REPORT: Esher Expendables 15 – 7 Ealing Evergreens 20th March

Definitely one we let slip…. we started slowly on Saturday and by the time we decided to get involved in a game of rugby after 10 minutes we had conceded two tries, the second of which was a real sickener.  But then we pretty much controlled the game for the next 45 minutes (we only played 60 mins so we could get to the bar and watch Ireland throw away a Triple Crown)

Definitely one we let slip…. we started slowly on Saturday and by the time we decided to get involved in a game of rugby after 10 minutes we had conceded two tries, the second of which was a real sickener. But then we pretty much controlled the game for the next 45 minutes (we only played 60 mins so we could get to the bar and watch Ireland throw away a Triple Crown).

We dominated scrums apart from the odd lapse in concentration and disrupted their lineout. We had plenty of ball and made some decent breaks with even big Jon Harrison cutting a line through their centres at one stage but we just didn’t support the runners enough.  Dave “The Chairman” Steene cut a swathe through the Esher defence in the first half, side-stepping like Jeremy Guscott before showing the  strength and power to score our solitary try converted by Andy Cleary.  Esher scored with the final movement of the game with a decent driving maul that we really didn’t defend well. 

Not many other notable events in a game which was pretty evenly matched with plenty of huff and puff but no real inspiration. 

The referee, God bless his efforts, seemed to decide that we could just work things out at the breakdown by ourselves.  When he finally made a decision, it often took several iterations before he hit on a suitable offence and remedy e.g. “Green knock-on, green scrum” when we pointed out that this didn’t make sense, he said “sorry, red knock-on, red scrum” ahem, that doesn’t work either “Oh sorry, I meant the first one” OK, whatever…. Later he signalled a penalty to Esher but said Ealing and when Esher tapped the penalty he called them back for a scrum on the grounds that he had made an error and the game should restart with a scrum!  Surreal.

Really disappointing to lose it after all the hassle of getting there, I think everyone got stuck in traffic somewhere along the way but we played with good spirit and ability once we woke up.

Big thanks again to all those who came along and made the long journey to Esher on an International weekend. That’s what its all supposed to be about! Number one rule of Vets rugby is fulfil the fixture…

We have a big one this weekend at home against Barnes. This, like the Richmond fixture, is another one where we need to set things right and no reason we can’t if we get our regular team out. So lets put the weekends disappointments behind us (including England and Ireland losing) and look to put out a decent squad for our 2nd last league game. This is actually our last home game as the Rosslyn Park game at the end of April is away.

This time I will definitely bring the camera for a few photos and maybe a team photo if we have most of our usual squad.

Scores:

Ealing Evergreens: 7

Tries: Steene

Cons: Cleary

Esher Expendables: 15

Tries: 3