Nov 14

Written by: Richard Drage
14/11/2011 14:49

6 games into the season and Reigate has found itself caught in a four horse race for promotion this year. Four teams are within 8 points of each other and teams are starting to rely heavily on their depth and conditioning of players.

With a weekend off last week and a narrow controversial loss to league leaders Guildfordians on an unforgiving field, decent only really for downhill skiing. Reigate were itching to even the score and finally play some open running rugby.
The visitors renowned for their big powerful forwards started the game inside Reigate’s half with some emphatic one off runs. After just seven minutes some direct cross field kicking left Lightwater trapped 5 meters out from their own line. Scrum half Dave Perrow made the most of the situation which saw him crashing over the try line after the defence struggled to re-group and mark up against some strong forward play.
Again the forwards rumbled it up the field with skilful kicking from both left foot and right foot options Simon King and Stuart Adams to carve off decent yards for speedsters James Bonny and Nick Glanville.
Two quick tries fell in short concessions with some luck to new promising flanker young Matthew Weatherly & Veteran play maker Tom Berry stepping up and beyond all expectations.

HT – REIGATE 21 – LIGHTWATER 0

It was the jobs of new Australian Nicholas Davidson and captain Lyndon Kinsley to settle the troops at half time. It was brought to their attention that this was vast becoming a show of individualism showmanship rather than a team sport. As Nicholas stated if we were to play a top four team like this then we could of well been on the receiving end of a loss. Lightwater are a proud team and their half time talk proved just that. They came out firing scoring a well deserved drive over which saw them gain the upper hand in dominance. Not to be out classed Reigate started plucking away at where Lightwater thought they were strongest. Reigate turned 6 scrums and won 4 lineout’s against the throw. Just as Guildfordians & Met Police had found out was that size didn’t matter with now regular pocket rocket muscle Wesley Parker & Russell Gould punching well above their weights. New comer and Ex flanker Dominic Straker stepped straight into the vacant hooker position to relieve a dynamic Jan Ackhurst who has returned to South Africa with personal issues. Dominic plays allot like Jan so for Reigate it was business as usual.
With a re-grouping of the team Reigate was able to run in three additional tries two from some skilful backplay from every improving and impressive centre Andrew turner and aging mastermind Simon King. Both had impressive games and showed strength and determination crossing the try line with strong running.
Try of the game however came in the form of young Winger James Bonny. From the 40 meter line Stuart Adams popped an inside ball to Bonny who was at full flight. With share speed and foot work James was able to step both the fly half and stood the fullback up scoring right underneath the uprights.
James bonny also added 10 points off the boot giving him a solo haul of 15 points and a season total of 57 points from just 6 games.

FT – REIGATE 45 – LIGHTWATER 5
A Turner, T Berry, S King, M Weatherly, J Bonny, S Adams, D Perrow
J Bonny - 5 from 7 con

I was happy with the result and at times we showed good structure. Again it’s just the little things that we do wrong that has and can cost us in games that will mean allot. I believe through the hard work that we have done and from what we have put together this season we can get promoted. It’s really up to the boys if the decisions that they make on the field is in the best interest for the team or their own personal gain. Two weeks is a long time in rugby and without a game last weekend the team looked rusty. Through silly errors we missed out costing the Mighty Blues five additional tries that could have so easily been scored in the 1st half alone.
We really need to learn from these easier games and put in place finals like scenarios.

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