Marlborough 31 – 40 Brixham
With both teams at home on The Common defending ‘Fortress Marlborough’ and the first round of games in this year’s 6 Nations competition on the television, this promised to be an extremely important weekend of rugby for the Club. It certainly lived up to expectation!
Still smarting from the narrow defeat against St Austell last Saturday, the 1st XV had no illusion about the challenge they would face welcoming the league leaders to The Common. Brixham has an impressive record and sit deservedly atop the table. In the away fixture, we had run the Fishermen pretty close in a high-scoring game, coming off second best 57-41. The boys knew it was going to be a tough one.
Marlborough started well – from the kick-off the tempo was high and the men in Black & Gold were applying pressure right across the pitch. The forwards were working coherently and our first-up tackles were effective. Marlborough was awarded a penalty and fly-half, Will Grant, stepped up confidently and kicked with supreme accuracy to make it 3-0 after just two minutes. However, Marlborough were then found guilty of not rolling away and not releasing the tackled player – two penalties to Brixham in quick succession and the scoreline swung back the other way to read 3-6 after just seven minutes.
And then we struck gold! We went through multiple phases, backs and forwards supporting each other, carrying to and beyond the gain line, and ensuring safe ball. The outcome being loose-head prop, Simon Pilkington, running a great line, bursting through a couple of defenders, and crashing over to score! The ever-accurate Grant stepped up and added the extras. Scarcely ten minutes gone and we are 10-6 to the good.
The travelling support from Brixham on the crowded touchline were quiet – whereas the Marlborough crowd (swelled by at least twenty former players from the late-90s / early 00s) was very vocal in support. Sadly, two more penalties against us meant that the first quarter ended 10-12 and the captain, Chris Diamond, was having stern words with the lads under the posts. His efforts were rewarded with another fine try on 23 minutes. With the Marlborough scrum dominating the visitors’ pack our scrum-half, Manatu Leileifi, was served good clean ball and all the players were moving swiftly in support of the ball carriers. We went again through a number of well-constructed phases, and our powerful Number 8, Jonasa ‘Tabs’ Tabua, broke through to score. Grant added the extras. Marlborough 17-12 Brixham.
Brixham struck back quickly with a try of their own from a powerful maul, which was set up from an attacking line-out and driven forward at some pace. Their kicker added the two points; and he stepped up to add a further three points for another penalty against Marlborough. The Marlborough boys took a deep breath, and dug deep for the final few minutes of the first half. Like his first one, Pilkington’s second try came from relentless forwards play and good, clean, effective support by all. Grant converted this fine effort and the referee blew up for halftime.
Half-Time: Marlborough 24 – 22 Brixham
The team talk from Director of Rugby, Elisi Vunipola, and coaching staff was succinct and to the point. It was bitterly cold on The Common and nobody wanted the break to go on any longer than necessary! Underway again, and the tempo was as hard and fast as it had been at the start. We witnessed a cracking ten minutes of high-quality rugby. But it was Brixham that opened the scoring in the second half with another penalty kick on 52 minutes, awarded for a ‘technical’ yellow-card offence against Marlborough. Now a man down, we would have to work even better together. And so it was – Marlborough struck back almost immediately with a tremendous running try! It started with a quick tap-and-go penalty taken by Leileifi; the ball was taken up close to the line by the forwards; Leileifi fed Grant, who moved the ball to the advancing back line; quick ball through the hands and our full-back, Sione ‘Jay’ Matakaiongo, shrugged off two defenders to score! Grant converting nicely from the tee. Marlborough 31-25 Brixham.
Unfortunately, our joy was short-lived. Rugby can be a cruel friend at times, and the last quarter of this game proved especially bitter. Brixham scored two tries in quick succession, capitalising on their one-man advantage. The scoreboard went from 31-25 to 31-30 and then to 31-37 in a few short minutes… nailbiting stuff. The men of Marlborough were still within one score and fighting hard to get back into the game. Unfortunately, it was not to be. A penalty awarded to Brixham on 75 minutes gave them three more points, and effectively put the game – and the losing bonus point – beyond Marlborough’s reach.
Final Score: Marlborough 31 – 40 Brixham
The 1st XV player of the match was Metuisela Vereivalu – he put in a solid shift at second row, made some big carries, and was instrumental in getting the forwards to work so effectively together. Also worthy of mention are: Will Grant (playing his first game back for the 1st XV after injury and his first game at fly-half); the lively Manatu Leileifi (this being only his second game for the Club and the first time he and Grant had paired up at 9 & 10 together); Simon Pilkington (for two great tries); and the ever-present Chris Diamond (for his steadfast and determined leadership, notably when the pressure is on).
It’s all about the tries in rugby and so for the Marlborough 1st XV to score four tries (and secure a try bonus point) against the top team in the league is not to be sniffed at. But games are won (and lost) through penalties as well. After this game, there’ll be much talk about discipline and yellow cards, but it might be worth noting that in the first round of the 6 Nations this weekend there was one red card and a further three yellows – cards served against professionals at the pinnacle of the game. Whilst there is absolutely no place in rugby for foul play, infringements for technicalities may be unavoidable…
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2nd XV Home to Fairford
So, a third disappointing result in a row for the 1st XV, but the weekend saw our 2nd XV chalk up another bonus point win, this time beating Fairford RFC 48-8 on The Common.
