Sidcup RFC V Gravesend

On a sunny autumn morning we arrive to our first game of the season with all the trepidation and expectations that this brings. The squad was requested to attend in No 1s which was adhered to , the squad on mass turned up and then onto the changing rooms to ready themselves for the game.
Gravesend were our visitors and the large second team pitched looms like a great expansive plain for our battle ground, both Gravesend and sidcup were fielding new players within there squads so we agreed to start with our strongest squad then change this around to include our new players to gain some experience and much needed game time on the pitch.
Sidcup start with a strong side but leaving the experience of Britton and Fenn on the bench for various reasons , a solid start from Gravesend puts the visitors in good stead with a few forays in each others half the sidcup pack and back line struggles to hold onto the ball with handling errors leading to a fragmented game , with the Gravesend forward rucking well they brake Sidcups line and a strong run see a Gravesend forward making ground 5, 10,15 then tracking back at great pace Sidcups new blind side flanker Sol Usher makes a try saving tackle , great work by the new forward.
Sidcup then realise there is space wide and breaking through gravesends line by outside center Luke Regular sees sidcup go ahead before a big tackle see him taken off for treatment with josh Fenn taking his place and the first third honours go to sidcup just. The first thirds ends with our pack starting to find there feet and the back lines passing finding the range but changes are afoot as the front row is changed the new second row partnership of matt stock and jack Moore starting to get around and put in the hard work and stay on , Will Whittaker come off the wing into his preferred role as flanker for the first time , with changes at scrum half and fly half inside center and through a injury Christian fitch moves from wing to full back to replace Luke Sheridan and langa tacking over on the wing for his debut. Britton comes on for his Harrison crisp at 8 and off we go again.
The second third see a close call with Gravesend camp on the sidcup line but the organised defensive lines are not breached, then a back row steal in the tight see sidcup kick clear to the 10 meter line and chase hard and turn defence into attacked Regular back on the pitch takes a floated pass and sprint the 60 yards to score under the posts, the new front row starts to work hard and although smaller in stature they find themselves in parity with the Gravesend pack. The second third finishes with a further tries.
The third third comes and changes again the second rows were replaced with the Hs and sol into the pack, Alfie and Fraser at prop leaving Jordan on at hooker , Sam Connelly staying on for all the game at open side , Ethan off and Brandon on at scrum half after some wise words , “Dan the man master” back into the driving seat replacing Adam Gorey ,Zak back on at inside center with Luke R outside and josh on the wing , the side starts to impart some flare the hands start to work and passes stick the confidence of the team starts to flow suddenly the game come easy the support and running open game sees sidcup running a mock but not shame for a much improved Gravesend side.
Final score was 47 -0 for the home team a good start for the boys , the best thing was the steady performances throughout the squad , the new boys of GEORGE ,EOIN , LANGA ,SOL, JACK all had strong performances with Sol toping the pile from the newcomers. The ever steady forwards and backs played well with lots of vocal help for the player’s well lead throughout by Brandon and Harrison B , so all in all a good start to a new season the players that excelled were WW at flanker with a typical dogged style , Sam, Sol ,Luke R and Christian but the main man today with his inteligent play, all round supporting performance was Zak Jones..

Onto the next.

Porky