Marlborough 40 – 29 Launceston
A second successive weekend with both senior men’s teams at home on The Common… and the second round of 6 Nations games on the BIG screen at the Clubhouse, including ‘le Crunch’ match of England vs France. Would we all be in for a treat?
Last Saturday’s loss to league leaders Brixham had lingered over the boys’ training this week. That defeat was especially raw, since we had led at half-time and then inexplicably given it away in the second half. This week’s training sessions focussed on reinforcing the successes of that match and putting right the shortcomings; the Thursday night session, under the lights at Larkhill, was particularly good. In the players’ minds the fact that, in the away leg back in October, the match had been played at pace, with each side scoring six tries! Although we lost, we came away with a try bonus point and a losing bonus point. This would obviously be a delicious rematch… but nobody was under any illusion about how tough it would be.
The day dawned… well, it was difficult to tell, since a thick blanket of fog had descended on The Common and it was challenging even making out the far side of the pitch and the scoreboard! Would this be to our advantage, or would the Cornish All Blacks feel at home in the misty cold conditions? After the pre-match lunch in the Clubhouse, during which it was a pleasure to get to know the President and travelling Committee members from Launceston, a small, but vocal crowd of supporters from both sides huddled together pitch-side. It was definitely a day for welly boots and warm kit!
The first fifteen minutes were pretty much all Launceston! They attacked across the width of the pitch, testing the Marlborough defence relentlessly. But the defence held strong and looked coherent from the off. On the 15-minute mark, Marlborough was awarded a penalty, which was taken quickly by loose-head prop, Simon Pilkington, who went head-first into the action, setting up three good phases of play, marked by quick recycling and good support, and culminating in centre, Paula Mahe, crashing over to score. In the mist our fly-half and kicker, Will Grant, could not add the extras, but it was first blood to Marlborough and the boys had a real boost. Marlborough 5-0 Launceston.
However, Launceston struck back extremely quickly. Marlborough knocked on at the re-start, and so gave away an attacking scrum in our territory. Launceston went through the phases in as efficient a way as we had done just minutes earlier, and were rewarded with a score, also unconverted. Launceston then took a slender lead through a penalty goal on 26 minutes and, through the fog, the supporters could just about make out that it was Marlborough 5-8 Launceston.
This was obviously the ‘nudge’ the men of Marlborough needed, and they clicked into gear. With advice being shouted from the technical area and good on-field leadership from flanker and captain, Chris Diamond, we put into practice the systems that had been rehearsed in the week’s training sessions. On 34 minutes winger, Akariva Seruvatu, broke away and so set his marker as the ‘fastest bloke on the pitch’. His off-load to centre, James Adams, was spot on (as was Adams’ support running). Adams fed Grant, who popped the ball to on-rushing Number 8, Dom Rokomaqisa, who scored a great try! Grant, also wearing the vice-captain ‘armband’, stepped up and made no mistake in adding the two points. Marlborough 12-8 Launceston.
Tails up, the Marlborough forwards looked to go again. And, from the re-start, that’s exactly what they did! The catch neatly recycled, the ball went to our 19-year-old blindside flanker, Lotu Vunipola, who burst through the defenders and made a good twenty metres all by himself. He deftly passed the ball to our flying full-back, the 18-year-old Sione ‘Jay’ Matakaiongo, who in turn passed to fellow Tongan Under 20s international, our scrum-half Manatu Leileifi, who did the honours and scored with an exuberant swan-dive! Grant’s boot now accurate, he slotted without difficulty. Marlborough 19-8 Launceston.
Even better, and again from the re-start, through the phases we went, then releasing Matakaiongo who went on a blistering run beating two defenders before passing to the ever-present second row, Metuisela Vereivalu, who set the ball up nicely in contact. With the Launceston defence scrambling back, Pilkington snatched up the ball, went over the gain line and then threw a long pass out to Diamond, loitering on the wing as flankers often do (!) and in went the captain for a great try under the posts! Grant converted and the referee blew up for half-time.
