Feb 5

Written by: Richard Drage
05/02/2010 11:02

Towards the end of last year Reigate looked as though they had blown any chances of a top two league position, with losses to Guildfordians, Economicals and Glynonians, the top three sides. Reigate currently occupy a rather mediocre mid table position, poor remuneration for the effort applied by the squad for the first half of this year's campaign and it seemed that the team had lost control of their destiny in this league. Some optimism returned when Woking surprised Guildfordians at the end of last year and in the process lifted Reigate back into the running with three of the top four teams teams suffering three losses.

Glynonians currently hold the league-leaders position with 18 points and a single loss and whilst Reigate need Glynonians to lose at least once more to leave them with a chance of winning the league outright, there seems to be a strong chance that this could happen. Reigate for their part will need to maintain a 100% record for the rest of the games this season, and increase their scoring rate to remain in contention, but after this week's performance, nothing is likely to diminish Reigate's growing self-belief.

With most of the Reigate team finding the first challenge, that of getting to the Woking ground (which is in fact situated in Byfleet) nearly insurmountable, a positive result following several weeks of inactivity seemed to be unlikely. With last -minute cry offs; an initial strong team on paper arrived at Byfleet looking a little vulnerable. These initial fears were quickly dispelled as Reigate took control of the game from the outset. The set pieces worked well and a patched up back line gelled well to continually terrorise the Woking defence. Whilst Reigate clearly had a lot to offer in the wide spaces, the Woking team, when in possession, hammered around the fringes to try to batter Reigate's close defence into submission.

Not only were these attacks repelled by a well organised defensive performance across the board, but in leaking only three points during the game, and those coming in the early stages of the game, Reigate found suitable reward for a much more disciplined defensive display. Whilst Reigate scored two well worked tries in the first half, the concern amongst the players and supporters alike will be the number of points that went begging, as a number of attacks went desperately close, so close in fact that Reigate crossed the line on a number of times only to fail to ground the ball. These scores may be telling come the end of the season but for now Reigate will be satisfied with the creativity that saw the opportunities arise.

It would be fair to say that Woking's only real opportunities to score came following a 2nd half indiscretion by the Reigate front row, resulting in the side being reduced to 14 men. This was compounded by the double replacement of both 2nd rows due to injury. For a period Reigate had to scramble to defend, the shape went from the game and for a short spell Woking sensed a chance to cross the visitor’s line. Having held out for the ten minutes, Reigate regrouped and finished with two penalties and wrapped up the game with well worked try. Man of the match was Andrew Turner who turned in possibly his best performance of the season at openside, linking well and leading the defence.

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