2nd Team Match reports
Match Reports
(Latest report first)
Kings Norton 17 Warley 32
Saturday 12th April 2008
Yet another youthful looking Warley team took to the field on a particularly pleasant April afternoon. The seasons end is fast approaching and the development of the second team throughout the season as been highly encouraging. When responses have been required and questions have been asked of the 2’s there have generally been great answers and actions delivered on the pitch, this was another such occasion.
One elder statesman of the club commented en route to the game ‘ I don’t think I’ve ever come over here and won!”, well that was one duck broken! It was clearly going to be a day for the backs after observing the experienced opposition limbering up! The opening exchanges of the game confirmed this, half backs Greg Smith and Cash Redding linked up well to ship fast ball out, but early eagerness seemed to get the better of Warley and early try scoring opportunities were squandered. However, patience and persistence meant it was not long before Greg Smith opened the scoring after collecting the ball from the lineout and sending the back row across the pitch with an awesome dummy, a brave run then resulted in him touching down under the posts, Cash duly converted.
It wasn’t long before the hosts exhibited their strengths, strong and efficient rucking saw them have an extended presence in the Warley twenty-two, before scoring a neat try to level the scores. The pressure then swung sweetly for Warley and once again clear ball to the backs allowed Cash to loop and support and pop up on the wing to collect his first of 2 try’s for the day. It wasn’t long before some confusion seemed to lead to a second try for the hosts, a sloppy effort on Warley’s part saw scores level. It appeared that scores would be level at half-time, but Dan Hemmings had different ideas and collected the ball deep inside Warley territory run cross field and then used deceptive strength to break through the efforts to stop him and stumble over the line to collect a fine try, the young Warley number 9 exerting his usual high standards out wide on this occasion!
Half time consisted of wise words along the lines of “get it wide”, “dow kick it to their 10 or 8” and “…if we keep gooin at em like we have and am a bit tidier at the rucks we’ll win this un!” Good points well made!!!
Points taken on board and the team pretty much delivered a near perfect response for the second 40 minutes! However, the forwards this time decided they wanted to be part of the running game that Warley were striving for. Marvin and Huw combining to dash down the wing and make good ground, new recruit Chris displaying great effort on Warley debut and Spuddy Taylor providing good support play (or was he just loitering??) on several occasions but never getting the pass to collect his deserved try! (Always a bad idea to bet 10 pints with the young stand off Spuddy, he’ll never pass to you then!!!)
More quick ball to the backs allowed Sketty Jnr to collect from Julian and ride the tackle (or should that be luck??) and deftly score over the line! Warley, now looking in total control, stuck to their game plan and soon Cash plundered his second try of the day. Still there was time for Julian to collect his first ever senior try for Warley, a neat move allowed him to score out wide after several good phases and tidy hands saw the ball shipped out in his direction!
Opportunities came and went in the final 10 minutes, Ben Thorne narrowly collecting a ‘forward’ pass (looked flat to me!!), Dam Hemmings superbly clutching a cross field kick only to spill it over the line and even Huw getting in on the act attempting to follow and collect his own kick, where’d he learn that one ??! In the end it was the home side who collected the final score of the day in the final move of the day, a determined run ending under the Warley posts. Cue final whistle in an entertaining game, 2 teams eager to end the season positively produced a cracker, a friendly bunch too! Cheers lads!
Pace was certainly a key ingredient behind this victory, summed up poignantly when a voice from the touchline called upon Kings Norton to “Get them tackles in lads”, another Warley stalwart was heard to quip in reply “You’ve got to get ya hands on em first, me mon!” So its looking good on the Warley front, still! The youthful blend is aging well with its fine oaks still standing alongside them, 2007/08, not a bad vintage!
Match Report
Warley 2nd XV 17 – Featherstone Prison 1st XV 20
1st March 2008!!!
Featherstone produced two late tries to defeat Warley in a closely fought encounter at the Prison grounds. While Warley dominated the game for extended periods they failed to secure an extra try to keep them clear of the Featherstone come back that eventually ended Warley 2nd teams 5 match unbeaten run.
