TUNBRIDGE  WELLS RFC 1ST XV.     13.     WESTCLIFF RFC 1ST XV.     19.
This fourth league fixture of the new season saw Wells face an undefeated Essex side in intermittent rain. Wells continued to change their back line to reflect current injuries and unavailability with Charlie Rigby back at 9, Frank Taylor returning from injury at 10, skipper RYAN Taylor-Dennehy in the centre and  Max Douch returning from University.,
Wells found themselves playing up the hill in the first half and fairly regularly incurring the displeasure of the referee. This saw Westcliff into a 0-6 lead after 12 minutes as their fly half Ben McKeith kicked two simple penalties as Wells went off their feet in greasy conditions. Penalties were not all one way ,however, as Frank Reynolds pulled one back on 15 minutes only for Wells to concede another in front on 20 minutes for McKeith to stretch the score to 3-9. With both defences looking miserly it was no surprise that on 25 minutes Reynolds kicked another penalty for Wells to narrow the gap to 6-9. The next 10 minutes was to decide the result of the game as Westcliff No 8 Jim Smith was yellow carded and Wells launched themselves at the visitors line yet couldn’t quite get over. Breaking out Westcliff appeared to have taken out a Wells centre but play continued and right wing Ross Merrick got over in the corner with McKeith converting from the touchline. 6-16. Wells could have replied as the 40minutes were up but were forced out following a diagonal kick to the corner to leave them looking at a difficult but not impossible task in the second half down the slope.

The halftime talk clearly identified more direct tactics and having pinned Westcliff on their own line within 5 minutes of the restart Wells showed patience with the pick and drive for prop Ben Williams to burrow over for a try converted by Frank Reynolds. 13-16.
With this score early in the third quarter Wells could and should have gone on to take the game. Several promising moves, however, were spoilt by inaccurate kicking from hand and lack of patience when driving the narrow channels. The home side went further behind to yet another simple penalty for McKeith on 47 minutes but continued to  dominate possession and position. Two periods of recycling close to the Westcliff line should have seen Wells home but a combination of impatience and inconsistent tactics coupled with an outstanding defensive performance from Westcliff saw Wells thwarted in terms of adding to the scoreboard despite two attempts at diagonal kick passes and a 14 phase close range attack as injury time beckoned which was finally snuffed out as the ball was moved wide and into touch. Full time came with Wells scratching their heads and wondering how they had lost.

Despite the disappointment of a home loss against the current second side Wells did get a losing bonus point. They can take encouragement from a stable scrum, secure ball from Mike Hathaway and Christian Earle in the line out from the accurate throwing of Josh Pankhurst and a combative second half performance from the back row. Wells must build on this as they travel to Guildford for a 3 00 pm KO this Saturday in order to bring back the points.

Squad: Williams, Pankhurst, Crosilla, Mcgarvie, L Hawkins,  Earle, Hawkins J, Pentney, Allen, Hathaway, N Doherty, Rigby, Reynolds, Spicer, Bailey, Taylor-Dennehy, Douch, Allman.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS PROVE TOO STRONG

The weekend saw Tunbridge Wells travel to Shelford (and their artificial pitch) looking to right the wrongs of their heavy defeat to Wimbledon the previous week. Shelford finished 7th in the league last year, two places below Wells and had endured a tough start to the season with defeats to Sidcup and then Hertford. Each side won their home fixture between the teams last year and a competitive game was predicted.

There were a number of changes to the squad. An injury in training saw fly-half Frank Reynolds drop out of the side and Charlie Rigby moved from 9 to 10. Fellow junior product Max Edmonton, who has returned to the club after a near two year absence, started at scrum half. Captain Ryan Taylor-Dennehy moved to 13 as Rich Webster missed out through injury, Ollie Allman and Max Hobbs returned to the first team fold at fullback and wing respectively with Chester Clough the back reserve. The forwards saw changes too as Carl Straeche started at tighthead after impressing off the bench last week, with Brendan Crosilla onto the bench. Player coach Dave Allen made his first appearance of the season at flanker and new recruit Josh Hawkins started at second row with fellow newcomer Jamie Farris starting as sub.

