Calne 0 – 79 Marlborough Nomads
With the 1st XV having a Saturday ‘off’, it was up to the Nomads to fly the flag for Marlborough alone. Buoyed by the hard-fought win over nemesis club, Sutton Benger, the previous Saturday and with a full bench, the boys felt confident travelling to short distance to nearby Calne. The sun was shining…!
It was a fast start by Marlborough. Calne knocked on from the kick off and the referee indicated ‘advantage Marlborough’. Free ball! It was picked up by centre, Jonasa ‘Tabs’ Tabua, who broke the Calne line and off-loaded to scrum-half, Vili Vunipola, who dashed the last few metres to score. Elation! But the try went unconverted, so it was 0-5 to us.
Shortly after the re-start, we lost tight-head prop, Ben Payne, with a suspected broken ankle. He was replaced by Lotu Vunipola – not bad for a Club to have two Vunipolas on the pitch and another (their uncle) watching from the touchline! On ten minutes Calne kicked loosely to winger, Samu Tamanivalu, who beat two defenders before off-loading to full-back, Dylan Davies, who generously passed onto open-side flanker, Kieran Brown, who powered over the line to score a good try, this time successfully converted by fly-half and vice-captain, Roko Waicolayawa, to bring us to 0-12
The Nomads now felt confident enough to look at putting some training field moves into practice. On thirteen minutes, a turn-over on halfway by the blind-side flanker, Tevita Tuisue, lead to a break by loose-head prop, Keli Livai. He off-loaded to flying winger, Semisi Drauvaki, who popped the ball to the replacement prop, Vunipola, who went over to score; again converted by Waicolayawa. 0-19. The next try started with another poor clearance kick by Calne, which fell to Tamanivalu who beat his marker, quickly passing to Tuisue who was well tackled and brought down on the Calne 22. But the Nomads forwards were quick to the breakdown, and served quick ball from the resulting ruck. From scrum-half, Vunipola, through good hands all the way along the line to winger Drauvaki to score, this one not converted. 0-24.
Two minutes later, second-row and team captain, Jamie Pittams, caught the ball from the kick-off and broke through the Calne defence before off-loading to Number 8, Sione Tamale, who crossed the whitewash with relative ease. Not converted. 0-29.
Everybody calm down. For the next ten minutes, nothing went Marlborough’s way. Actually, this period of extremely determined and solid defence by Calne kept Marlborough out and kept the Nomads guessing and on their toes, having to react and respond each time it didn’t go to plan. Credit to Calne, for sure, but credit to the boys for being able to ‘test and adjust’ in the face of an unbreachable wall.
The next Marlborough try was, however, a fantastic individual effort by Tuisue. He ripped the ball from a Calne attacker inside the Marlborough 22, and then sprinted the length of the pitch to score! What a feat, especially after ten minutes of hard work. His try was duly converted by Waicolayawa, and we were back in the game. 0-36. Two minutes later Calne lost a line-out on halfway. The ball was picked up by ‘Tabs’ and he popped it up to a flying Seb Grew, in the centres, who absolutely out-paced all the Calne defenders for a tremendous try! Waicloayawa added the extras to make it 0-43 and was then instrumental in the next score – his magnificent cross-field kick timed to perfection for the on-rushing ‘Tabs’ to pluck out of the air and touch down for his second! Waicolayawa couldn’t convert, but as the referee blew up for the break, it had been all Marlborough for the first 40 minutes.
Half-Time: Calne 0 – 48 Marlborough Nomads
The half-time talk mirrored exactly the 1st XV’s ritual. Backs & forwards split with their specialist coaches for a hot wash-up, then come together for the last two minutes. The message was straight-forward: stick to your systems & patterns; work as a whole team and do not be tempted by individual opportunities. Always respect the opposition. Go again!
The second half started with pressure from Calne, and the Nomads were forced onto the defensive. But the men of Marlborough withstood it well and soon found themselves able to apply pressure of their own. On 46 minutes, Tamanivalu made an excellent break from within the Marlborough 22; he had centre, Grew, in support and alongside him the whole way. Tamanivalu passed to Grew, who beat the last defender and scored his second of the afternoon, which was converted by Waicolayawa. 0-55.
From the re-start, the Marlborough forwards went through phases, breaking down the Calne defence up to the 22, before Pittams made a break with the ball. He off-loaded to Tuisue, who scored his second of the game, which was nicely converted by Waicolayawa. 0-62. Two minutes later winger, Drauvaki, made an extremely powerful run, beating two men before passing to full-back, Davies, to score under the posts in the sunshine. Not converted. 0-67.
The next try came from another powerful run from Tuisue, who was having a fantastic game. His pass to hooker, Adam Whatley, gifted our most veteran player a try, even though he had to fight through some dogged defence to get over the line – what a stalwart! who did manage to touch down despite almost being held up over the line. Waicolayawa confidently added the extras to make it 0-74.
The Nomads’ final try was a fine example of their ‘whole team winning’ attitude. It came from solid phase play involving all the forwards, but was made by a lightning-fast thirty-metre break from scrum-half, Vunipola, who floated a pass to ‘Tabs’ who very neatly popped it back to Vunipola to score – his second of the match! Generosity personified! Unconverted, but with the result now certain, the referee brought things to a close at The Rec in Calne.
Final Score: Calne 0 – 79 Marlborough Nomads
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YOUTH SECTION
Our Minis spent Sunday morning at Devizes RFC and had a fabulous time with our close neighbours.
The 1st XV fly-half and kicker, Will Grant, spent a fruitful morning with aspiring kickers from across our Junior teams – Will’s experience counts as he has scored 65 points this season from the tee. Great to see this kind of senior-junior crossover at the Club – right at the heart of our rugby community.
