Marlborough 47 – 20 Beaconsfield
Saturday 12th March will be remembered as the day when the 1st XV found their form again after a serious drought.
The Common welcomed Beaconsfield to play the return game in the Tribute South West 1 East league. It almost felt spring like, the sun kept making an appearance from behind the clouds. There was a fresh, brisk breeze, but compared to recent game days, it felt almost tropical.
The visitors were on a high after their win against Newbury the previous week, where they beat the fourth position side by six points. Even in the warmup, they looked confident and felt they had another scalp to take.
At 2.30 pm the whistle blew, the game had started and wow, what a start for Marlborough, within 30 seconds, Marlborough had scored their first converted try. The ball had been scurried away by the debutante winger, Sam Tokotokavanua, who was having his first game for Marlborough and what an introduction, putting the ball down in the corner which Will Grant kindly did the business of converting.
The visitors were in shock, but so were Marlborough’s spectators, had this just happened, or was it just a lovely daydream – no it was real, bring on the rest of the game.
Marlborough continued to be the dominant side for the next two minutes but couldn’t put any more scores on the board. Marlborough gave away a kickable penalty which Beaconsfield, excellent fly half, converted.
The visitors fought hard, but they were starting to rack up injuries and Marlborough remained the dominant force. After twenty minutes, inside centre, Savenaca Vueta (Save) ran straight and the opposition just couldn’t get their hands on him, scored under the posts which was duly converted by Will Grant.
Ten minutes later, and we were shown the ‘Solo show’, Solodrau Radianrova (Solo), where he scored an awesome individual, converted try. On thirty-five minutes, we were given a repeat performance but no conversion, possibly we were being too greedy. Someone was having way too much fun out there on the Common, but it was great for the Marlborough spectators, hearts were lifted.
In the dying seconds of the first half, veteran player, Patch Campbell, took a quick tap penalty and scored a converted try. Not bad for someone who retired two years ago, constantly declining every effort by the Team Manager, Dave Pittams to come back and play, but eventually he succumbed when Elisi Vunnipola requested his help due to the number of injuries the 1st XV was carrying, and he is probably playing the best he ever has. A true team player and Clubman!
Halftime scores: Marlborough 33 – Beaconsfield 3
The half time talk given by Elisi and Fe’oa was very positive, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Acting skipper, James Marshall gave his encouragement to the boys, he is developing into quite a good skip and at a young age.
In the second half, Marlborough were playing up the slope, which was going to make things more difficult for the home side. Beaconsfield were up for the fight, and they tried to come out and do what Marlborough had done in the first half, but it didn’t quite work, Marlborough were defending hard.
The second half sadly wasn’t able to flow as well as the first, there were quite a few injuries, a Beaconsfield player decided to clash heads with Patch’s – he came off worse, Patch’s head is quite solid by all accounts.
Marlborough then managed to get penalised with a red card, Ash Horner was sent off the pitch. This was Beaconsfield chance, and they took it. On fifty minutes they scored an unconverted try. Then fifteen minutes later they scored again but no conversion was made.
On seventy minutes, Marlborough got back into their stride with another pretty cool effort by the one and only ‘Solo’ which was kindly converted by Will Grant.
The forwards were not going to be out done by the flashy backs, youngster, Bradley Whatley who had come off the bench earlier in the game had been well primed by Lemeki Moala (Meki), who stormed away with the ball and put it over the paint. The smile on Meki’s face, you would have thought he had scored, he was very proud of the young pup and even more so when it was converted.
Two minutes left on the clock, and for the first time in a while, the Marlborough spectators were not hoping the seconds would slow to give their team more time. Beaconsfield capitalised a Marlborough defensive error and scored a converted try.
Final score: Marlborough 47 – Beaconsfield 20
This was a much-improved performance by Marlborough which was helped in no small part by the return of several key players. Jack Lynd returned after being on the side lines for the last six months, albeit initially on the bench, but you can’t keep a good man down.
We also saw the return of Ash Horner, this was his first game since January, but sadly didn’t quite get chance to complete the full eighty minutes. Then there was also the welcome return of centre, Jimmy Adams and full back Solodrau Radianrova (Solo).
This was a fantastic return to form for Marlborough and a very strong base from which to build on. Of course, ‘man of the match’ had to go to Solodrau Radianrova (Solo), the man was on fire. Dave Pittams enthused about the “excellent leadership shown by James Marshall, a former mini/junior who has risen through the ranks. Then there were the older, wiser heads of Amori Nailago (Moree), Inosi Laqekoro (Knoxy) and Ollie Spanswick who helped galvanise the team”.
A mention also needs to go out to the two young wingers; Sam Tokotokavanua, who had an awesome first team debut and Joe Pittams, who usually plays at outside centre, defended extremely well, playing out of position, he’s becoming quite adaptable.
Savenaca Vueta touches down between the posts after twenty minutes young forward sub Bradley Whatley making his mark Fullback Solodrau Radianrova scoring on his return to the side
Trustee required for St Peter’s Trust
