kick of fully 60 yards by Tomkins which put the home side back on the attack. Another attacking line-out and drive was stopped short but the ball was moved to Cutler, Rob Jones made ground, Richard Pilgrim headed for the outside defender and released Hardy who squeezed past the cove to score in the corner.

Gravesend reacted as league leaders would be expected to and began running everything but aggressive defence by Rob Jones and Callum Thomson in particular prevented them from making much progress. A glut of penalties caused some anxiety among the home supporters but the only outcome was a long range penalty by Dorton which fell short.

Sidcup deserve enormous credit for winning from a seemingly hopeless position. The way they managed to control the game against a side which had previously suffered a single defeat was really impressive. The forwards were outstanding in set piece and loose. The back division were effective in defence throughout but became much more efficient in attack as the game progressed. Efficiency in terms of energy conservation was also demonstrated by Mr Bensley who managed to conduct the whole of his pre-match warm-up routine rooted to the same spot.

It has been the case in the past that excellent wins have been followed by complacent performances the following week and Messers Uys and Ubee will be anxious to avoid this at Maidstone this Saturday. However the squad should take a lot of confidence from this performance against a side that, despite this reverse, remain at the top of the league table.

RDPH - 4 Jan 10

12 Dec 09: Beckenham 23 - Sidcup 23

Last season’s pre-Christmas encounter at Beckenham was surely one of the most turgid matches seen by the long-suffering supporters of both clubs. This season, the Bromley traffic still had to be braved but the reward this time was a match in which the result was in doubt until the final whistle.

Despite Sidcup winning comfortably earlier in the season, both sides have similar records. Beckenham were quickly on the attack and Sidcup seemed to be under pressure in the early set pieces and consequently were struggling to get out of their own half. Beckenham had plenty of ball but a combination of good defence and handling errors meant that they were unable to create any clear scoring chances. Eventually a long break by Rob Jones took Sidcup into the Beckenham half and this set up a penalty opportunity for Jim Hardy which enabled the visitors to take the lead against the run of play after 20 minutes.

Although Sidcup were more in the game, Beckenham still looked dangerous and pressure told when Jack Forrest levelled the scores with a penalty on the half hour. Given the festive season, it seemed appropriate that a Pilgrim should return when one Richard replaced another, Richard Roddis, who pulled a hamstring.

The Sidcup pack was becoming more assertive. A well controlled rolling maul forced Beckenham to concede a penalty which was kicked to the home try line. Although the drive was repelled, it was at the expense of another Hardy penalty. More forward pressure enabled him to extend the lead to six points on the stroke of half time.

It seemed that the break had come at the wrong time for Sidcup as they conceded possession from the kick-off enabling Beckenham to go immediately onto the attack and the lead was reduced by another Forrest penalty. However the visitors gained an attacking line-out following a good kick and chase by Pilgrim. The rolling maul was well organised and Iain Wilson touched down. Hardy converted with his most diddicult kick so far.

If Sidcup had scored next then it is likely that they would have gone on to win but it was Beckenham who scored a well worked try when, from a scrum on half-way, Forrest passed inside to full-back James Perry who found an open field ahead of him and ran in from 50 yards leaving Forrest an easy conversion. This reverse roused Sidcup who camped on the Beckenham line. Following a series of penalties it appeared that a penalty try was on the cards but the referee contented himself with sending Paul Currie to the bin. In the event, the lack of the penalty try didn’t matter as another rolling maul resulted in Tom England, who had replaced Wilson, touching down. Although Hardy’s non-kicking foot slipped, he still added the points with a kick from wide out which was to prove crucial.

Once again, Sidcup had put daylight between themselves and Beckenham but 5 minutes later another break from a scrum allowed Forrest to send Luke Aylward to score a try which was converted. Yet another break around a scrum nearly resulted in a try for Beckenham on the right but, after winning a ruck and moving the ball left, Sidcup conceded a penalty for offside in front of the posts and Forrest levelled the scores. To make matters worse, Jack Hague became the second occupant of the cooler although the cause of the sentence was unclear from a distance.

Sidcup were now up against it facing opposition on the rampage and a forward short. Beckenham mounted wave upon wave of attack led by Perry, Forrest and wing Alex Jones. For ten minutes a home score seemed inevitable but the defence was resolute and the discipline good restricting Beckenham to a single penalty attempt which Forrest missed. Deep into injury time, the visitors showed some enterprise in trying to run the ball out from deep when a clearance kick would have been the safer option and the game ended with Sidcup in the Beckenham half.

In the end, a draw was probably a fair result. Beckenham probably feel they could have scored at the end and Sidcup that they should have closed the game out when they had the chance and prevented Beckenham from getting back into the game.
The Sidcup pack were on top for most of the game. Luke Drury had a fine match at loose head assisted in the front row by Sam Carman, Iain Wilson and replacement Tom England. Mike Elliott was prominent in the line-out and Danny Mizen and Jack Hague carried well and James Roberts made a promising debut as replacement. Outside, Rob Jones and Callum Thomson ran strongly.

This week, league leaders Gravesend visit Crescent Farm. The coaching three wise men of Messers Uys, Ubee and Pinder will be hoping for better finishing and defensive concentration if an early season defeat is to be reversed.

RDPH - 13 Dec 09

5 Dec 09: Sidcup 16 - Chobham 12

After fifteen minutes of the London League 1 (South) encounter at Crescent Farm on Saturday, the only issue in doubt seemed to be how many points Chobham would score. It was therefore a considerable cause for relief and satisfaction that Sidcup hauled themselves back into the match and were eventually deserving winners by a goal and three penalty goals to a goal and a try.

