Royal Wootton Bassett 39 – Marlborough 47
Saturday 18 October – the BIG one! It’s the day of the local derby between Wiltshire’s top-performing sides! This is the second season where both Clubs have a team at Regional 1 level and so this is the game both sets of supporters are awaiting with bated breath… It’s the first leg – Marlborough Rugby away to Ballard’s Ash. Both Chairmen have been interviewed by the BBC Radio Wiltshire ‘Sport at Six’ show on Friday evening, and Saturday dawns with a tremendous air of anticipation… Here. We. Go!
A good crowd has assembled at Bassett’s ground, and everyone is in good spirits, looking forward to 80 minutes of good, competitive rugby…
Unfortunately (for the travelling supporters) Marlborough gets off to an extremely slow and error-strewn start! We concede a penalty in front of the posts after only two minutes, which the Bassett kicker slots with ease. RWB 3-0 Marlborough. This is compounded just five minutes later by Marlborough’s inability to defend an attacking line-out maul, from which the Bassett forwards notch up the first try of the game; converted. RWB 10-0 Marlborough.
With the game scarcely underway, it looked to be all Bassett attacking and Marlborough very much on the back foot… but then, an interception! Centre, Kevini Tuaimei’api, nicks the ball on our 22-metre line and makes ground; he off-loads to winger, Akariva Seruvatu, who goes the distance to score a great running try! Fly-half, George Shakespeare, adds the extras from the tee and you could be forgiven for thinking that the men of Marlborough are clawing their way back… RWB 10-7 Marlborough.
But Bassett strike back very quickly with a try of their own, following a midfield defensive mistake by Marlborough. The try is converted, and Bassett’s margin is restored. RWB 17-7 Marlborough. But it is clear that the boys in blue (our striking away strip) are starting to settle into the game and, soon after the twenty-minute mark, our tight-head prop, Lemeki Moala, scores our second. It’s a great individual finish from Meki, but it all comes from a devastating break from loose forward, Wate Kuli, and then several patient phases from the forwards, whose hard work, grit, and determination in this kind of phase-play pays dividends. Meki’s try is converted by the ever-accurate Shakespeare, and we are RWB 17-14 Marlborough.
Five minutes later, Shakespeare adds three points from a penalty and the scores are level – 17 all! Unfortunately, with the last play of the first half, Marlborough concedes a penalty, which is kicked well and gives Bassett a narrow lead as the referee brings the first half to a close.
Half-time – Royal Wootton Bassett 20 – Marlborough 17
The value of a coaching staff as experienced as ours comes into its own at half-time. Inosi Leqekoro & Halani Aulika get to grips with the forwards; Sitiveni Sivivatu revitalises the backs. Then for the final few minutes, the whole squad comes together for Head Coach, Elisi Vunipola, to explain – in no uncertain terms – exactly what is expected from every individual and from the team as a whole in the second half. It is uplifting and exhilarating stuff!
Despite the words of wisdom at half-time, Marlborough get off to the worst possible start with an awful error – knocking the ball back into play on what would have been a Marlborough line-out. The result is that Bassett score a try within a minute of the restart! Although it was not converted, it obviously rattled the boys, and Bassett kept the pressure on. In the ensuing ten minutes, Marlborough give away consecutive penalties and Bassett are rewarded with another try, this time converted. RWB 32-17 Marlborough. In what had looked like a close game at half-time, Bassett were pulling ahead convincingly.
To Marlborough’s credit – and thanks to some excellent on-field leadership by captain, Chris Diamond, there was absolutely no panic. On fifty minutes, thanks to more good work by the forwards, Kuli seizes an opportunity, breaks through, and scores a magnificent individual try, which is neatly converted by Shakespeare. Sighs of relief in the Marlborough camp, and we are RWB 32-24 Marlborough.
