Sometimes democracy doesn't work

Saturday’s early morning sunshine gave way to grey skies and considerable rain, which would have hampered our cricketing brethren but held no fear for an adventurous Sidcup side, keen to get the ball in hand and get on with a running game. The co-coaching team of fellow legends Mizen and Egan took a different pre-match approach from last season with a helpful “the pitch is that way –get on with it” tact.
The weather may have made some tacticians contemplate a tight game, but from the kick off Sidcup seemed to be in cavalier mood. From an early maul secured just outside the Sidcup 22”, the customary hoof was ignored as the ever-youthful Trevor Pooley screamed for the ball on a blindside charge and promptly saw the ball fly out of hands and forward onto the wet grass. Roger Moore would have been proud as eyebrows were raised on the side line. The first scrum saw Sidcup win the ball against the head as experienced props Pooley and Nicky King demonstrated their intent for the match and the returning to fitness lothario that is Nick Gilbert win one against the head. This time, the ball was passed forward in the back line and Sidcup had gained 3 metres. So, early signs were not good…
About ten minutes in, a Dart’s indiscretion at a ruck gave Sidcup their first chance to clear their lines and a delightful kick from fly half and Don Juan Matteo Stamato was even more delightfully fluffed by the Dart’s back three on their 22”. With the first coherent move of the match, the ball was secured and a heart-warming catch-and-drive saw Sidcup scatter their opponents and trundle to the line to score, with Willing claiming the try. Much merriment was had on the touch line at such a dominant display. Stamato, akin to his predecessor Paul Edwards, fluffed what seemed an eminently kick-able conversion.

The game resumed with Darts seemingly in the ascendancy and soon Sidcup were penalised for some reason or other. The penalty was kicked to the Sidcup 5” metre line and the Darts support appeared confident that the score would soon be even. Sidcup were reading from a different script as Marcus Willing rose high to tap off the top into the arms of the surprisingly aware Nick Gilbert. Nick, despite protestations pre match about a lack of fitness, stormed through the Darts side, sprinting up to halfway before off-loading to Bill Williams who is still in shock that Nick could run that far. The move petered out as the visitors scrambling defense regrouped enough to somehow thwart things legally. A key psychological blow had been landed and furthermore nothing was expected of Mr Gilbert for the next twenty minutes. Sidcup returned to the attack and were hammering the Dartfordians try line. The game was temporarily stopped as by some uncanny misfortune Alex Watson was once again bleeding all-over-the-place. Alex (who will now be sponsored by “Elastoplast”) headed off to find some tape and Jon Brunt, the elderer and beardier of the brothers joined in the fray. Some ten minutes, Sidcup are awarded a penalty for offside soon after and Stamato atoned for his earlier miss. 8 – 0 to the home side.

Soon after the restart, second phase ball sees Alex Watson run a great line before off-loading Joe Custy who gains 20 meters before finding Stamato in support. The flyhalf produces a marvelous show-&-go to break the defensive line and hurtles off down the pitch. He draws the defender and offloads to the legendary Burt McDonald, hurtling at pace with man to beat and a plethora on players in support to his right. Alas, not being left handed, McDonald decides not the risk and instead cuts inside, runs over a few defenders and then runs up his own arse before losing the ball. Still, we are in the opposition 22” and right winger Chris Neal is very forgiving. Somehow Darts clear the pressure but soon after, Sidcup work some good possession on the left and again great lines of running and support allow Watson to charge through a gap and create a similar two-on-one cert of a true-scoring opportunity. Again, the curse of right-handedness strikes and again the player cuts inside and the move falters. Still we are in the opposition 22” and right winger Neal remains philosophical.