The wisdom of a two o’clock kick-off was demonstrated as it was already getting gloomy as Chobham kicked off. Despite the rain during the week, the pitch was in excellent condition and this clearly suited the visitors as they were immediately on the attack. They took the lead inside five minutes when, following a ruck on the twenty-two, Kennard found a huge amount of space on the blind side and scored in the corner. Smith converted with an excellent kick.

Chobham were looking a real handful. They were winning lots of ball, recycling quickly, passing crisply and supporting well. Sidcup’s defending was last ditch stuff but it was from the first Sidcup visit to the Chobham half after ten minutes that the lead was extended when a short inside pass was intercepted and a sweeping right to left move ended with Smith crossing in the same corner as the first try although he was unable to add the conversion points. They nearly scored again in the same corner when only desperate defence scrambled the ball into touch.

Sidcup looked down and out and it was completely against the run of play when Jamie Cutler intercepted on half-way and touched down under the posts leaving Jim Hardy, continuing at full-back, with an easy conversion. Chobham returned to the attack but were denied a try by a knock-on under the Sidcup posts.

It took half an hour for Sidcup to exert any influence on the game but they began to organise some rolling mauls and Chobham looked as though they were having difficulty defending them. The back row and Darian Uys in particular were starting to make ground with the ball in hand. However Chobham were still gaining a fair amount of possession at this stage and were exposing the Sidcup defence under the high ball. From one of these kicks they were able to set up an attacking position but eventually missed an easy penalty.

At half time, Sidcup were grateful not to be further behind but the last ten minutes of the half had shown that all might not be lost. The second half began with a Sidcup rolling maul covering 30 yards which Chobham were penalised for pulling down and Hardy reduced the deficit. Sidcup were now dominating possession and territory. Twice they looked like driving over for tries but each time a Chobham forward managed to insinuate himself on the Sidcup side and the ball was lost. However the pressure was telling and, ten minutes into the half, Chobham conceded a penalty for offside on the twenty-two and Hardy’s kick took the home side into the lead.

Sidcup had opportunities to extend the lead but Uys was stopped under the posts and a strong run by Rob Jones ended in the award of a penalty which Hardy just missed. By now, Chobham were struggling for possession and were finding it difficult to get out of their half. With ten minutes remaining, Hardy was given another opportunity to kick a penalty and this time did not make a mistake. Chobham now needed to score a try and began running the ball from everywhere. One move in particular looked dangerous but a pass went forward and the game ended with Sidcup, once more on the attack.

Chobham will feel very disappointed to lose as they played the more expansive rugby but Sidcup’s pack eventually dominated the visitors and, although it was not pretty it was effective. Darian Uys had an outstanding game; driving forwards tirelessly and was ably abetted by Mike Elliott and Jon West. Rob Jones and Callum Thomson defended well and came into the game in an attacking role as the game progressed. Both Sam Eydmann and replacement Matt Bramhall harassed the Chobham scrum at the base and kicked well. Jim Hardy, once again, was sound at full back. Jack Hague made an impact when he came on as replacement and the front five caused Chobham increasing problems as the game progressed.

This Saturday there is the exciting prospect of a Saturday lunchtime journey through the Bromley Christmas traffic to visit Beckenham who will be anxious to avenge the early season defeat.

RDPH - 7 Dec 09

Sat 28 Nov 09: Chichester 9 - Sidcup 13

Sidcup embarked on the longest trip of their league campaign on the back of five consecutive defeats although the second half recovery against Sevenoaks had given some cause for optimism. Chichester, on the other hand, had enjoyed a successful run and it seemed likely that a long afternoon might be facing the visitors. Sidcup had found great difficulty in closing out games and it was therefore a cause of considerable celebration that the visitors returned victors by a goal and two penalty goals to three penalty goals.

Rumours that Chichester would be inaccessible due to flooding proved to be groundless. In fact the pitch was in excellent condition although it was already gloomy when the game kicked off. Chichester were immediately in front as Sidcup went offside in front of their posts leaving Richard Adams an easy kick. Concern began mounting as to whether the game would actually be completed in daylight, as ten minutes after the kick off, there has been about two minutes actual playing time. Once the spate of injuries had abated it became clear that Sidcup were dominating both scrum and line-out. The front five were creating a platform which enabled Jon West to make considerable ground from the base of the scrum. Chichester eventually conceded a penalty at a retreating scrum in their twenty two and Jim Hardy, moving to full back to replace the travelling Pilgrim, levelled the scores.

Although the Chichester backs looked dangerous, the Sidcup forwards continued to dominate the set pieces and West and Mike Elliott were successful in denying Chichester line-out possession. However Sidcup were unable to turn possession into territory largely because they were unable to reach a working agreement with Mr Trimmer as to what was acceptable at the breakdown and were pinned back by penalties. Each side managed a single try scoring opportunity. Sidcup mounted a series of drives but conceded the inevitable breakdown penalty. Chichester right wing Tom Polhill looked certain to score after a 30 yard run but was denied by outstanding defending by Steve Amura.

The Sidcup forwards began the second half as they finished the first. Sam Eydmann began bombarding the Chichester back three from the base of rucks and Jamie Cutler was prominent in leading excellent chases. Chichester attempts to move the ball in the three-quarter foundered on strong defence by Rob Jones and Callum Thomson and Hardy fielded and returned Chichester kicks well. With twenty minutes to go, Chichester were penalised at a ruck 45 yards out and Hardy made no mistake with the kick.

