Sidcup Solidity Sets up Success...

The twilight zone part of the season is upon… the clocks have gone back, the days are getting shorter and colder and Christmas is looming. The injury toll mounts up, the need to work extra hours to pay for presents beckons and an epidemic of other things to do creates havoc for selection. And people are playing rugby league which is of little consequence to men of good taste. Hey-ho. With 18 players unavailable for the 3’s squad through injury, work, watching rugby (rather than playing it)or just not taking phone calls, the selectors had a bit of a head ache this week. The opposition, Bromley RFC 2nd team seemed to be in the same boat as they appeared to be introductions before the game.

With a number of players carrying injuries, things did not bode well and the likelihood of finishing the game with 15 players looked optimistic. True, this indeed did not happen but we will get to that later. Before the game kicked off, veteran centre/back row Steve Burke (also a veteran of a red card and a driving speed awareness course) was forced to withdraw due to a nasty case of sciatica. Makes a change from the clap.

Despite all this, Sidcup took to the field in good fettle and had a few new caps in Alex Watson and Jack Heath in the forwards and many positional changes in the backs; scrum half Stamato moving to fly half to make way from Tom Harrison, Matt Brunt moving from back row to centre and Jon (hop-a-long) Mitchell moving to the number 12 berth. All fairly plausible so far… and our last shift in position was Neil Smith moving from blindside to left wing, which is akin to Ian Anderson appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.

Playing away from the club house, Sidcup comfortably held off some early pressure and were soon at the visitors 5 metre line. Rumours abound that they got there through skipper Stephens making a break, running forty metres leaving his support trailing in his dust and getting stopped just short of the line. If this did occur, it is not the fault of his support players as they were probably in shock at the time. The addition of Heath in the front row and T Pooley to tight head was a revelation as the Sidcup scrum was solid throughout the match, ably assisted by the youthful Joe Custy and the not so youthful Kevin Pooley (and laterally Mike Frawley).

Sidcup maintained pressure in the Bromley 22 and the visitors were unable to clear their lines. Debutant Watson showed early indication with some strong running and a delightful hand off which left his opponent clutching at air. Sidcup forced their way back to the opponents five metre line and with the opposition defence up fast, fly half Stamato, dummied, twisted and drove over the line to score (allegedly with the whole Bromley team on his back). Charlie May, taking over the kicking duties from Paul Edwards (who thought it was a rest weekend) may have converted.

Sidcup seemed to have the upper hand in most areas of the game and were especially magnificent in defence. Bromley were unable to break through the midfield and often elected to kick and chase. One such attempt went straight into touch and gave Sidcup a lineout on the halfway line. From this fairly innocuous position, something rarely seen this season occurred. Number 8 Parker took a great catch in the line out (no rarity there) and the pack formed and drove some 20 metres up the pitchy, with Bromley defenders falling off the maul as it progressed at pace. An attempt to collapse the maul saw Heath emerge and sprint 20 metres before offloading to Parker who scored under the posts. It was an excellent forwards try and high praise to all involved. May definitely converted this one.

Sidcup’s lineout was functioning well, the scrum was solid and the close defence at rucks and mauls was well marshalled by Tom H. Sidcup’s pack had the greater mobility and were unable to unleash Watson and Heath on numerous occasions to good effect. A Bromley scrum just inside the Sidcup half saw a chip into space excellently fielded by the improving May (lol) who made good ground before setting up a ruck. The ball was won quickly and moved out to Stamato who put in an excellent (if optimistic) cross field kick for Smith to chase. Defying both the laws of physics, age and medicine, Smith won the ball and tapped it back to Heath who should quick hands to feed Harrison. A quick shimmy and Harrison sped through the gap and sprinted 20 metres to score under the posts. Again, with the try directly under the posts, May converted. It would appear that countless minutes practising kicking the ball from 50 metres must have helped.

Twenty points down, Bromley were chastened and sprang into action. A sustained period of pressure saw Stamato put in one crunching try-saving tackle in the midfield. Bromley spread the ball from left to right and twice Smith produced try saving cover tackles. Stephens got in on the action, stopping a certain overlap and the pack defended stoutly against close drives, knocking the Bromley runners backwards whenever they appeared. Sidcup eventually alleviated the pressure and were back on half way. Hooker Head and Parker were gelling excellently in the lineout and another driving maul seemed to be heading goal line from the halfway until Sidcup were pinged for a bad case of “truck-n-trailer”. A quick tap and go was soon thwarted but smart defence and Sidcup were back on the attack.