The Nomads got on the board from the kick-off! Under the high ball, the chasing Marlborough forwards put the pressure on the Fairford receivers and came away with it – our powerful No 8, Poseci Rokoua, darting through the confusion and touching down. Centre and kicker on the day, Taine Pollinger, added the conversion and it was Marlborough 7-0 Fairford after scarcely a minute! Some scrappy play led to a penalty awarded to Fairford and their kicker proved very accurate from some distance – making it 7-3 after ten minutes.
It ebbed and flowed in the wintry conditions on The Common, but the small crowd on the Nomads’ touchline were seeing some really good and coherent rugby from the boys. On the half hour, Pollinger went over to score a good try, but could not convert his own effort. Inexplicably, the Nomads’ forwards started to lose a bit of shape and began to concede ground and give away penalties. Team Manager, Phil Kearley, made some tactical substitutions to steady the ship and things calmed down as the halftime break beckoned. Something to focus on in training, methinks…?!
Half-Time: Marlborough 12 – 4 Fairford
A rousing half-time talk by Kearley, Jamie Pittams (captain), and Club stalwart Adam Whatley meant the Nomads came out even more determined for the second half. And their renewed efforts were rewarded almost immediately with a fine score for winger, Dylan Davies, which went unconverted. 17-3. Scrum-half, Leone Naucukidi, spotted a gap and went through at pace to score just three minutes later. Pollinger was unable to convert, but the 22-3 scoreline felt comfortable.
Ten minutes later and our No8, Rokoua, smashed through the defence to score his second. Pollinger’s kick drifted wide, but the score was now 27-3 and the Nomads looked settled. Within five minutes our fly-half, Josefa Rokoua, took the ball at pace and scored a really good try under the posts. No mistake from Pollinger this time and we are 34-3 with twenty minutes to go. Within five, Davies had gone over for his second of the day, converted nicely by Pollinger to make it 41-3. A momentary lapse of concentration? Fairford sneak one back through their forwards, not converted, to make it 41-8.
In the last couple of minutes of what had been a really good contest, the Marlborough forwards went through the phases, kept the pressure on, and gifted our blindside flanker, Tevita Tuisue, a try that was duly converted by Pollinger to bring proceedings to a close.
Final Score: Marlborough 48 – 8 Fairford
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YOUTH SECTION – LOCAL AND PREMIERSHIP
Our excellent Colts travelled to Corsham on Sunday and comprehensively defeated their opposition by an impressive 48-5, thus emulating their Nomad elders! The inspiring Freddie A (who has represented Dorset & Wiltshire several times this season) scored two tries, converted both of them himself, and converted two of the remaining six Marlborough tries – a strong individual performance from the youngster! Our Colts are now in fifth place in the County table and, on Sunday 9 February, they travel to fourth-placed Devizes for what should be a high-quality game!
Amongst all the usual Minis & Juniors action on Sunday, our Under 16s welcomed Chosen Hill RFC to The Common. This friendly fixture was the first time the Clubs have met and so it was something new for everyone. Chosen Hill are obviously an outfit to contend with, since the final score was 7-26 and a resounding victory for the visitors! Perhaps our performance was due to a number of our ‘star’ U16 boys being away…? Their absence is of real significance and is probably worth an article in its own right! They were pulling on shirts for Bath in the weekend’s fixture against Bristol Bears, in which Bath ran out 50-12 winners! What an accolade!
In other matches on Sunday, our U15s and U14s travelled to Devizes to play friendlies and both teams won convincingly: 5-68 and 5-39 respectively! Well done to all these young people, to their coaches at Marlborough, and of course to their parents to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude. Better examples of the strength in depth of the Marlborough rugby club you couldn’t ask for…
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OUTLOOK
Next weekend, we have another feast of rugby on The Common.
The menu for Saturday 8 February 2025 is very appetising: we have the 1st XV at home against Launceston (kick-off is at 14:30) and the 2nd XV also plays at home against Swindon College Old Boys (the Nomads will get underway first at 14:00). On the BIG screen in the Clubhouse, we will be showing the Italy vs Wales game at 14:15 and then ‘Le Crunch’ between England and France at 16:45.
On Sunday, we will have all the usual Minis & Juniors action in the morning with all our U7s to U11s entertaining Corsham at home, whilst the U13s play away at Farringdon. Our U14s will be taking part in a rugby festival at North Dorset RFC; our U15s are away to Supermarine; our U16s are at home training; and the Colts are away to Devizes with a 14:00 kick-off. Plus, we will show the Scotland vs Ireland match on the telly. Plenty going on!
Regardless of your nationality or persuasion, Marlborough Rugby welcomes you to what promises to be another fantastic weekend of competitive sporting rugby for all ages and abilities. Bring you best supporter’s cheer!
Wagon Yard – will Wiltshire Council put the wheels back on again?