Sidcup continued to concede penalties and began to compound these by giving away additional 10 metres. A sequence of penalties and 10 metres enabled Chichester to advance 80 yards without having to try very hard. Sidcup were penalised for handling at a ruck and Adams levelled the scores. In looked as though Sidcup had thrown away another tight game when, following another penalty around halfway, an excellent driving maul was just stopped by Sidcup at the cost of a penalty in front of the posts which Adams kicked.

Into the last minute and it seemed that Sidcup were condemned to return empty-handed. Chichester were penalised on their 10 metre line. The outcome of a conference between Hardy and Danny Mizen was a kick into the twenty two. From the line-out, a beautifully controlled 15 metre drive ended with Iain Wilson touched down with an assist from replacement Nick Gilbert. Jim Hardy’s conversion became a lot easier as the last kick of the game than the penalty would have been.

The travelling support clapped the players and the players clapped the travelling support. Does any club in the league consistently take more supporters away than Sidcup? There were formidable performances throughout the side. Danny Mizen continued driving the team on in adversity. The front row of Luke Drury, Iain Wilson, Sam Carman and replacement Scott McLean dominated the scrummages. Jon West, Mike Elliott and Colin Cooper secured a supply of line-out ball and Darian Uys was effective at the breakdown. The backs defended and chased tirelessly and the back three of Lee Woollard, Steve Amura and Jim Hardy dealt with good Chichester kicking; Rob Jones and Callum Thompson defended solidly and Sam Eydmann and Jamie Cutler managed the game well at half back.

On the final whistle it began to rain but, for the first time in a few weeks, the sun was shining on Sidcup. This week’s encounter is at home to Chobham who had a convincing win against Tunbridge Wells.

RDPH - 30 Nov 09

Sat 21 Nov 09: Sidcup 24 - Sevenoaks 27

The ever popular Kent Cup rolled into Sidcup on Saturday when the visitors, Sevenoaks emerged winners by 2 goals, 2 tries and a penalty goal to 3 goals and a penalty goal. To slightly paraphrase A.C.L. Blair “this is not a time for clichés but it was a game of two halves”. Sidcup seemed dead and buried at half time and were staring at a real drubbing but recovered in the second half and eventually nearly snatched an unlikely victory.

In a non-league week, Sidcup took the opportunity to give some of the squad players a chance to show their paces and Liam O’Brian, Matt Bramhall, John Cosh, Dave Philimore and Dave Driscoll featured in the starting line-up and all made positive contributions to the team.

The collective wish to witness England get beaten by New Zealand meant an early kick-off. Sidcup elected to play into the breeze and were soon on the attack but a dropped pass in mid-field resulted in a loss of 70 yards and they were fortunate not to go behind as Sevenoaks missed a fairly straightforward penalty. Shortly after, Philip Evans was harshly penalised in front of the posts for not rolling away and Jo Pollack opened the scoring.

Sidcup returned to the attack and were looking dangerous when an over speculative chip was marked by full-back Robbie Unwin who took a quick tap. Several pairs of hands and 80 yards later, Pollack scored a try which he converted. On Sidcup’s next possession, a kick into the Sevenoaks twenty-two was fielded again by Unwin who initiated an almost identical move which resulted in Ed Alteirac touching down for George Roffey to convert. In case Sevenoaks had not perfected running in from near their own line, Sidcup put in a further kick which was returned to their own line; the move finishing in a line-out. From this, a precise cross-field kick by Roffey found Pollack who released James Garcia to score. In little more than 10 minutes, Sidcup had conceded 19 points from kicks into the Sevenoaks twenty-two.

Sidcup gathered themselves and, following a period of pressure, were awarded a penalty in front of the Sevenoaks posts which Jim Hardy kicked. However there was just time for Sevenoaks to extend their lead just before half-time in a disappointing manner when Sevenoaks found it far too easy to drive a maul over the line.

Staring at a score of 27-3, it was clearly necessary to send for the cavalry which arrived in the forms of Luke Drury and Danny Mizen and inside 10 minutes, Sidcup had scored two really good tries. A kick by Hardy was gathered on halfway by Darian Uys; Mizen linked and released Liam O’Brien who handed off an opponent and ran in from 50 yards. There then followed the best Sidcup move of the game when the ball went through several pairs of hands. Eventually Evans burst through and passed inside for Wesley Smith to score by the posts. Hardy converted both. Unfortunately Jack Hague was badly cut in the play leading to the try. As all the forward replacements had been used, Rob Jones came on in the centre and Callum Thomson moved to the back row where he proceeded to have an outstanding game.

The game ebbed and flowed. Sevenoaks managed to break the Sidcup defensive line more than once and were only stopped by good defence. Sidcup then mounted a series of drives on the Sevenoaks line in which Alex Isaacs featured prominently but were eventually penalised as was Evans when he was brought down inches short. With injury time approaching, Sidcup drove Sevenoaks off their own scrum ball and Bramhall and Hardy combined to send Smith over in the corner: Hardy converted with an excellent kick. As with the Wimbledon match further effort failed to produce the winning score.

Sevenoaks go on to meet Canterbury. There was a view, not shared by all, that glorious defeat was better than victory in the long term. An unlikely win would have given a lot of confidence but the performance and attitude of the side in the second half was most encouraging. Luke Drury and Danny Mizen made a real difference. Matt Bramhall gave a polished display at scrum half and Sidcup are fortunate to have two such accomplished scrum halves as himself and Sam Eydmann available. Any disappointment from the morning was assuaged initially by the result from Twickenham and then by Scotland demolishing an Australian side which had comfortably beaten England. This Saturday marks the return of the league with the journey to deepest Sussex and high flying Chichester.