Half-Time: Marlborough 26-8 Launceston
More like it! The half-time pep talk was brief – it was freezing after all! But it was about continuing to do the basics right, playing to the game plan, and working together as a team. Sounds simple, right? Would it stick? Well, the second half started well for us. In fact, the first ten minutes of the second half were outstanding for Marlborough!
Gifted a penalty close to Launceston’s line, Leileifi took a lightning-quick tap penalty from five metres out. Although he was tackled just short, from the resulting ruck and great close-in work by all the forwards, Diamond went over for his second, also converted by Grant. Sadly, that action would be Leileifi’s last involvement in the match – he had picked up an ankle injury in the tackle. But it now stood Marlborough 33-8 Launceston.
Five minutes later, we were treated to the try of the match! It came from some excellent, slick, quick, and well-drilled build-up play by the forwards, releasing a back line with real confidence; through the hands and in went Seruvatu – a decent reward for his strong running all afternoon. Grant’s kick went right through the middle and we were 40-8 to the good with just thirty minutes to play…
And then… in what felt like the longest half hour ever, it was very much a rear-guard action from Marlborough! Perhaps we felt it was ‘job done’ or, more likely, Launceston found the inner strength to mount a comeback. Whatever the case, the Cornish All Blacks scored two tries in quick succession, on 61 and 66 minutes, although only the latter was converted. Frustration began to emerge in the Marlborough ranks and we were penalised and penalised again for silly errors and outbursts. Not pretty. It turned what had hitherto been an excellent game of free-flowing and attacking rugby into a bit of a dog fight. And Launceston proved themselves especially adept at this sort of ‘close combat’, capitalising on our inability to stay coherent and consistent as the clock ticked slowly down. Launceston were rewarded with another converted try close to the end. The final minutes were much better from Marlborough, but a collective sigh of relief was breathed when the referee brought things to a close.
Final Score: Marlborough 40 – 29 Launceston
As they say: a win is a win is a win! But we draw as many lessons from this victory as we do form our recent defeats, and we know there is no room for complacency. But a bonus point win against the team sitting in fourth place in the table gives us all a great lift – we can do this. It is just taking time… An number of the players deserve to be singled out this week: player of the match was Dom Rokomaqisa for a full-on 80-minute effort at Number 8 and for the try that energised the team in the first half; Aporosa Masicola for a solid shift at second row – really strong at the break-down; Simon Pilkington for leading from the front; Chris Diamond for an excellent skipper’s performance and two tries (!); James Adams for strong running, incisive support play, maintaining the mid-field link, and leading the backs in defence; ‘Aka’ for running like the wind; ‘Jay’, who since his arrival in the Club has been asked to play 9/10/12/15 and has done so without complaint – always performing with plenty of flair & ability; and Manatu Leileifi who has settled into the scrum-half position extremely well – best wishes for a speedy recovery.
************************************
2nd XV Home to Swindon College Old Boys
Whilst the focus may have been on an actual win for the 1st XV, the 2nd XV was hard at work in equally foggy conditions, defending Fortress Marlborough from assault by Swindon College Old Boys (SCOB). But the Nomads remain a powerful outfit and they triumphed again, sending the visitors packing 47-0.
The Nomads have a habit of starting early, and this was no exception. Within ten minutes our forwards and backs were working coherently together, and the phase play allowed scrum-half, Leone Naucukidi, to feed the backs and some quality ball-through-the-hands found winger, Tevita Tuisue, who made no mistake and dotted down to score. In the cold, damp, and misty conditions the conversion attempts were always going to be challenging and our full-back and kicker, Josefa Rokoua, could not add the extras. Marlborough 5-0 SCOB.
Ten minutes later, a super passage of play by the forwards, notable amongst whom was hooker, Adam Whatley, set up flanker, Leone Vakaruru, who powered through the SCOB defence to score; Rokoua unable to convert. Marlborough 10-0 SCOB. And ten minutes after that, our powerful second row, Sione Tamale, crossed to make it three tries in the first half. Unconverted, it left the scoreline Marlborough 15-0 SCOB.
Half-Time: Marlborough 15 – 0 SCOB
Like last Saturday, the half-time chat was short and sharp – it was freezing out there on The Common!
