 23 Feb 2010, 11:44 AM
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Shannon
 
Joined on 08-01-2007
Posts 27
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Hellingly 13 St Francis 13 on 20/2/10
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Hellingly 13 – 13 St Francis I
‘Canterbury Jack’ Sussex Intermediate League
St Francis travelled down to Hellingly with mixed emotions on a cold Saturday morning due to a distinct lack in backline players available. With only managing to scrape together four players who have played regular 1st XV rugby this season in the backline, captain Adie Perry was forced to shuffle around the team and hope that his make shift line-up might hold in this key game.
Looking at the extremely boggy pitch the Saints aimed to utilise a forwards orientated game plan from the kickoff that would suit the conditions and their starting team. However all did not go to plan and it was Hellingly who had most of the possession and territory in the first quarter of the match. Whenever the Saints did manage to get hold of possession they did look dangerous on attack and one such play lead to the team getting within scoring distance before a Hellingly player infringed at the ruck and captain Perry duly elected to take a kick at goal. Flyhalf Shane Kenny obliged with the kick and after a quarter of the match gone, the Saints were 3-0 up.
Shortly after the restart, Hellingly started to apply pressure again and if it were not for some resolute last guard defence from fullback John McShane, the Saints could have been two tries behind. Unfortunately a lack in concentration was exploited to the fullest by the Hellingly No. 8 when he picked from the base of a scrum that was 40m out from the try line and rushed past the St Francis defence and headed for the try line. Covering outside centre Shannon Millard managed to haul him down a couple of metres short but could do nothing as he passed off the ground to one of his support runners who cashed over for a try. The Hellingly scrumhalf was unable to add the conversion and it was now Hellingly that were 5-3 in the lead.
The Saints responded well from this wake-up call as the entire pack of forwards drove the ball up field before it was spread out wide quickly to the backline. The backline ran a simple but effective sweeping move that brought them agonisingly short but some fantastic rucking lead to quick ball being available and debutante powerhouse No.8 Rob Nickle picked up and drove two defenders over the line to score a well worked try. Flyhalf Kenny added the extras and the Saints were back in the lead 10-5.
Shortly before the half time whistle blew, another silly penalty was given away by a St Francis player for infringing at the ruck and the Hellingly scrumhalf stroked over the kick to bring his team to within two points at the break. The half time score St Francis 10 – Hellingly 8.
The second half of the game was very much a dogged affair with both teams exhibiting some strong defence and forward play. The Saints pack began to dominate as Dave Callan, Matthew Bender and Rob Nickle all used their power to drive the ball up field. However it was the speedy Hellingly backline that appeared to be the difference between the two teams as the game progressed and time after time the threatened to open the game up before a St Francis defender managed a last gasp tackle. Even though the Saints forwards seemed to be keeping hold of possession now at the set plays with the introduction of another debutante powerhouse Leviu being brought on, the lack of territory gave the backline no other option than to employ the fine kicking game of flyhalf Kenny.
The Saints managed to get within striking distance of the Hellingly line on a number of occasions but could not convert pressure into points. It was the Hellingly backline that turned the game on its head with only five minutes to go with a good inside switch that saw their speedy winger dance through the entire pack of Saints' forwards before offloading to his support runner who dived over to score. The conversion was not added but Hellingly were in the lead 13-10 and the Saints seemed to be staring down the barrel of a gun once again.
What happened in the next seven minutes made Captain Perry proud as every St Francis player on the pitch gave their all and worked tirelessly to get the team back in the game. With about two minutes remaining the reward came as penalty was awarded for a Hellingly player being offside and Captain Perry opted for Kenny to take the kick. The cool flyhalf once again casually stroked the ball over between the centre of the uprights and the scores were now level 13-13. Both teams were now running on empty and the final whistle could not have come any sooner to bring an end to a thrilling game.
Although the Saints did not come away with the win that they hoped for, Captains Perry and Millard could not have been prouder of every player that put their body on the line during the game. Special thanks must be given to both powerhouse debutants Liviu and Rob Nickle who had fantastic games and Matt Constable who did an absolutely outstanding job filling in at scrumhalf, a position he has only played for half a game in the past.
Team: Trevaskis, McGahan, Arney, Norrie, Callan, Bender, Page, Nickle, Constable, Kenny, Perry, Smith, Millard, Baulk, McShane Res: Leviu, Roadknight, Ledger
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