RDPH - 23 Nov 09

Sat 14 Nov 09: Sidcup 10 - Wimbledon 16

Despite a spirited last 10 minutes, Sidcup failed to overcome determined Wimbledon defence and lost the London 1 league encounter by a goal and three penalty goals to a goal and a penalty goal at Crescent Farm on Saturday.

The morning storm had abated to a gale by kick off but the pitch was in remarkably good condition. It was disappointing that the players just about outnumbered the spectators but this seems to be the price that club rugby has to pay to satisfy the Rugby Union and their television paymasters who clearly care little about the effect of televised matches on the grass-roots of the game.

Wimbledon kicked off with the gale in their favour and within a minute Mike Elliott had left the pitch injured to be replaced by Jack Hague making a welcome return to fitness. Before 10 minutes had elapsed, Wimbledon were six points ahead through two penalties by Mike Willoughby. It became clear that Sidcup were going to find it difficult to get out of their own twenty-two in the gale. The back row of Hague, Jon West and Darian Uys were leading forward drives but it only needed a single mistake for them to be back on their own line as Wimbledon kicked intelligently with the wind.

The defence held out well for half an hour but Wimbledon increased their lead when, following a quickly taken penalty, a couple of rucks used up enough defenders for Dave Charles to cross for a Willoughby converted try.

The rest of the half was encouraging for the home side. The scrum looked very solid and Wimbledon were under pressure on their own line-out. The back row, Danny Mizen and Colin Cooper continued the effective driving and, although Sidcup were stuck in their own half, Wimbledon didn’t look like adding to their lead.

Sidcup were now playing with the wind which, inevitably, dropped although it was still significant. Immediately after the re-start, a move involving a West break lead to Hague crossing but the ball was not grounded to Mr Lyes’ satisfaction. However this seemed to matter little as Sidcup continued on the attack and after 10 minutes a move involving Sam Eydmann and Jamie Cutler led to West crossing for a try which Richard Pilgrim converted. Two minutes later, Pilgrim reduced the lead to three points with a penalty.

At this point, it seemed to be only a matter of time before Sidcup took the lead. However the Wimbledon scrum began to dominate and Sidcup were finding it hard to clear from the base despite West’s best efforts. Sidcup continued to mount assaults on the Wimbledon line but the visitors’ defence was exceptionally stubborn. Wimbledon had weathered the storm and were gaining enough possession to run the ball out of defence. Having worked their way into the Sidcup twenty-two, they were awarded a penalty which Willoughby kicked into the wind.

Sidcup now needed a converted try to gain the lead and the chances of this receded when Tom Page was carded for foul play with 15 minutes remaining. Despite being a player short, Sidcup returned to the Wimbledon line but despite battering away from within 5 metres couldn’t score the all important try. Richard Roddis managed to cross in the last move of the game but had put a foot in touch on the way.

It hasn’t been a good four weeks for Sidcup. Some of the difficulties have been caused by bad luck but some of the side’s problems have been of their own making as instanced by the fact that all Wimbledon’s points came from penalties conceded by Sidcup. It was encouraging that the forwards, in particular showed real resolve when a man short at the end of the game. Apologies for the lack of a report last week due to filial nuptials and a totally unreasonable attitude of Mrs Correspondent in forbidding me to “slip away” during the photographs to watch the game. This week provides a respite from league fixtures with a cup match at home to Sevenoaks which has a 12.30 kick off. The winners have the privilege of progressing until they eventually lose to Blackheath, Canterbury or Westcombe Park.

RDPH - 16 Nov 09

Sat 31 Oct 09: Tunbridge Wells 29 - Sidcup 22

After a first half where they dominated Tunbridge Wells and could and should have been out of sight, Sidcup snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the last 20 minutes and ended up losing by 2 goals and 3 tries to 2 tries and 4 penalty goals.

After the lacklustre performance against Dover, Sidcup began in fine style. Immediately on the attack, they nearly scored in the corner but the final pass was forward. From the ensuing scrum, Sidcup mounted a formidable drive, the ball squirted out of the Tunbridge Wells scrum and Sam Eydmann pounced to score.
Returning to the attack, two good runs by Philip Evans set up an attacking ruck at which Tunbridge Wells infringed enabling Richard Pilgrim to kick the penalty.

At this point, Sidcup were excellent. Jamie Cutler was making an impressive first start at stand-off and Callum Thomson was playing well on his return in the centre. Tunbridge Wells were being hounded into mistakes and the scrum was dominant. The only cloud on the horizon was that the visitors were struggling on their own line out ball. A scrum was conceded from a defensive line out, Harrison picked up from No 8 and Lineham crossed for Murtagh to convert. Sidcup continued to dominate. Although try chances were not being taken, pressure was forcing Tunbridge Wells to concede penalties and Pilgrim kicked two more to extend the lead.

Within 5 minutes of the re-start, Tunbridge Wells had reduced the lead in somewhat controversial circumstances. The home side made ground down the Sidcup right. Inside the twenty two, the home touch judge raised his flag and then quickly put it down. Mr Webb allowed play to continue and the try was given.

If Sidcup were the victims of injustice, it appeared that they their feelings were immediately assuaged. Regaining possession from the kick-off, the ball reached Richard Roddis who kicked ahead intelligently realising that there was a large dead ball area and won the race to the touchdown. Although Pilgrim just missed the conversion, he extended the lead within 5 minutes when, following a long kick and an excellent chase, Tunbridge Wells were forced to concede a penalty underneath their posts.