In a friendly fixture, played in wet, muddy, and windy conditions on The Common, our high-performing Colts beat a touring Colts side from Thornbury RFC in south Gloucestershire. ‘Fortress Marlborough’ was defended and held in a pretty brutal encounter, with the Marlborough boys winning 14-12, having scored their two tries in the first half thanks to some great backs play. The first try was scored by Saxon on the left wing, whose quick feet and aggressive running took him to the line and over. The second by Jack B, at outside centre, thanks to a smart move by Sam P joining the line from full-back and creating the overlap so that Jack (who still had Felix outside him) could go through untouched – a real coach-pleaser!
Marlborough played up hill with a 30-mph wind behind them. As can happen with half term, the Colts were a bit short on numbers and recruited two U16s to play at 8 and 9 today. Alfie rallied his pack of forwards around the pitch like ox-driver cracking a whip to get the best out of them, not letting his junior years inhibit his enthusiasm in any way. He gave crisp, clean service to his back line in very difficult conditions. Doug, playing 8, dominated the contact area with strong carries and fantastic ruck clearing. Freddie, at 10, kept Thornbury pinned down in their own half with some excellent kicking. In the first half, Felix and Saxon on the right and left wings respectively, were brilliant in their kick chases in attack and, along with Sam P in the back-field, dealt with horrible swirling high balls and set off the counter attacks. In a similar vein, Danny S and Alex C who came on the wings at half-time kept the pressure on anyone hoping to catch the high ball and worked hard to get in support for any kicks over their heads into the back field.
In the midfield we had the two Jacks, who were very powerful stopping and thoughts of attack Thornbury might have had about attacking through those channels. Jack R, playing inside centre and who turned 18 today, and Jack B playing outside were brilliant in attack in the first half and strong in defence in the second; sadly, Jack B left the field with ten minutes to go – a nasty gash splitting his face from the lower lip to the bottom of his chin and so we all wish him a speedy recovery. Our front row looked tiny as Max P moved from his usual position of hooker to loose-head, with Charlie Webb playing hooker – he was tenacious and scrapping for any loose ball all over the park. Tom S-M, at tight-head, had been dragged out of bed where he’d been all week with the flu. However, they didn’t give an inch in the scrum and were very mobile in the stodgy conditions. In the engine room, Chaz K and Jonny W were the heroes. Winning nearly all their lineout ball and defending their line like ten men. No quarter was given around the edges and Marlborough had to repulse a series of pick-and-go charges five or six times in the match from less than five metres out from our own try line. To this end Corey and Ben F, playing as flankers, were stubborn as well – getting to the break-down first and pouncing on anything loose. Once again: Max, Doug, and Charlie threw themselves into the breach, shoring up any holes that the big Thornbury forwards might have opened.
Marlborough conceded a try just before half time having repelled nine pick-and-go attempts under the posts. Thornbury sent it wide and Marlborough ran out of defenders. It wasn’t pretty and it certainly wasn’t complete with Marlborough yielding too many metres from catch and drives at the line-out which was how, with just fifteen minutes to go, Thornbury scored their second. However, the good news was it was out wide and in that wind the kick was just too difficult. With injuries to Jack and Alfie, Saxon moved to scrum-half and Danny to outside centre, which may have disrupted the flow, but not the intensity. Whilst not perfect, this match was full of good old fashions guts and team spirit and Marlborough held the opposition out for the remaining fifteen minutes.
It was a total team performance.
Two special mentions. Firstly to Chaz, who won man of the match for giving our pack and our defence momentum – dominating the collisions. Secondly to Freddie, for being the beating heart of his team. He galvanised the boys into a force to be reckoned with. He even turned down two penalties in front of the posts and went for the tap-and-go, neither resulted in scores, but when asked why not kick for goal his answer was simple: “This is a friendly and we will win or lose on our own merit and that’s how we will get better.” What a great character to have as your captain.
So, a tremendous well done to this team of boys – they have set down another building block on the way to the Dorset & Wiltshire Under 18s competition. Although Marlborough took the bragging rights in the pool stages, that will count for naught if they don’t follow it up with wins in the knock-out rounds. It’s Cup quarter-finals next weekend, against the old enemy – Devizes!
Thanks to the boys, the coaches and other staff who manage our Colts. And a big thank you to all the boys and girls who turned out today with our Minis & Juniors, and to your parents! Well done to all!
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CLUB LIFE – The Marlborough Rugby Community
Whilst the Nomads were away at Calne, the Club hosted the UK Civil Service Women’s RFC national squad, who spent a couple of hours in the sunshine on The Common training ahead of their next fixture.
The ladies were great company and were happy to have some advice and input from our coaches Elisi Vunipola, Sitiveni Sivivatu, and Halani Aulika – all three of whom bring great experience and insight to our own training. The ladies had lunch at the Club and swelled the ranks of those gripped by the Wales vs Ireland match in the 6 Nations – edge of the seat stuff!
And then it was England vs Scotland for the Calcutta Cup on our BIG screen… well, what can we say about that…?! We had a good crowd as well on Sunday for the Italy vs France match. What’s for sure is that the Clubhouse is growing in popularity as the place to watch rugby in Marlborough! All are welcome.
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OUTLOOK
Next Saturday, 1 March 2025, the 1st XV plays Exmouth at home on The Common, with the kick-off at 14:30. ‘The Cockles’ sit third in the table and will not be an easy opposition, but we have the home advantage.
The Nomads travel to Colerne RFC looking to consolidate their top-of-the-table status; they also get underway at 14:30. On Sunday, we will have all the usual Minis & Juniors action, although it’s a 6 Nations free weekend…
Zaika Inn reopens – report from a happy customer