Kick off was later than scheduled and Warley seemed slightly overwhelmed by the experience and were reluctant to take the ball into contact. The result was an early period of pressure for Featherstone. Warley’s start to the game was worsened by conceding a try that was converted to put Featherstone 7-0 up. Not only that, but KP had to lead the field due to a painful looking rib injury.
Fortunately, Craig Smiths’ angry team talk under the posts seemed to do the trick and Warley regained composure and field position. Warley scored quickly. Cash, playing at fly half, exploiting the fact there was no full back at home with a clever chip and chase that he collected himself. The Featherstone defence was sucked in and the ball was flung out wide to put James in for a try in the corner.
With no conversion the score stood at 7-5 to the prison but it was clear the tide was turning and Warley were playing their Rugby in Featherstone’s 22. Warley however, failed to score from two critical 5 meter scrums that were turned over and cleared. In the last few minutes of the half Tim Haines crossed to score a try to put Warley in the lead. After being unable to stay ‘for a drink’ after scoring his first try a few weeks earlier many on the team were pleased to hear he had no excuses this time. The defence from the fly-half and centres was jarring and indeed appeared to be all too much for the Featherstone 15 who suffered a serious knee injury leading to the half being ended a few minutes earlier.
With the referee busy attending to the injured player, Craig Smith had to become the second half referee with Paddy coming off the bench to take his place. Again, after the restart Warley seemed reluctant to take the ball into contact and some panicking on the ball lead to poor offloads and eventually a Featherstone penalty which was in range of the posts. The penalty was scored to put the game level at 10-10. Warley realising that the game was far from over soon scored a converted try with some hard and quick running which put inside centre Martin in under the posts.
However, at 10-17 Warley failed to score an extra try to make the game safe. Featherstone took advantage of an imprudent decision by Warley to run the ball deep in their own 22. The Featherstone score brought them to within two points of Warley. 10 minutes to go and while the Prisoners, buoyed by their scored raised their game, Warley began to fall to peaces. An injury to one of the teams star performers, Cash following some of his trademark hard hitting defence did not help matters. Indeed Warley seemed to be eager to do everything in their power to throw the game away, a communication breakdown meaning Warley caught none of their own line outs. This coupled with some half hearted attempts at catching high ball allowed some previously unused Featherstone pace to bring them to within 10 meters of crossing the Warley try line. A powerful drive put them 20-17 ahead. With only two minutes to go Warley were pinned back in their own 22 before the ball went out and the full time whistle was blown. It was a frustrating afternoon for Warley who should have won the match by the end of the first half. Congratulations must be extended to Featherstone who showed some true grit to hold on to the bitter end in order to finish the victors. It is not all doom and gloom however, and if Warley can consistently replicate some of the talent showed in patches in throughout the match, it could be one of the best 2nd team seasons for some time.
James Hallam
Handsworth 7 Warley 39
Date unknown
If there is such a thing as fate then maybe it played its part today. A glorious, early autumn Saturday afternoon, perfect for the second team debut in the merit table. There was no need for chest beating and stirring speeches, a simple thought was in the forefront of everyone’s mind, Oliver Secrett. Fittingly the game saw many broad Warley grins and good tackling, an appropriate tribute to a good guy lost!
A perfect minutes silence and reflection. The game began and minds turned to the task in hand, only a win would suffice. Excellent early work from the forwards saw much probing and standard setting as the game was taken to the hosts. Early Handsworth mistakes were punished by the boot of ‘Cash’, who ended the day with a near perfect return from his kicks at goal. A six nil lead was soon established, aware that the team could not sit back and wait for more mistakes the forwards continued to take the game to the hosts early in the first half, pressure that soon paid dividends when Spencer Lamb scored in the corner to stretch the lead further.
The only lapse of the game for Warley came as Handsworth had their only real attack of the first half, the 2’s defensive line caught napping from a penalty 10metres out, Handsworth duly scored and converted to bring them back into the game, which had so far been dominated by the 2’s. To regain the momentum before half time ‘Titch’ Priest, showed good vision and dashing style to score under the posts, a fine try, deserved of a rather vulgar drink that awaits back at HQ (You won’t always have your car RP!)