At 10 points ahead with 20 minutes to go, Sidcup should have been able to close the game out. However the elements which had been going well started going badly and those that had not being going well got worse. Tunbridge Wells were able to kick for touch in the knowledge that they could challenge for possession, ball retention became poor and tackles were missed. A speculative kick by Tunbridge Wells into the Sidcup twenty two found the defenders outnumbered and a charged down kick under pressure was grounded by Turagaiviu and converted by Murtagh.

The equilibrium of the game had changed completely. Sidcup were struggling to get the ball and when they got it they couldn’t keep in. In the space of 5 minutes, Tunbridge Wells scored two almost identical tries following the ball going loose from Sidcup possession around half-way and kicks and chases by Tunbridge Wells. There were still 10 minutes left and a converted try would have drawn the match but, by now, Tunbridge Wells were in the ascendant and the visitors never looked like creating a scoring chance.

Tunbridge Wells gave a real lesson in not giving up and taking all the chances that come along. Despite loads of pressure in the first half, Sidcup were turning territory into penalties rather than tries. Although the scrum was solid throughout, the line-out became increasingly chaotic and, as a consequence, the visitors found it more difficult to get out of their own half. Nor were they able to mount the driving mauls which had been so impressive in the first half. There are no easy games in this league and next week’s visit to Cobham will be no easier. Sidcup need to take heart from the excellent first half performance but be more clinical in their finishing, in receiving re-starts and in all set pieces.

RDPH - 3 Nov 09

Sat 24 Oct 09: Sidcup 9 - Dover 33

After the euphoria of the result against Old Elthamians the previous week, Sidcup came down to earth as they were outplayed by Dover who won by 4 goals and a try to 3 penalty goals at Crescent Farm.

Sidcup played with the wind and slope in the first half and the tone of the game was set in the first five minutes when handling errors prevented at least one good chance of a try being scored. Dover went close when a dangerous run by wing Mark Beaumont was stopped in the corner by a good tackle by Jon West. Good kicks by Richard Pilgrim and Jim Hardy followed by a turn-over by Mike Elliott enabled Sidcup to force an attacking line-out but the drive was not well organised and Dover gained possession when a score looked likely.

The wind was enabling Sidcup to maintain field position and after 15 minutes Dover infringed at a ruck 20 metres out and Hardy kicked the penalty. Dover returned to the attack. Mr Chapman had being taking exception to Mike Elliott’s binding (they seem to do things differently in Hertfordshire) but chose a scrum in the Sidcup twenty two to penalise Alex Tomkins for the same offence and, to add insult to injury, dispatched him to the bin. As this was his first infraction and neither wing forward seemed to be doing anything differently from previous weeks, this seemed somewhat harsh. Dover elected to take a scrum and stand-off Martyn Beaumont used the extra space to cross by the posts, Nic Ford converting.

Using the extra numbers in the scrum, Dover quickly extended their lead when they disrupted a Sidcup scrum in the home twenty two and following a ruck the Beaumont/Ford combination doubled the score. Hardy reduced the difference with a penalty from 45 and just before half time, following a run by Pilgrim, Dover conceded another penalty for Hardy to kick.

As Dover were in the lead with the wind and slope in their favour, the situation looked ominous for Sidcup but the visitors could not have expected the level of assistance they received from Sidcup. The normally reliable line out became chaotic, turn overs proliferated and the scrum was creaking. Limited possession was compounded by handling errors and the consequence was that, for the first half hour, Sidcup struggled to get out of their own half. Beaumont scored his third try and Ford and Ben Vick also touched down; Ford adding two conversions. Sidcup did mount a flurry at the end but two scoring opportunities were lost and the final whistle couldn’t come soon enough for the home support.

This was possibly the worst performance for two seasons. The players were flat and the home support was flat also. Martyn Beaumont and Ben Sedwick, the Dover half backs were outstanding but they were allowed the opportunity to be so by the amount of ball they had to use. Dover did the basics well and Sidcup didn’t. Competition for Mr Chapman’s whistle was supplied by the starlings(?) massing on the trees around the ground prior to migration. By the end of the game, the prospect of flying south seemed rather attractive but a shorter journey to Tunbridge Wells next Saturday will have to suffice.

RDPH - 26 Oct 09

Sat 17 Oct 09: Old Elthamians 15 - Sidcup 26

Sidcup made the short journey along Perry Street on Saturday and returned home winners against Old Elthamians by 3 goals and a try to a goal, a try and a penalty goal; the Old Boys suffering their first home defeat for two years.

The pitch was in excellent condition although the afternoon was Autumnal and the pre-match music (more of which later) challenging. Sidcup began well with a series of pick and drives in which Luke Drury was prominent. Initially the game was being played between the two ten metre lines and it was 15 minutes before either side got into an attacking position when Elthamian scrum half Hoskins put in a long kick to the Sidcup line. Sidcup eventually relieved the pressure with a good kick by Jim Hardy and the game then degenerated into the kicking duel familiar to anyone who watches rugby on television.

The monotony was ended when, following a good run by Moyo, Elthamians were awarded a scrum near the Sidcup line. The ball was moved right, then left and hooker Fordham found himself as the spare man and went over in the corner. Ford converted with an excellent kick. Within five minutes Sidcup were level. Darian Uys made a good run, Philip Evans carried the move on and made a pass out of the tackle to give Richard Pilgrim the space to score under the posts leaving Hardy an easy conversion.