On a warm and slightly breezy afternoon Shelford came out of the blocks very quickly. First blood went to Wells however, after a surging run by the back row of Hathaway and Allen and were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts which Edmonton converted easily. Shelford came straight back retaining possession time after time frustrating Wells and this was soon rewarded after 8 minutes when Shelford were camped on the Wells line for the scrum half to jink his way through three poor Wells tackles to dive over the line between the posts. This was successfully converted. Wells then started to get back into the game but poor kicking out of hand and poor handling errors saw them losing possession and losing territory. Shelford again recycled the ball well and after 9 or 10 phases were rewarded again when Wells gave another penalty away on their 10 meter line. The Shelford full back stepped up and accurately converted to make the score. The game then went into a stalemate position with both sides making surging runs but turnover ball thwarting both sides. On 27 minutes Shelford increased their lead with a penalty kicked by their 15 from almost the same spot as previously.

Crosilla then replaced Straeche and the Shelford pack began to wilt. Strong running from Doherty, Hathaway and Allen lead the charge, followed by carries from Bailey saw Wells putting more and more pressure on the Shelford side who were starting to look tired. Hawkins began making a nuisance of himself and Wells had their heads up. All this pressure was rewarded after a solid 5 metre scrum saw skipper Ryan Taylor-Dennehy crash over just on half time, successfully converted by Edmonton, leaving the score 13-10 at half time.
Wells came out the second half full of energy and scored very quickly through Doherty and then soon after by Tom Bailey, who had a very strong game in the Centre. Edmonton converted bringing the score to 22-13. Wells continued the pressure through the scrummaging of Williams, Pankhurst and Straeche and again Wells scored with the pack powering their way over the line with Doherty touching down for his second try, again Edmonton converting, 13-29. Continued possession, strong running and constant pressure saw Wells striking again, this time with an excellent chip and chase for Ryan Taylor-Dennehy to go over for his second try, taking the score to 13-34.
Jamie Farris then replaced the workhorse of Josh Hawkins for his debut , however Shelford found their second wind and started to play their way back into the game with a try coming from their centre, converted and soon after on 79mins, what seemed to be a successful turnover Farris was sent to the bin for being off his feet. Shelford took advantage of the extra man and scored a converted try on 80 minutes. Final score 27-34.

Wells will take heart from this game, knowing that it was a much improved performance compared to the week before, however with next weeks’ encounter with Westcliff at home, unbeaten this Season, they know they will have to step up another gear to compete.

TWRFC – Shelford – 15/09/18

74 photos

Cranbrook Vets 10- TWRFC Vets 54

A reading from the (less than) sacred scriptures 

And it came to pass, in the second year of the reign of King Creesius the lusty, that the Lord God commanded the ancient men of Tunbridge to battle the heathen men of Cranbrook. For Cranbrook were an brutish and ungodly rabble unpleasing to the Lord. 

And so, verily, the men of Tunbridge wandered to that far and distant land; robed only in cloth of finest blue, provided by an strange man of hideous appearance whose loins were girded heavily as to maketh his pants seemeth fat. 

And, hark, a whistle blew and the Spirit of the Lord descended- so as to maketh them all keen unto a man. And they did take the fight to the heathen heartily, the Baldock running hard, his knees lifted high, his chest stuck out, until the breath runneth from his lungs and his rounded belly dragged upon the earth. And he was joined in the warrior pack by an assortment of blessed disciples; Milo, Tiggy, Craney, Gray, Fatpants, Kenners, Mac, Croker and an dodgy looking chinaman named Taz.