A few words at half time, cautious of further lapses but aware that the summer fitness work could and should pay off as the game wore on. A very scrappy opening to the second half saw neither team dominate but the odd temper did flare, a clear sign Warley were coming out on top in all areas. Good defensive work from the whole Warley outfit paid off as Chris Green (Haircut required!) used his pace and hand off to good effect and make great ground into the opposition half. Fine work that was followed up by a forceful and determined run by Jimmy Johnson (yet to fulfil his retirement plans of May), from the resulting ruck Adam Hill plundered over the line to collect his first Warley try (cue another vulgar drink!).
More Greeny inspired break away rugby saw the backs opening the game up and quite frankly running the home team a little ragged. After making excellent ground once again the ball went through many hands, this time making its way across field to ‘Maz’ who collect a deserved try. By now the greater mobility of the Warley team was shining through, Carl McGrath calling the shots in the backs and excellent delivery from the half backs kept creating opportunities for the visitors. Next up saw, replacement, Lefty collect his first Warley try, after making his debut in front of gods dog it was about time his name made it onto the score sheet! More clinical kicking saw scoring completed.
An excellent all round display, things to work on? Yes. But a solid platform is developing and things are looking good! A fitting performance and a result that, if fate played its part in it, a proud Warley second string equally played their part in it! A small gesture, but a victory dedicated to a good guy lost, Oliver Secrett.
Sat. 15/09/07
Warley 24 Spartans 27
Slim, trimmed and looking good! Yes, it was good to be back at St John’s! The newly cropped pitch was perhaps one of the reasons for the tight opening half of the game, plenty of good tight rugby from both sides, with Warley perhaps looking the more likely to score but unable to make the pressure tell with any points.
Perhaps the strongest second team to line up for Warley in some years were in good order, with more senior players, new recruits and youth products all blended in to display strong tackling, good handling skills and some excellent work in the scrum. The half time consultation between skippers resulted in uncontested scrums in the second half, which seemed to take some of the intensity out of Warley’s game.
Spartans upped their game and with a few minutes of the restart they scored, good handling and angles allowing them to get the try that broke the deadlock. Warley hit back soon afterwards with newly wed Tony Becker slotting over a penalty, but Spartans followed that up with their best spell of pressure in the game. The second try saw the visitors’ displayed excellent handling and support play, the ball travelling through 6 or 7 pairs of hands with fantastic off loading on route to the score under the posts. A penalty and a further try put Warley almost out of the game.
A few changes saw fresh legs joining the pack and Warley raise the challenge of pulling the game back around. Good pressure saw the lads piling towards the try line, with bodies littering the try line Owen (aka John West - it’ll make sense in a second!) showed composure in picking up the ball from the ruck and leaping salmon like over the crowd to collect his first score!
So back in with a shout Warley had plenty possession, running good lines and making ground, only to be thwarted by the well organised opposition. Entering the last 5 minutes stand off Becker did his ‘thang’ one more time. After good work by the forwards securing the ball and going through tight phases Becker collected the ball and waltzed through to collect his second score of the day, now don’t hold me to this but I think that Becker might end up a decent player, if only he started training!!
So Warley back within 3 points and it came down to the last play, the dream ending was in sight, line out on the opposition 22, backs eager, forwards pumping, it was set up for the grand finale! Huw launched in a stupendous line out which was collected and secured at 4, with Becker on a hat trick screaming for the ball, the line was in sight. But the 2nd team skipper chose the ‘alternative’ ending! And launched the ball into touch! The official explanation in the team meeting was his belief that the scores were all square. However, popular belief and past evidence suggests it was much simpler. . . he sliced his kick!
So the first team collected the silverware at HQ but the 2’s can be certain that they are playing their part at resurgent Warley. A good all round display, with bundles of effort wasn’t quite rewarded with the win that was craved, but the futures bright, the futures red and white!! |