The try seemed to give the visitors confidence. They began recycling the ball quickly from rucks and were controlling the game. Rob Jones, who had been playing well, went off with an injured knee and was replaced by Jon Harris, making his first appearance of the season. With just over 5 minutes of the half remaining, Sidcup mounted a driving maul from an attacking line-out and Uys touched down. Hardy converted with a good kick.

Moyo once again set up a good position and Sidcup conceded their customary “on the stroke of half time” penalty. Unusually the chance was not taken and there was just enough time left for Jon Harris and Colin Cooper to combine well but were unlucky to be stopped a few yards out.

The second half began with the Old Boys being awarded a penalty in front of the posts which Ford kicked. However, for most of the half Sidcup were on top and played some of the most controlled rugby so far this season. Sam Carman replaced Scott McLean, who had played well in the front row. The visitors went near when a good break by Hardy was carried on by Alex Tomkins but they eventually extended their lead after 15 minutes when a good run by Dave Harris set up an attacking position. After a scrum and a series of rucks, he was about to score in the corner but the defender was penalized for a high tackle with a penalty try which left Hardy with another conversion in front of the posts.

The comfortable lead lasted only 10 minutes before another forceful run by Moyo, assisted by disappointing tackling resulted in an unconverted try. Although Uys was brought down inches short, the game was put beyond doubt by the best try of the match. From a scrum, Hardy found Pilgrim with a miss pass and Dave Harris kept his head this time to score. Sidcup continued to control the game in the last few minutes; a 20 metre driving maul being particularly impressive and an outbreak of temper in injury time was calmed down well by Mr Bowers.

This was a very good victory against a side that dominated their league last season and have subsequently strengthened the team. It was Sidcup’s most controlled performance of the season; in particular the ball retention was excellent. Jim Hardy and Sam Eydmann’s game management was clinical, Philip Evans made several strong runs in the centre and Jon Harris and Rob Jones both showed good touches. Jon West’s dominated the line out thanks, in part to Iain Wilson’s accurate throwing. Colin Cooper and Darian Uys were tireless in the loose. The performances of Luke Drury, Scott McLean and Sam Carman underlined the encouraging front row strength in the club.

The Chairman’s welcome in the Old Elthamians programme was very generous but the assault by the pre-match music was less so, inducing a Sunday morning of tinnitus for one spectator of a certain age. In addition to volume, it does seem that the Musical Appreciation Society at Eltham College needs to be alerted to the delights of groups such as the Beach Boys and the Zombies before Sidcup visit again.

RDPH - 19 Oct 09

Sat 10 Oct 09: Sidcup 13 - Old Colfeians 16

Sidcup failed to retain their second position in London 1 South when they conceded a late score to Old Colfeians to lose by a goal and three penalty goals to a goal and two penalty goals at Crescent Farm on Saturday.

On a sunny afternoon, in front of the well fed and particularly well watered Vice-Presidents and past players, Sidcup were quickly on the attack as Colfeians conceded a series of penalties and Jim Hardy was successful with his first attempt at goal after two minutes. It took Colfeians ten minutes to mount significant pressure but after a series of rucks in their twenty two, the home side was penalised for offside at a ruck and James Poole levelled the score.

Sidcup were immediately back in Colfeian territory. A promising move involving Richard Roddis, Richard Pilgrim and Darian Uys broke down when a pass went astray and this became a recurrent theme in the game as promising situations were lost through forced, missed and forward passes. Twenty minutes into the game, Colfeians took the lead when Poole kicked a second penalty from an identical position to the earlier one. Sidcup missed another try scoring opportunity when Roddis made a good run up the wing but, having been tackled short of the line, the support conceded a penalty.

Although handling errors continued, Sidcup continued to exert territorial pressure. The scrum had been creaking a bit but, after thirty five minutes, they managed to disrupt a Colfeian put in and Sam Eydmann forced a penalty which Hardy kicked. Unusually Sidcup had a scoring opportunity on the stroke of half-time but Hardy struck the post from 45 yards despite a good strike.

The second half began with Sidcup under pressure. The Colfeian scrum continued to function well and space was created for their back division with Gideon Roux in particular making ground in the centre. It was from one of these runs that the visitors were awarded a penalty for offside which Poole kicked to re-take the lead.

With twenty minutes remaining, Sidcup produced their best move of the game. Following a turn-over just inside their half, the ball was moved quickly left with slick passing; Pilgrim made ground before releasing Roddis who ran in from 40 yards. Hardy converted to extend the lead to four points.

Sidcup were then forced into a major reconstruction of the side as Jack Hague was forced to leave the field as a result of injury. Dave Harris came on as replacement on the wing, Roddis moved to the centre, Jon West went to No. 8, Uys to blind side wing forward and Mike Elliott to second row. Initially the disruption seemed to have little effect but good chances were still wasted. A storming run by Danny Mizen, carried on by Elliott ended in a dropped pass end a break by Eydmann finished with a forward pass; on both occasions it seemed a try was inevitable.

The game turned on a penalty awarded for crossing during a Sidcup attacking line-out as the game entered injury time. An excellent kick put Colfeians on the attack. Initially Sidcup repelled a series of rucks but Colfeians were not to be denied. Another break by Roux created space behind the defence for Daniel Gardener to score in the corner. An excellent conversion by Poole meant that Sidcup had to score a try to win. Despite there being nearly 10 minutes of injury time, they never looked likely to achieve this.

In the end Colfeians probably deserved their victory. They had one chance to score a try and took it. Sidcup created several really good try scoring opportunities but only managed to finish one of them. The disruption of the Hague injury didn’t help but far too many promising movements broke down following poor, speculative or forward passes. Roddis looked dangerous whenever he received the ball, Mizen kept the forwards going and Alex Tomkins covered ground tirelessly. An improvement will be needed in order to trouble Old Elthamians at Foxbury this Saturday.