Darts produce some play away the half way line but the Sidcup defense is alive to it in every direct, with the outstanding Custy put in a ferocious tackle count on the day. Running out of attacking options, the winger puts in a cross-field kick which McDonald marks with more authority and command than Larry Olivier on the West End Stage. He turns, accepts the plaudits from the crowd and then hoofs the ball within a millimetre of the opposition tryline. The crowd is in rapture. Alas, the referee believes the kick was not taken through the mark, play is recalled and the kick does not stand. Picky, picky, picky…Slighted, but not wounded, the Sidcup side gallantly travail on and a barn-storming run from Billy Williams, ably supported by Nick Gilbert sees Sidcup back into the opposition half. At this point the mathematical genius that is Matt Stamato, calculates the angles of trajectory and laws of gravity, momentum and velocity in an instant and elects to chip the ball into the chest of a Dartfordians player so that it floats in the arms of the speeding Joel Leighton who blasts his way through and charges under the line from 40 metres out. The crowd quiver in awe at Stamato’s genius. Up until he fluffs the conversion that is…Darts kick deep but again the pack cope manfully with the threat. The Darts defense seem a tad north of the back foot and Leighton seems to launch a man and ball pass to his fly half, only for the mercurial Stamato to flick the ball on and evade the attentions of the oncoming pursuers. The ball falls into the hands McDonald who charges through a gap and brings the home side back into Dartfordians territory. With minutes left in the half, Sidcup throw a couple of switches in the centre of midfield and Leighton bursts through the defensive line, outpaces the scramble defence and scores his second try of the game.

Half time Sidcup 18 – Darts 0. If you are reading this at work, your lunch hour is nearly over…

The early pressure is all from Darts but the Sidcup defence is outstanding; Custy is having a phenomenal game in defence as well as attack, Matt Brunt, Alex Watson and Bill Williams halting anything that comes there way and even the half backs are getting in on the action. A Darts attacker is halted yards from the line but as he stands up and dives forward Dan Leighton propels himself at grass height to halt him inches from the line and Sidcup regroup to clear. Time and again the Sidcup defence regain possession and clear their lines: time and time again the Darts players appeal for some infringement and the referee agrees. The referee did indeed have a very good game but occasionally one would like to hear a Nigel Owen-type reminder to shut up and let the official referee the game. At the 50 minute mark, Messrs Watson (the bleeder) and Willings the second row are given a breather and Brunt the elder (et cetera) and Harry Wilford joined the fray. Sidcup are still forced to defend for long periods of the game but every man is putting in a great defensive shift and both new players score high on the tackle count. Sidcup are defending the left flank and suddenly counter attack from the own 22, the ball taken into the midfield by Nicky King who relishes the chance to take a plethora of defenders with him. The ball is recycled quickly and Bill Williams crashes through the first line of defence, hands off the cover and sprints some 70 metres to the line before throwing a great inside pass for Captain Ian Stephens to score near the posts. The game is all but won and Stamato kicks the conversion to put Sidcup 25 – 0 ahead.

From the restart, the ball is hoisted towards second row Custy who takes a great catch under pressure and both players are wiped out in the process but the ball is in Sidcup’s possession. Custy’s athleticism causes S&C coach Tony Issacs to comment, “Do you notice how Custy only jumps from the waist up?” Darts are now throwing everything they can at Sidcup, but still the defence holds out. With 20 minutes left, there is great concern as right wing Chris Neal (who would have had a first half hatrick if folks could pass to their right) was suddenly poleaxed near and had to leave the field of play. Mr Neal’s malady turned out to be nothing more than cramp. Charlie May eagerly took to the field in place of the unfit Neal. Soon after, skipper Stephens magnanimously stepped down allowing Rob Watson to come on to the left wing and energetically through himself into tackling people. The game enters it last the throes and still the Sidcup defence is halting wave after (lateral) wave of attack until prop Nicky King is left partially sighted by an elbow to the eye. Marcus willing returns to the fray but some impromptu squeaking from the visitors at the next lineout sees him sin-binned within 30 seconds. From the resultant penalty Darts 8 man drive is repeated replied until eventually the visitors cross the line to score.

The game ends and a fine performance of running rugby results in a fine win for the home side. Many notable performances but Joe Custy earned the man-of-the-match award for being excessively manly and tackling anything he could (and he went hunting for tackles, which is great to see in a second row). Watson, Brunt, Brunt and Williams were class in the backrow, Willings showed surprising confidence and ruled the lineout and the front row had the better of the opposition with Gilbert in particular gaining some great yardage with ball in hand. Leighton and Stamato each showed some deft skills with the latter getting plaudits for sheer audacity. McDonald and Leighton were direct and powerful in centres and showed some great hands. Neal and Stephens worked well on the wing (we now know what people don’t pass to Chris in case it increases the pace at which cramp strikes and Dan McNally was commanding, confident and quite fast for a man in his state of fitness.

Next Week – Blackheath 3’s… could be at Sidcup, Could be at the Rectory field… awaiting confirmation from the PTB. There will be training at the club this Thursday at 7.30. Man up and be there…