Andover 1st XV
25 Effingham & Leatherhead 21 – Reports Dan Pearson
Oakwood sponsored Andover 1st XV hosted Effingham & Leatherhead
at the Goodship Ground for their final league fixture of the
season. Although Andover had already been confirmed as relegated,
they were looking to put on a good performance to restore some
pride for what has been a poor season. Andover were forced into
a change before kick-off, with Tom Waite replacing Lee Cowley
who was suffering with a stomach virus.
Andover started the game with Duncan Bailey being given the
honour of leading the team out as captain for his last game
for the club, as he is shortly due for a military posting to
Canada. Marc Wilding was also playing his last game as player-coach,
but returning next season to play and enjoy a year without the
added pressures of coaching. Andover started the game playing
down the hill towards the club house after losing the toss,
but had an early chance in the game to go three points up with
a penalty just inside the opposition’s half but was missed due
to the high winds sweeping across the pitch.
Effingham were looking to use their heavy pack against their
more mobile Andover counterparts throughout the first half,
setting up several strong rolling mauls, but the Andover forwards
were holding strong. The next score was gifted to Andover as
the Effingham fly half was put under pressure by the huge presence
of Stuart McRae who raced out of the line to charge down the
clearance kick. He managed to regain his feet and cross the
line, the conversion was narrowly missed by Wilding leaving
the score at 5-0 to the home side.
Effingham were next on the score sheet with a penalty converted
in front of the posts. This spurred Andover on and after several
powerful rucks by the forwards, winger Pete Mort gathered a
clearance kick and fed full back Dan Pearson who sprinted through
the opposition midfield finding powerful centre Nick Rowe who
drew his man and shipped the ball onto his supporting midfield
partner. With one man to beat and with winger Chris Reilly on
his shoulder this should have been an easy try, but the ball
carrier got caught in two minds and decided to try and beat
the man to the line but was held up. The supporting forwards
cleared away the Effingham defence allowing prop Ewen Cameron
to dive over from two metres out, with Wilding adding the extras
giving Andover a 12-3 half-time lead.
The second half saw Andover playing up the slope and into the
wind and Effingham were looking to use this to their advantage.
Some good mauling from their forwards allowed them to feed their
backs who converted the score in the corner and added the extras
bring the game to 12-10. Andover restarted the game and were
given an early opportunity to increase the lead to 5 points
and Wilding stepped up and calmly slotted over the posts giving
Andover a 15-10 lead.
Good lineout ball won by the Andover pack led to a ruck in the
middle of the opposition half, Guy Wilkinson passed the ball
out to Dan Pearson who delicately chipped the ball over the
Effingham defence and with a lucky bounce bringing the ball
back into the fullback’s hands, he scored under the post with
Wilding again adding the extras to leave Andover 22-10 up.
Andover were then reduced to fourteen men, as second row Martin
Wassell was sent for a ten minute break to the sin-bin. This
lead to Effingham scoring their second try of the match as the
fly-half ran at the Andover defence and a neat offload to his
supporting fullback allowed then to bring the score to 22-15.
The home team were again awarded a penalty which Wilding converted
bringing the score to 25-15 and then two quick penalties brought
the game to 25-21. After a tense few last minutes Andover managed
to hold on and gain their first win since January.
After the game Andover hosted presented their Senior team awards.
Firstly Dan Pearson picked up Vice Presidents Player of The
Year, with Jack “Chalky” White winning Coach’s Player and Alex
Morgan winning 1st XV Players’ Player.
The latter two awards being a great achievement, as both youngsters
were playing in their first ever season in 1st XV rugby and
are an example to all of the young hopefuls who will be coming
through the Youth Academy ranks in the coming years. The back
row duo showed that commitment, effort and desire at both training
and on match day does not go unrecognised or unrewarded by their
peers or coaching staff.
Scorers
Tries: McRae, Cameron, Pearson
Con: Wilding (2)
Pen: Wilding (2) |