And these mighty men did battle hard, singing hymns of love unto the prophetess Emily, and did provide much ball to the glory of God. And they were inspired by the oldest amongst them, an ancient man whose years span eight and fifty, and Maynard is his name. And he is an miracle. And he also played the day before, despite his crumbling form, for the seconds. And he is an hero of the vets. 

And lo! A giant then appereath from amongst them, Andrew by name, of the tribe of the Northern of Irish, who smashed the heathen aside to put the first points on the scoreboard. And then did a fishy prophet of the Lord, one Bob-eye Jee, kick the conversion. And the Lord was mighty pleased. 

And the whistle bleweth again and the men of Tunbridge returned to battle. And lo! A pretty angel did appear in the backs, sent by God, and his face was brilliant white and his buttocks rounded and firm. And he did score an brilliant try by using a dummy, scissors and pop. And Beamooooo was his name. And Bob-eye Jee did converteth again and the men rejoiced heartily…for it was now 14-0. 

And Beamoooo was joined amongst the angel host by other fair beings of smooth face and effeminate nature. And their names were Hacker, Daley, Webster, Wratton, Derbyshire, and Hughes. And an angel that was fallen stood amongst them, an demonic and evil being, whose leg was deformed. And Riggers was his name. And he was an horrid abomination before the Lord. And the men of God turned their faces from him. And none would speak of him. 

At his command the enemy rallied and the heathen respondeth with an glorious try- straight from the kick off- the ball sailing into the hands of a winger to frustrate the will of the Lord. But the men of Tunbridge were not afraid for a midget did then rise up from amongst them. And the midget did score an third try. And the people of God asketh him to stand before them. And Milo was his name. And the Bob-eye Jee did kick once more and the Lord was mighty pleased. 

But lo! What awful play is this? An calamitous and embarrassing knock on from an hairy and brutish man, Mac, whose anger spilleth over and who did provide for the heathen many penalties with his loutish play and angry visage. But the problems were overcometh when a soldier of the Lord, fleet of foot, did outsmart the enemy on the flanks. And Wratton was his name. But the try was not given for an monstrously foolish and ignorant man, named Croker, did raise his flag and call for a line out. But the soldier of the Lord was not dismayed and scoreth again and this time it stood. And the Bob-eye Jee kicketh but this time the ball striketh the post and the Lord was displeased. And Riggers did laugh for he is evil. 

Now there stood on the field an crippled man whose arm the Lord had healed; an copper man, strong of back but wonky of eye. And he did stand behind the pack to play scrum half for his healing was so recent. And Tiggy was his name. And he did try a fancy boxed kick and verily did make himself look like an arse. And riggers did laugh at his misfortune, for he is a vile and evil being, and wants to return at 9. 

And there was on that field of play also an greedy man who did run mazily through the heathen hoard to score under the post in the second half. And Charlie Hacker was his name. And he did convert his own try for the fishy prophet, Bob-eye Jee, was taking a breather. And the Tiggy also scoreth an try and the Hacker kicketh that also. 

And behold! The Bob-eye Jee did return to battle and was tackled naughtily by heathen swine. And the fury of the Lord possessed him and he did breathe mightily through is nose, red of face and awful stroppy. And he did smash his opposite man and whinge a plenty. And the heathen laughed at him and scored another try in return. 

And the battle drew to a close and the Lord proclaimed his delight in them all. And the men of Tunbridge did stay for a beer and also won the drink off. And then did they travel to the home of the fishy prophet, Bob-eye Je, for a festival of sausage cooked on a brazier of silver. And the men enjoyed their ‘bit of sausage’ and danced into the night. And two disciples of the Lord, Tiggy and Laurence, did attempt to entertain them all with gripping tales of a constabulary nature which sent them all to sleep.

And the Lord looked down on the mighty vets that day and saw that they were good. And he proclaimed this a year of jubilee and commanded them to go forth into the world of Kent and claim a cup of finest gold…the season has begun. 

Here endeth the lesson.