RDPH - 11 Oct 09

Sat 3 Oct 09: Thanet Wanderers 20 - Sidcup 33

Sidcup returned from their trip to the seaside with a victory over Thanet Wanderers by four goals and a try to a goal, two tries and a penalty goal and, in doing so moved to second place in London 1 South.

Although it was warm in Broadstairs, the pitch was hard and bare and there was a very strong wind blowing primarily from corner to corner. The visitors played the first half into the wind but were initially on the attack following a good kick by Jim Hardy. However their scrum was under pressure on their own ball and Thanet were forcing turn-overs at the breakdown. Consequently the first scoring chances came to the home side but two penalties were missed.

Both sides were finding the conditions difficult to cope with; Hardy just missed with a penalty into the wind from 40 yards and Thanet missed with a drop goal from 25 yards following an extended period of pressure. Sidcup eventually carved out a try scoring opportunity when, after 20 minutes, Rob Jones made a powerful run through the centre, Sam Eydmann moved the ball quickly from the ruck, Hardy made a half break and Jack Hague crossed in the corner. With the wind in their favour, Thanet were soon back on the attack and, following a couple of rucks on the Sidcup line, managed to rumble over for an unconverted try.

If the visiting supporters thought that this was the usual “on the stroke of half time score”, they were mistaken as there was just enough time remaining for Steve Amura to be penalised for retaliation on the half-way line and Richard Eldridge to kick a penalty for another “on the stroke of half time score” to give Thanet the lead.

Against such a strong wind, Sidcup would probably have settled for a three point deficit at that stage but four minutes into the second half, centre Tom Ash intercepted a Sidcup pass in mid-field and ran in from 60 yards, Eldridge converting. With the wind in their favour, Sidcup were soon back on the attack. Although the turn-over problem seemed to have been resolved, the visitors were still having problems on their own scrum ball. However Thanet were giving away penalties under pressure and following a series of 5 metre line-outs Tom Wicks crossed for a try, Hardy adding the points.

With only 15 minutes of the half played, Sidcup were back within striking distance and four minutes later they were back in the lead. A promising Thanet attack finished with a pass going into touch in the Sidcup twenty two. A quick throw saw the ball transferred to Jones who made a lot of ground through the centre, transferred to Jon West who found Wesley Smith in support to score a good opportunist try which Hardy converted. Thanet managed to gather the kick off and returned to the attack. Tempers were getting a little frayed and following an initial skirmish, Tom Page was dispatched to the bin. From the penalty, Thanet kicked to the corner and mounted an impressive drive to cross for a try which enabled them to re-take the lead. Tempers were inflamed once more and Mr Quantick eventually decided that one player from each side should join Page in the cooler identifying Teall and Hague as the sacrificial lambs.

Within five minutes, Sidcup were back in the lead. From a line-out 20 yards out, Alex Tomkins drove the Thanet stand-off over the line for an attacking scrum. From this, Amura made a strong run in mid-field, the ruck was won quickly and Eydmann fed West who found room to cross leaving Hardy with as easy a kick as the conditions allowed. Into the last 10 minutes, another fine Hardy kick put Sidcup on the attack. A scrum and a couple of rucks later, Smith was able to weave over from close range for his second try and the reliable Hardy converted to give the visitors an ultimately convincing win.

The combination of wind and hard ground made for very difficult conditions for both sides and it was to their credit that they coped as well as they did. Although the conditions probably played their part in the collective loss of temper in the second half, both sides calmed down quickly. The normally formidable Sidcup scrum had a collective off-day but the line-out functioned well and, after turning over ball early on, the pack in general and the back row of Tomkins, West and Mike Elliott in particular did well at the breakdown. The back division, especially the mid-field of Jones, Smith and Hardy looked dangerous and took their chances well. After a first vacation outside school holidays in nearly 40 years it was reassuring to realise that Saturday afternoons might be better spent watching London League rugby than leering at the lovelies sunning themselves on the Aegean beaches and this Saturday’s home game against Colfeians may confirm this.

RDPH - 5 Oct 09

Sat 12 Sep 09: Sidcup 43 - Beckenham 11

Sidcup, opening their home League programme on Saturday, were made to work hard by Beckenham but ultimately ran out convincing winners by five goals, a try and a penalty goal to a try and two penalty goals.

Before the game began, both sides and the spectators observed a one minute silence for Jenny West, Ray Fairbrass and Malcolm Button who all sadly passed away during the summer.

On a hard but well grassed pitch in lovely late Summer conditions, Beckenham were the quicker into their stride exerting early pressure and forcing a couple of turnovers. However, it took twenty minutes before the stalemate was broken when Sidcup were penalised at a ruck in front of their posts and stand-off Jack Forrest opened the scoring. Five minutes later Sidcup took the lead. A break by Darian Uys was well supported by Sam Eydmann and carried on by debutant centre Alek Ciuchlejus. Although Ciuchlejus was tackled just short of the line, the ball was moved quickly left and Richard Roddis found Dave Harris, who had come across from the other wing, outside him with a scoring pass.

The score seemed to spur Sidcup and both Richard Pilgrim and Jim Hardy made telling breaks. From the Hardy break, Mike Elliott was up in support and scored by the posts for Hardy to convert. Five minutes from half-time, an excellent kick and chase put pressure on the Beckenham defence; Pilgrim recovered the ball which went from Roddis to Jack Hague who did well to be in support to score in the corner with Pilgrim converting. Roddis was injured in the move and, once the referee was satisfied that it was his own blood, was temporarily replaced by Wesley Smith. On the stroke of half-time, Sidcup conceded their usual score when Forrest kicked a penalty.

