Sat 9 Nov 2019, 14:30
Rugby in the rain can be an enjoyable experience, but when the temperature is only just above freezing it becomes most unpleasant, and that is just for the spectators, it must have been worse for the players who braved the elements to entertain the few.
It was however inevitable that despite their eagerness to rush about in the rain and mud the conditions would limit their ability to perform the most basic of skills, like catching and holding on to the ball. Thankfully the game was refereed sympathetically otherwise it could have been a continuous scrum.
Fielding a strong second team, R gelled well from the start and even the new faces did not look out of place overall. Many were completely out of position. Winger Harvey Habgood started at scrum half and second row Matt Allen at centre. James Mills at flyhalf kept the pack moving forward with some astute kicking and Will Baillon moved around the backs often defying the conditions with safe hands and nimble feet.
Prop Dan Oscroft opened the scoring with his second attempt, a penalty tap ten metres out gave him a rehearsal run but the ref called it back for a technical infringement. Stour were obviously not expecting the same trick twice allowing DO to charge through the defencive wall to score.
WB claimed the second try, skipping around the floundering packs he neatly sidestepped the full back to slide under the posts allowing Jack Mertens an easier conversion attempt which he landed to give R a 12-0 half time lead.
The fingers got number, exhaustion running across an increasingly wetter pitch increased, and with a lack of replacements on both sides the patched up bruised slowly freezing warriors slugged it out for another half. It wasn't pretty. There were however some moments to savour, Connor Morris came in off his wing in a desperate bid to get warmer and get more involved with some enterprising runs, and Micky Essex was a constant thorn in the Stour side.
Matt Allen scored two tries, the first from a scrum set piece finding space on the blind side, the second showing remarkable dexterity to pick up a dropped ball whilst facing the wrong way, swivel, duck, drive and dive. JM converted this one too.
With the result confirmed the only concern was when the final whistle would blow, concentrations lapsed and S exploited this scoring a late consolation try.
This weekend the league program continues for 1st team, having missed two league weekends due to the weather and the demise of Trinity Guild, R now stand in 6th place but have games in hand. Rugby Welsh are the visitors, the result of this game could go some way towards sifting the contenders from the also rans.
Match Report by Brian Carr, photo from archive
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