SIDCUP 22 PTS OLD ELTHAMIANS 21 PTS

SIDCUP 22 PTS OLD ELTHAMIANS 21 PTS

Sidcup, despite being behind for much of the match, eventually emerged winners against local rivals Old Elthamians at Crescent Farm on Saturday by 2 goals, a try and a penalty goal to a goal, a try and 3 penalty goals.

Your Correspondent finds that one of the joys of retirement after nearly forty years selling education is the ability to go on holiday during school terms. Consequently he managed to resist the mouth-watering prospect of a trip to Ramsgate last week for the sun, sand, sangria and other pleasures of Cala San Vincente in Northern Mallorca. He had, however, witnessed a less than convincing performance in the pre-season encounter the previous week at Canterbury and was somewhat surprised to receive a text message informing him of victory on the Kent Coast.

General opinion was that Elthamians were likely to prove a severe test. They won their league comfortably last season, were rumoured to have recruited heavily and had already scored nearly 70 points at Thanet Wanderers in a Cup match.

The Sidcup pitch was in a beautiful condition and the grass was watched over by the brand new floodlights. Old Elthamians had first use of the wind and were ahead within two minutes through a Tom White penalty goal as Sidcup were penalized for not rolling away at the tackle. They nearly went further ahead when an interception and kick ahead took the ball to the Sidcup line and only desperate defence by Jim Hardy saved the situation although at the expense of a five metre line-out. Fortunately for the home team, they stole the line-out and a good kick by Michael Ubee brought relief.

It was soon clear that the big Elthamian pack had Sidcup under pressure in the scrum and Steven Evans and Richard Clarke were having to work hard to get the ball away. Apart from an interception and kick and chase by Jamie Cutler, it took twenty five minutes for Sidcup to threaten the Elthamian line when Richard Day and Richard Roddis combined in a move that ended with Roddis being forced into touch just short of the line. However Sidcup stole the line-out and, although the initial drives were stopped, a re-set by Colin Cooper enabled the forwards to drive him over the line. Hardy kicked an excellent conversion into the wind.

With half time approaching, Old Elthamians returned to the attack and a long driving maul took play to the Sidcup line. An astute cross-field kick would have led to a try but for a wonderful mark by Hardy. The home side then had a piece of good fortune when Renford Bennett covered 50 yards, crossed the line but dropped the ball in the act of scoring. However this only postponed the score as from the ensuing scrum, wing-forward Melford crossed for an unconverted try.

Sidcup were pleased to change around only a point down and have the strong wind in their favour but any complacency was ended as White kicked a penalty at the start of the second half. They were soon further behind when Bennett and Max O’Leary made a lot of ground before putting White over for a try which he converted himself.

Things looked pretty bleak at this point but Sidcup were brought back into the game through an interception by the impressive Donal Nevin who outpaced the cover from around half-way to score a try which Hardy converted. Sidcup refreshed their side; replacing Richard Clarke and Jon Cosh with Hans Laud-Anderson and Iain Wilson (who until this point had been a highly effective ball in nettle finder): Cutler moved to scrum-half. The changes nearly had an immediate impact as Evans just failed to hold a difficult pass close to the line but play was brought back for a penalty to Sidcup which Hardy kicked to bring them to within one point.

Elthamians were now spending most of the time on the defensive but managed to extend their lead when, on one of their sorties into Sidcup territory, they were awarded a penalty which White kicked. Little more than five minutes remained when Sidcup were awarded a penalty which Hardy kicked to the corner. The driving maul was stopped on the line but Cutler moved the ball blind to Evans who crossed for what proved to be the winning score.

Sidcup will be pleased to win what was potentially a very difficult game- although it is by no means certain that there are any easy games in this league. Although the forwards struggled in the set scrum throughout the match, their line-out and and loose play were excellent. Steven Evans and Donal Nevin both had excellent games in the loose and they also kept the Elthamian line-out under pressure. The back division defended well in the first half in particular against dangerous opponents and Jim Hardy and Michael Ubee kicked intelligently in the second half.

New Coach, Dai Fussell will be pleased to get off to a winning start but a lot of difficult games remain including the visit to Dover this Saturday. Supporters will remember that it is less than 18 months ago that Dover beat Sidcup in the last match of the season to secure the play-off position and they are also currently unbeaten.