Sidcup started the second half as they had finished the first with a lovely close passing move involving Hardy, Pilgrim and Smith which was stopped just short and a line-out drive ended with a Beckenham steal. It took ten minutes until Pilgrim opened the scoring in the half with a penalty from 30 yards. If they hoped that this would finish Beckenham off, they were mistaken. The visitors responded in a spirited manner. Their ball retention was good and they made a couple of sweeping movements but, on each occasion, the final pass went astray. Sidcup were not helping themselves with some indifferent tackling.

From one of the Beckenham movements, Sidcup turned the ball over in their own twenty-two. Eydmann fed Pilgrim who made ground before passing to Roddis who put in an identical cross-kick as at Aylesford. This time Eydmann and Pilgrim homed in on the ball with Eydmann winning the race to gather although Pilgrim had the consolation of landing the conversion. Five minutes later, a move involving Hardy, Jon West, Harris and Smith ended in a line-out near the Beckenham line. From the line-out, Sidcup welcomed back the rolling maul with West emerging with the ball; Pilgrim once again converting.

Beckenham continued to show great resolve and put the Sidcup line under pressure once again. Eventually they gained the score their efforts deserved when Sidcup were penalized at a ruck and Dan Leek crossed following a quick penalty. There was just enough time for a final home try. From a turnover on halfway, Eydmann broke. Having already received treatment for cramp, he seemed to be running through treacle as the line approached but found Smith up in support to score the final try with Pilgrim converting with the last kick of the game.

This was another encouraging performance, particularly as Beckenham kept going for the whole game and made life very difficult for Sidcup. Sam Eydmann had an outstanding game and seemed to be involved in just about everything Sidcup did. Lithuanian Alek Ciuchlejus looked very promising on debut, the back division gained in confidence as the game progressed and Richard Pilgrim has carried on as he finished last season. Once again, the set pieces were solid, Jack Hague and Jon West dominated the line-out and David Jones and Luke Drury once again showed their value in the front row. On the debit side, there was a fallow period in the second half, Beckenham turned over more ball than Sidcup would wish and Matthew West tired visibly as waterboy as the game went on.

This week Sidcup are away to Gravesend who have started the season well.

RDPH - 14 Sep 09

Sat 5 Sep 09: Aylesford Bulls 9 - Sidcup 20

Sidcup began their new league campaign on Saturday with a win at Aylesford. For the second season in succession, Sidcup found themselves away to a newly promoted team and were again successful. In fact, Sidcup have also been technically promoted as the League has been redesignated as London 1 (South).

The afternoon was warm and breezy: the pitch had a texture more in keeping with a frosty February. The Sidcup side included winger David Harris, making his debut, new coach Darian Uys at No 8 and Jon West appearing in the centre. A more familiar look was provided by the pairing of Luke Drury and Dave Jones rolling back the years at prop.

Jones and Drury quickly showed that little had changed when Sidcup pushed Aylesford off the ball in the first scrum and it was from the another scrum after six minutes that Uys broke, slipped the ball to scrum-half Sam Eydmann who grub kicked through for last year’s player of the season Richard Pilgrim to touch down. Sidcup continued to impress, Uys and Mike Elliott combining from a line-out to make a lot of ground and it took a quarter of an hour for Aylesford to win any ball.

However when they did win ball they began to look dangerous and Sidcup did not help their cause by missing first tackles. It was therefore a little against the run of play when Jim Hardy kicked a penalty from 40 yards with distance to spare to extend the lead. Aylesford continued to show why they had done so well in a competitive league last season and, on the stroke of half-time, there was a comforting familiarity about the concession of a penalty in front of their posts by Sidcup which allowed Aylesford to reduce the deficit.

Aylesford began the second half as they had finished the first and it seemed that the momentum lay with the home side. They went close to scoring a try in the corner but were stopped byan excellent tackle by Danny Mizen. Aylesford had territorial advantage but the Sidcup defence had improved and it was not until thirty minutes into the half that Aylesford kicked a penalty following a ruck offence. Sidcup’s defence continued to hold firm but they were unable to retain possession and there were a number of handling errors.

The game seemed to be petering out when the Aylesford stand-off dropped goal from 40 yards to take the lead. This reverse roused Sidcup. Jack Hague made a storming run through mid-field. Although he was tackled under the Aylesford posts, the ruck was quickly won. Eydmann moved the ball right and West scored to restore the lead. From the kick off, Sidcup returned to the attack and went close to scoring in the right corner. From the ruck the ball moved left through several pairs of hands. Richard Roddis received the ball for one of the few times in the match and put in a delightful cross-kick which West gathered on the full to cross near the posts leaving Hardy to convert with the last kick of the game.

The Sidcup performance was a bit of a curate’s egg. The set pieces went well. Jones and Drury caused Aylesford problems in the scrum throughout. The line-out with Elliott, Hague and Steven Evans as the main jumpers was secure and Tom Wicks threw in accurately. Eydmann was busy at scrum half and the tactical kicking of Hardy and Pilgrim was particularly effective in the second half. Mizen’s blood injury seemed entirely genuine. However the coaching staff will want the first time tackling and ball retention to improve. On balance Sidcup deserved to win as their line was rarely threatened although they were maybe a little flattered by the final score.

This Saturday's game is at home to old rivals Beckenham.

RDPH - 5 Sep 09