The second half got underway and SCOB were unfortunate to lose a man to the bin on a ‘technical yellow card.’ The Nomads seized the opportunity and started piling on the pressure. Team Manager, Phil Kearley, and his coaching staff turned to the bench and our impact players brought new impetus to proceedings. Having Jamie Pittams coming on in the second row would lift any team! Forwards and backs combined again and centre and captain, Seb Grew, scored an excellent try on the 60-minute mark. Scrum-half Naucukidi added the extras. Marlborough 22-0 SCOB.
Off the bench came the returning Ben Beanland (how good is that?!) and new signing Vili Vunipola (name sound familiar?!) came on for his first appearance at the Club. These players – young and older, newly-arrived and veteran – add real strength in depth to this Nomads side. A minute later, the forwards combined to put prop, Keli Levai, over for a well-deserved ‘front 5’ try! He was closely followed by substitute prop, Ward Turaganivalu, and it looked like the forwards were taking all the glory! Marlborough 32-0 SCOB.
Not to be outdone, the backs started muscling in on the action. Again, from decent phase play and well-coordinated back-line moves with runners in support, came two tries in quick succession for our winger, Dylan Davies, the second of which was a near-full-pitch effort! Sadly, neither could be converted, but we were now dominating the game in the final quarter, with the score Marlborough 42-0 SCOB. A final forwards move in the increasingly challenging foggy conditions saw Tamale cross for his second of the day and the referee brought things to a halt.
Final Score: Marlborough 47 – 0 SCOB
Player of the Match was Dylan Davies for his strong running, vocal coordination of the backs, and for two great tries. Also worthy of mention are: Seb Grew for a quality skipper’s performance; Leone Naucukidi, Josefa Rokoua, and Vili Vunipola for bringing their youthful enthusiasm and cheerfulness to our game; and Ben Beanland, Alan Brown, Ben Payne, Jamie Pittams, as well as the venerable Adam Whatley (especially good under the high ball) for their ‘elder statesman’ efforts. Great stuff!
These fabulous Nomads remain undefeated, having now scored more than 530 points in their thirteen games so far this season. They top the Counties 2 table by some margin. This is a ‘bedrock’ team – the one where new signings cut their teeth, where Colts get their first experience of adult rugby, and where our Club veterans play in the autumn of their careers! This Nomads team is at the heart of our rugby community in Marlborough.
And that community was on show after our grassroots games had finished and a sizeable crowd settled in to watch the England game on the big screen. What a match – right down to the wire and with all the action a good rugby community in its little Clubhouse could possibly want! A great afternoon blending into a fantastic evening, with a few stragglers staying much later than they should have! This is rugby at its best! Thanks to all who came to support – the Club is ever grateful.
************************************
YOUTH SECTION
Our excellent Colts were back ‘on the road’ on Sunday – this time to Devizes. Like last weekend, Freddie A featured large – converting three of the four tries scored and rounding off an impressive bonus point win over our local rivals. The final score was 14-26 and the Marlborough Colts now move through to the Dorset & Wiltshire Under 18s competition semi-finals! Well played everyone – you are a credit to the Club.
Amongst all the usual Minis & Juniors action on Sunday, our Under 15s welcomed Supermarine RFC to The Common. Supermarine were dominant, and the final score of 7-65 reflects their power across all aspects of their game. However, worth noting that our boys scored a converted try just before half-time – the first try Supermarine have conceded all season. We also held them to two tries in the second half, so well done all the U15 boys – you will have learned a lot about rugby and about yourselves as a team thanks to this game. Keep it up!
***********************************
OUTLOOK
Next weekend, both senior men’s teams are away. The 1st XV travels to Chew Valley RFC. It’s not a long journey and so we will be hoping for plenty of travelling support! The Nomads are away to Sutton Benger… who sit just below us in second place in the table. All to play for! Benger is even closer than Chew, so all supporters are welcome! It is an ‘off’ weekend for the 6 Nations, so there’ll be no big screen action at the Clubhouse. But all the usual Minis & Juniors action will take place on Sunday. See you there!
Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Marlborough’s secret garden
