Marlborough 33 – Sidmouth 29
Saturday 11 October and, whilst the Nomads were Corsham-bound, the 1st XV are looking forward to hosting Sidmouth on The Common. The day dawned bright, which was especially pleasing for all those who have worked hard to get the fabulous new posts bedded in and the pitches looking fine.It was also the day of the Club’s first sponsors’ lunch – to thank those whose generosity allows us to do what we do – from pitch preparation to turning out two senior men’s XVs every weekend to seeing nearly 250 young people learning and playing rugby on The Common every Sunday.Quite a day we had ahead of us…
The lunch was well-attended and allowed the Chairman and the Committee to express our gratitude for the support we receive from businesses that range from the truly local to the regional and beyond. We were equally grateful to have our Town Mayor among us.A good meal was served, with thanks to our hard-working clubhouse manager and barand kitchen staff, and plenty of networking took place around the table, spilling out onto The Common where the game was set to kick-off…
A fair-sized crowd of supporters and all those from the sponsors’ lunch hugged the rails on the Free’s Avenue side of the pitch; a number of others chose to stand in the sun on the other side!Wherever you stood, the new posts looked tremendous! All those present would be in for a real spectacle of fast-flowing and top-quality rugby – from both sides.
The Marlborough captain, Chris Diamond, had won the toss and (no surprise!) had elected to play uphill in the first half. It would be critical to keep Sidmouth out in order tomaximise the advantage of the slope in the second half. We started well, tight in defence and, with ball in hand, looked menacing. But it was an evenly matched first quarter, neither team able to gain an upper hand. From the touchline, one might have assumed – given the size difference – that the Sidmouth scrum would dominate our boys, but the Marlborough pack was solid and gave as good as it got.
Right on twenty minutes, after some relentless phase play, using the width of the pitch and integrating forwards and backs in a good and controlled way, we were rewarded with a try under the posts. The way our flanker, Wate Kuli, touched down gave it an air of nonchalance, but it was the result of some really hard graft and was as good a collective effort as one could wish for. Fly-half, George Shakespeare add the extras from the tee and it was a sunny outlook for the home crowd, Marlborough 7-0 Sidmouth.
But the men from Devon came back fighting! Within ten minutes they had forced their way down the slope and punished our inability to reorganise at each breakdown.A similarly-worked forwards try for Sidmouth saw them draw level 7-7 and, awarded a penalty a couple of minutes later, they opted to kick for goal and went 7-10 into the lead.
Diamond and vice-captain and centre, James Adams, rallied the troops under the impressive new posts. The pep talk clearly worked – the boys were straight back into action. From the re-start, the loose forwards applied great pressure and delivered clean ball at each breakdown for scrum-half, Jimbo Lemon, to feed the back line. Winger, Callum Hunt, was definitely up for it and he was rewarded with a fine try in the very top corner just before half-time. Again, although Hunt takes the credit for the score, this was a try delivered by the whole team working together in the build-up. Shakespeare lined it up from the very edge of the pitch and… over it went! What a kick! And the referee brought the first half to a close.
Half-time – Marlborough 14 – Sidmouth 10
This was a tight, and very physical match. Played between two teams that were evenly matched and keen to win. It was a fast and free-flowing game and quite the crowd-pleaser in the autumn sun on The Common.
Particular mentions for: Ryan Nabuni, returning from injury and playing a thoroughly decent eighty minutes at second row; James Adams for his solo try, but also for running things in the centres and adding weight to the vice-captain role; the front row of Frank Diggins, Jacob Te Rangi, Nick Boynton (all of whom are new to the Club) and the returning Lemeki Moala (who came off the bench and had real impact) – a great shift from all these men; Hunt and Seruvatu on the wings – super running rugby; and player of the match, George Shakespeare at fly-half, who helped run an effective back line and who had a near-perfect afternoon kicking at goal… it’s those new posts again!
Final Score – Marlborough 33 – Sidmouth 29
This was a tight, and very physical match. Played between two teams that were evenly matched and keen to win. It was a fast and free-flowing game and quite the crowd-pleaser in the autumn sun on The Common.
Particular mentions for: Ryan Nabuni, returning from injury and playing a thoroughly decent eighty minutes at second row; James Adams for his solo try, but also for running things in the centres and adding weight to the vice-captain role; the front row of Frank Diggins, Jacob Te Rangi, Nick Boynton (all of whom are new to the Club) and the returning Lemeki Moala (who came off the bench and had real impact) – a great shift from all these men; Hunt and Seruvatu on the wings – super running rugby; and player of the match, George Shakespeare at fly-half, who helped run an effective back line and who had a near-perfect afternoon kicking at goal… it’s those new posts again!
None of this would be possible without the sponsors, the coaching staff and management team, our physios, those who come to support, and the volunteers who keep the whole thing rolling along… the Chairman thanks them publicly.
We go again next Saturday! The 1st XV travels to Royal Wootton Bassett and will be grateful for your support from the touchline at what will surely be a derby match. The 2nd XV, having had a tough day at the office against Corsham, will look to find form again at home on The Common, when the Nomads host Corsham RFC. If you can’t get to Bassett, get yourselves to the Club!
Where does this leave Marlborough in the table? As you will see still 11th, but healthier following the vistory and only one point behind Matson in 9th – click here to view.
Pewsey Vale School would like to thank all parents who visited the school for a very successful open evening
