Sidcup 24 - Gosport & Fareham 7

A half played mainly between the two 22 metre lines saw both teams trading penalties and not helping referee Mr Fielder keep any fluidity to the game. Sidcup did cross once for an unconverted try through a break from Richard Roddis, seeing the ball pass through the hands of Nick Gilbert and Tom England to be finished by the ever supporting scrum half Jamie Cutler. The only other note worthy event was when Matt Ody, on trying to keep a Gosport kick in play, trampled all over the poor young fellow trying to sell his hotdogs around the perimeter of the pitch. All ended well though as the future purchasers were treated to a new topping of onions, grass and the occassional leaf! On going to press we were still awaiting food giants Heinz to trademark the recipe! Half time 5-0.

The second half started with Sidcup losing skipper Peter Grayson on a stretcher with a gash to the leg that was not un-Wayne Rooney like, this was to require nine stitches and will see him miss the foreseeable fixtures, pocket dynamo Alfie Horton took his place in the back row.
After 20 minutes had been played and a period of stout defence from the home team, Gosport's pressure told and they crossed in the corner for a try they deserved and with the successful conversion the lead was taken from Sidcup and the visitors led 7-5.

Sidcup were eventually kick started into life and their urgency and pressure eventually led to the Gosport number fifteen committing a misdemeanour in the midfield, a penalty so blatant that Mr Fielder had no option but to reach for the yellow card, how costly could this be! The Sidcup supporters now expectant of retaking the lead through the penalty kick infront of the posts looked on in horror as Ody put it wide - was it to be one of those days? However, from the restart Ody did his best to redeem himself, he fielded the ball and fed full-back Daniel Evans who inturn found big lock Colin Cooper. Cooper bulldozed his way into dangerous Gosport territory, the ball was recycled by the forwards and Callum Thomson scored under the uprights. With Ody kicking the extras Sidcup led 12-7.

The Gosport restart failed to travel the required ten metres and Sidcup had a scrum on halfway. With the scrum won the ball was passed onto Richard Day, he in turn passed to Roddis who played in Steven Evans and Sicup now led 17-7, with two tries being scored in the sin-binning period. One look at the distraught Gosport player told you that he knew one bit of indiscipline had cost his side dear!

There was just time for substitute Lee Woollard to score in the corner and Ody to round off his mixed afternoon by slotting his hardest kick, Sidcup had won 24-7 and even picked up the bonus point for scoring their fourth try.

Fifth placed Sidcup travel to top of the table Chichester on Saturday for one of the toughest fixtures of the season, kick off is 3pm and all support would be most welcome.

Team - Page, England, Carmen, Cooper, S Evans, Elliott, Grayson (Horton), Gilbert (Mizen), Cutler (Woollard), Ody, Roddis, Day, Thomson, Clarke, D Evans.

Otto - 17 Oct 12