Five minutes later, Shakespeare lines up a penalty kick close to the half-way line… and over it goes! What a kick – described by onlookers as “monumentous”! 32-27 and the Marlborough men are starting to play some impressive rugby, fairly silencing the home supporters. On 58 minutes, following some aggressive Marlborough defence, it’s that man Kuli again, who gets his hands on a loose ball and runs fifty or more metres to score his second! It’s Shakespeare, again, who adds the extras to give Marlborough the narrowest of leads. RWB 32-34 Marlborough… it’s nail-biting stuff.
Shakespeare than slots another penalty, from an equally challenging spot – he’s on fire this afternoon and these three points, at such a critical time in the match, give Marlborough a bit more breathing space. RWB 32-37 Marlborough… with less than twenty minutes to go!
Right on cue – and to the delight of the home crowd – Bassett strikes back. Our slender lead is chopped back by a converted try, coming from some impressive work by the Bassett forwards. It’s RWB 39-37 Marlborough. This game is very much ‘on’!
As with all such games, the clock seems to accelerate when you’re chasing down a narrow lead… and so it was here. Fingers are crossed everywhere and breath is held. There are barely two minutes left to go when Shakespeare calmly slots another tremendous penalty kick and we lead again… by one point! RWB 39-40 Marlborough.
From the restart, our immense second row, Metuisela Vereivalu, catches the ball and, in a most unusual event for a lock forward, kicks a neat grubber through for flying winger, Seruvatu, to pounce on and scamper the distance to score his second! Wow! Needless to say, Shakespeare converts and the referee blows up… to rapturous applause from the travelling support! What. A. Game!
Final Score – Royal Wootton Bassett 39 – Marlborough 47
The coaches’ and team manager’s perspective:
Following a very disjointed preseason and a slow start to the season, not helped by injuries and player unavailability, the last two games are good examples of how things are coming together for Marlborough. The unforced errors through unfamiliarity are still creeping in, but there does seem to be week-on-week improvement – both individually and as a squad.
The front row is coalescing, helped enormously by the return of Lemeki Moala, although great credit should also go to new boys, Nichaiah Boynton & Jacob Te Rangi, who (at 19- and 20-years-old respectively) are making real progress. When replacement front row, Simon Pilkington, came off the bench at Bassett, he was also extremely impressive. In the second row, the team is without experienced locks, Jamie Pittams and Ryan Nabuni, both injured; but stalwart Metuisela Vereivalu is doing magnificently, and enormous thanks and credit should go to Kieran Brown who is uncomplainingly being asked to play out of position. Wate Kuli & Chris Diamond were both outstanding in the back row and Number 8 Poseci Rokoua coming back for his first game after a long-term knee injury stood up very well. All the forwards are helped by the expert advice and coaching by our scrum coach, Halani Aulika.
The new and very young half-back combination of scrum-half, Jimbo Lemon, and fly-half, George Shakespeare, is developing impressively. These two seem to take it in turns to be the Marlborough Rugby 1st XV Player of the Match! On Saturday, and for the second week in a row, it was George for his magnificent display of goal kicking and quality decision-making – many congratulations to him! Our centres, Kevini Tuaimei’api and James Adams, are coming together extremely well. These are truly ‘utility players’ and, on Saturday, the coaches moved Kevini to Number 8 in the second half to allow the young Vili Vunipola to come on for his first game of the season at inside centre. The back three of Akariva Seruvatu, Jefeti Vakalabure, and Jovilsi Taraka link up exceptionally well, and will continue to cause our oppositions problems when we are attacking.
Chairman’s note: next Saturday, 25 October, we have two home games! The 1st XV hosts St Austell RFC and the Nomads play their re-scheduled fixture against Frome RFC. It will be a delectable afternoon of top-quality rugby on The Common. We look forward to seeing you there! All details will appear on the Club website and in our social media…
Where does this leave Marlborough in the table? As you will see now up to 8th, but in a much better position following this local derby win – click here to view.
Charity Carol Service for Hope and Homes – tickets now on sale
