Nov 16

Written by: Richard Drage
16/11/2009 15:05

Saturday saw Reigate RFC play their fourth league game of the season with visitors, Economicals, making the journey down from New Malden in torrential rain. Despite the distance the opposition had to travel it was the home team who were impacted most by the downpour with skipper, James Blashfield, unable to get to the game before kick-off due to weather-affected travel disruption whilst fly-half, Chris Harrison, aggravated a hamstring in the warm-up.

The game started very evenly with both sides competing well in both the set-pieces and loose play. The swirling wind at Reigate's Colley Lane ground meant that neither side were able to take sole advantage of the conditions and helped ensure that territory and possession were shared between the two competing teams. The first-half saw little in the way of out-and-out opportunities to score, but Economicals were the first to break the deadlock when the visiting full-back converted a penalty to take them to a 3-0 lead. Some intelligent kicking from stand-in fly-half, Chris Perry, and full-back, Simon King, regularly turned the Economicals back-line and some consistent recycling of the ball saw centre Matt Sanford given the opportunity to break for the line only to be held inches short. Despite missing the try-scoring opportunity, Reigate were awarded a penalty shortly before the end of the half which would have been fair reward for their industrious play, however the wind got the better of place-kicker, Perry, and saw the half end with the visitors maintaining their narrow advantage.

The second half was as even as the first, with both sides enjoying prolonged spells in opposition territory. The enterprise shown by both teams belied the concerns held by supporters before the game that the wet and windy conditions would prevent an open game of rugby. Opportunities were created, but missed, by both teams with some regularity, poor last passes being a more common culprit than the rain-soaked conditions. It was the visitors who were to score first in the second half when the ball squirmed uncontrollably from the back of a ruck in the Reigate 22. With Reigate's scrum-half, Rick Drage, at the bottom of the ruck, the first person to react to the loose ball was the Economicals flanker who was able to pounce upon the ball with suspicious speed, his journey to the line progressing virtually unopposed thereafter, the conversion being missed.

The game continued in much the same manner with both sides looking occasionally dangerous but failing to convert their chances until a speculative kick by the visitors saw Reigate full-back, King, pinned in his 22 with little support. Opting to kick, his clearance was miscued and failed to make touch, reaching only the Economicals winger who was only a short sprint from the kicker. Well supported by his centre, he was able to draw his man and pass to his team-mate who extended the lead yet further, the conversion again being missed. A penalty for the visitors saw the lead extend to 18-0 with a quarter of an hour remaining, a scoreline which flattered Economicals.

With time running out, Reigate looked to distribute the ball from all parts of the field and, having secured possession deep in their 22 the ball was distributed quickly to skipper, Blashfield, who did well to offload out of the tackle and set-up a two-on-one for Reigate, albeit still in the Reigate half. Drage passed to winger, Alexander, who was able to outpace the cover to score a deserved consolation try for the home side. The conversion was missed leaving the final score 18-5 to the visitors, having ended Reigate's unbeaten start to their Surrey 4 campaign. Reigate will nevertheless take a number of positives from the game, in particular the return from injury of prop, Scott Williams, and the superb all-action performance from the home team's man-of-the-match, Fred Stuart. Further commendation must go to an excellent referee and the Reigate Chairman of House & Grounds, Dave Smith, who both contributed to a good game of rugby in their own way.

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