Another solid lineout take saw Stamato produce an uncharacteristic side step and turn of pace to breach the defence and sprint 40 metres, once again stunning the support players. Sidcup were awarded a penalty for the opposition killing the ball at the subsequent ruck and a quick tap from Harrison saw the ball moved from skipper Stephens to Kevin Pooley to Jon Mitchell who fed “winger” Smith to charge over from 5 yards. May was unfortunate with the conversion. From the kick off, the jumper was taken out in mid-air and a huge kick from Stamato saw the ball taken back over the Bromley line for Sidcup to be awarded a scrum. A good attacking position was squandered though when May appeared in the line to sabotage the move and Brunt was left to pick up the pieces and get double-teamed for his troubles.

The last ten minutes of the half saw Sidcup show flashes of rugby genius amidst a number of needless penalties. Some great tactical kicking from Harrison and Stamato alleviated pressure, but possession was relinquished as players failed to stay on their feet or used hands in the ruck. Again Bromley attacked; Brunt’s superb crashing tackle ending one threat in the midfield and Smith again producing a splendid smother tackle to close of the left wing area. Jackson’s half time speech was inspirational, if only for his stating he had to leave.
The second half got under way and former 1st XV winger now Openside flanker Steve Hancox replaced the outstanding Smith on the wing. Sidcup soon had a great kick and chase bring them to their opponent’s 22’ metre. Again the lineout functioned superbly and another catch and drive dragged play infield. With the opposition’s defence fanning out, the maul rolled and Alex Watson broke through the middle to sprint clear and score just a fine backrow’s shy of the posts. May was woeful with the conversion.

The scrum continued to function well with the occasional blip and from a wheeled scrum in the Bromley 22’ Harrison reacted first to steal possession but Sidcup conceded a needless penalty at the subsequent ruck. With Sidcup now some 31 points clear, the game became a slightly scrappy affair. Attacking moves from the hosts were occasionally too rushed and yet there was not quite the same killer instinct displayed in the first half. Bromley looked to unsettle the hosts where they could and were still throwing some attacking moves together, but often the running was drifting towards the touchline of passes were not going to hand. The Sidcup defence stood firm with the closequarter tackling of Watson, Foster, Pooley(s) and Custy at the rucks and mauls exemplary. Having run himself into the ground, K Pooley was replaced with the ever youthful Mike Frawley.

Sidcup worked their way out of defence and won a penalty which was kicked to the 22’ metre line. Again, the catch and drive worked well and Sidcup were illegally stopped short of the line with the referee awarding a penalty for whatever skulduggery occurred. Heath was first to react, taking a quick tap and running a delightful arcing line around the cover defence to score in the corner. May, ever the optimist, nominated himself for the conversion and the scoreboard went untroubled.

Again, Bromley sought to get on the scoreboard and had a period of sustained pressure but the Sidcup defence was exceptional, from front row to fullback every man was tackling as though their lives depending on it. As Bromley launched another attack in the Sidcup 22’, a great tackle from Custy and counter ruck saw Sidcup clear to half way and win a penalty. Harrison took a quick tap and was cynically impeded by a Bromley defender who received the first yellow card of the game. Sidcup returned to the attack but fading light and aging limbs hampered their intentions. Having appeared to kill the ball at a ruck, Bromley were somehow awarded a penalty and scrum half Harrison, feeling somewhat aggrieved at the injustice received the second yellow card of the game for failing to listen to the referee.

With both sides down to 14 men and visibly fatigued by their efforts, the game was drawing to a close. Bromley attempted one last attacking move in the Sidcup 22’ from which they were awarded a penalty for some indiscretion of other. A tap and drive brought the visitors ten metres out from the Sidcup line with a man-mountain in position to take a crash ball blind. However, the Sidcup defence were once again alert to the danger and a double tackle from Stamato and Foster saw the threat extinguished. The final whistle blew and Sidcup recorded a thoroughly deserved and long-awaited victory.

Plaudits go to the whole pack on an outstanding effort, Heath and Watson especially noticeable for their bullocking runs in open play. Head, Parker and Foster combined beautifully in the line out to produce a plethora of good ball for the backs to use. Harrison and Stamato linked well and ran the game with their marshalling skills and excellent tactical kicking. Mitchell and Brunt formed a formidable defence with Brunt especially getting in some great hits in his blitz defence. And Smith’s defensive skills eclipsed anything seen on the wing so far this season. According to the players in the post-match pint/debrief in the bar, the foot may have been taken off the pedal in the second half, coinciding with both Smith’s absence and Hancox inclusion, but the fading light was also a factor.

Next week, the 3’s are at home again to Westcombe Park 4th Team with a 2.00 o’clock kick off. Hopefully, they can build from this impressive performance and record another thoroughly deserved victory.