Devizes 14 – 48 Marlborough
On Saturday, the 1st XV travelled down the road to Chivers Field, the home of Devizes, whom Marlborough hasn’t played for a good few seasons. The weather was gloomy, getting darker as the minutes ticked by. Even so, it was still quite mild for a November afternoon.
The Marlborough side had to be rejigged for this game due to injuries and work commitments. There were not the usual suspects starting as half-backs, and Marlborough’s top scorer (so far this season), Akariva Seruvatu (Aka), stepped up as scrum half for the injured Will Grant. Fullback Will Reeve comes in at fly-half for the injured Rich West. The bench was also lacking in backs, but there were plenty of front row players in the form of Gareth Smith and Ash Horner, with second-row player Jamie Pittams making up the three replacements. A new centre partnership was also introduced, with Viliame Waqanidrola and Joe Pittams teaming up.
Before the game started, there was a minute’s silence observed for some of Devizes’ connections. Marlborough took off when the whistle blew. After just three minutes, Viliami Hakalo (player/coach) scored, following a 5-metre attacking line out, which Will Reeve kindly converted.
This was quickly followed, five minutes later, by a score from Lemeki Moala, coming from a line-out maul; sadly, no conversion was made.
Marlborough’s next try was pure poetry in motion, the best of the day. A perfect cross-field kick from Vili Hakalo was caught by Weir Filikitonga, who leapt like a gazelle into the air, beating two defenders to score; sadly, this was left unconverted.
Marlborough was leading, 17 points to nil, and things looked to be going swimmingly for the visitors, but then they decided to hit the self-destruct button. Marlborough’s skipper and recent addition to the team, Adam Neal, tried their best to get control back for Marlborough.
Marlborough’s nemesis returned with penalties, one misdemeanour after another. During the game, the tally was three yellow cards to Marlborough; the first one was awarded to front row player Simon Pilkinton. This let the home side back into the game, which they just relished, and why shouldn’t they?
First up, Devizes kicked into the corner, followed by a maul, allowing the home side to score a converted try. Next, after a breakdown, Devizes kicked long, and then Marlborough gave away another penalty, which allowed Devizes to have the lineout, which they won and from which they scored another converted try.
This was not what Marlborough wanted going into the halftime break. The home team had their tails up and a spring in their step. For them, it was game on!
Half Time: Devizes 14 – 19 Marlborough
The half-time talk was not an easy one for the players. Elisi left the players in no doubt that their performance in the last twenty minutes of the first half fell some way short of what is now expected from them. Unfortunately, for the first fifteen minutes of the second half, this had not quite registered with the players. Poor discipline continued, leading to a second yellow, and this time Jack Lynd was required to take an enforced ten-minute break.
After 55 minutes, Callum Hunt (winger) scored in the corner following a dominant attacking scrum but was unsuccessfully converted by Vili Hakalo.
Five minutes later, “Man of the Match,” Adam Neal, scored again from another dominant scrum, which did receive the added extras.
Next up, Lemeki Moala had an enforced ten-minute break after some handbag action. Luckily, this didn’t faze Marlborough; they were having to get used to playing with a man down. Marlborough had to defend hard as Devizes were desperate to get more scores on the board as they hadn’t lost at home.
After seventy-three minutes, Will Reeve finished a very nice try with great pace as well as giving Marlborough a bonus point. Siasio Feaomefiui (Toti) began the process, but there was no conversion.
Three minutes later, Weir Filikitonga scored his second try of the afternoon and the fifth of the day with an interception, which he converted himself – nothing like showing off.
The last play of the game saw inside centre Viliame Waqanidrola (Qila) score a very good individual try, outstepping a number of the opposition as well as brushing the final two defenders away to score a converted try, courtesy of Weir’s boot.
Final Score: Devizes 14 – 48 Marlborough
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