Sidcup overcome Colfeians, eventually

...the game will be remembered by most of the watching spectators for two serious injuries.

Due to various reasons the home side had six changes to the previous week with first starts of the season for Messrs Page, Elliott, Ody, Thomson, Day and Woollard with Danny Mizen again skippering in Peter Grayson's continued absence.

Colfes started the better side and fed off numerous Sidcup errors and after 20 minutes were 9-0 to the good through three James Poole penalties with referee Luis Gaviglia already having a word in captain Mizen's ear. Sidcup did eventually venture into the Colfes half but another knock-on gave possession away and a high clearance caused confusion in the Sidcup back line. The whole crowd could see the inevitable with the advancing full-back Hardy and the retreating winger Woollard both trying to claim the same ball. Hardy crashed over Woollard landing on his head/shoulder region, play was stopped and both Sidcup phyios raced on (well one of them did). Aided by the Colfe's physio there ther was 5 minutes of treatment on the pitch with the outcome that Woollard could continue but Hardy having been knocked out was replaced by Richard Evans as an ambulance was called.

The game re-started and it didn't take long for Sidcup to concede another penalty, this time for offside and Poole gladly made it 12-0 to Colfes. Finally this seamed to spur Sidcup into action and on the half hour a superb passage of play saw the ball passed through the hands of centres Thomson and Day to feed Richard Roddis who rocketed over. The conversion was successful from Ody who had taken over kicking duties and the deficit was now 12-7. Within a couple of minutes Sidcup had a penalty of their own and again Ody slotted, 12-10.

The game was heading to half time when a Colfe's clearance fell behind Ody in his own 22, and in trying to run the ball back he was caught and penalised for holding-on. By now Mr Gaviglia had had enough and after a word with Mizen he sent Ody to the bin for ten minutes, a card taken for the team. Poole this time put his kick wide but made amends shortly afterwards with a sweetly struck drop goal from outside the 22 and Colfes now led 15-10. There was still time for an excellent 50 metre break from Jamie Cutler who passed to Tom England who was felled but Colfes had already sinned and a penalty to Sidcup awarded. Evans this time stepped up but made poor contact with the kick and at the break Sidcup still trailed 15-10.

The interval saw Mizen replaced by young gun Alex Tompkins and the home side started the second half brightly. A kick by Thomson was well chased by Roddis but in the following play the ball was adjudged to have gone forward and a scoring chance was spurned. However following Colfe's clearance Sidcup found themselves with a lineout near to the visitors line. The forwards got the catch and drive going and not once but twice it was illegally pulled down by the opposition costing Colfe's captain Hodgkiss a yellow card. From the next furrage forward Tomkins crossed but the conversion was missed by the present again Ody, 15-15. Within 5 minutes Ody had made amends with a penalty and Sidcup now led for the first time in the game 18-15.

With the game going to and fro Sidcup were adjudged offside and Poole put the game level and took his personal points tally to 18. Sidcup then came back at Colfes with a superb break by fly half Ody, his offload to the supporting Elliott as he was caught by his shirt tails enable the Sidcup flanker to dive/splat and score behind the posts. Ody kicked and Sidcup led 25-18.

From the restart Colfes conceded a penalty and now their lack of discipline was showing, with a show of back chat leading Sidcup to go forward ten meters. A quick tap and the ball found its way to Roddis who made a break down the left flank but after being tackled the ball was stolen in the ruck and Colfes looked to attack. With the ball half way across the pitch Mr Gaviglia turned back to see that there was still a prone body on the ground following the earlier ruck and called an immediate halt to play. The Colfe's scrum half had fallen awkwardly and had the weight of many players upon him, the Sidcup supporters could see that his ankle was not facing the way God intended. A long break in play was to ensue with players congregating with their teams, physios and paramedics working hard to comfort the stricken player and another ambulance being summoned.

After twenty minutes of treatment the player was carried off to a round of applause and the game was to continue. Almost straight away Dickie Day made an interception from a Colfe's pass and ran in 30 metres under the uprights, Ody converted 32-18, and in an almost carbon copy just minutes later Cutler broke away to score and with another Ody conversion it was 39-18 to the home team. The final whistle came just before 5 O'Clock.

Of the two injuries Jim Hardy was released from hospital but seperated his A-C joint and will be on the sidelines for six weeks and Colfes Terry Allen was to be operated on Saturday night or Sunday morning. Our best wishes for full recoveries go out to both of them.

This week Sidcup travel to unbeaten Wimbledon who have just come back into the division. Kick off is 3pm, hopefully see many of you there.

Team: Hardy (Evans R), Woollard, Day, Thomson, Roddis, Ody, Cutler, Page, England, Isaacs, Mizen (Tompkins), Thomas, Elliott, Evans S, Cooper

Otto - 18 Sep 12