On a very hot and sunny afternoon both teams took a while to find their feet but on 17 minutes the ball was kept alive with some great handling from the home side and eventually found Tom Allen wide out on the left wing for a simple finish claim the first try of this season. Young Conor Woods kicked the conversion from the touchline. 7-0.
After twenty minutes Sidcup cleared their 22 with a kcik to touch. Tom Woodford and Max Coyle combined to take a quick line out. Coyle moved play back into Sidcup’s half combining with Woods play approached the 22 then with quick ball won the ball was moved quickly across the pitch where Winger Harrison Mitchell showed his strength to break two tackles and score under the posts. Conversion from Woods 14-0.
Again a Sidcup clearance kick found Coyle who ran the ball back into Sidcup’s half the ball was moved to the right Wing where Mitchell again made some ground quick ball coming back across the pitch was carried over the gain line by Captain Reilly Franklin – Talbot with one of his characteristic runs the ball was kept alive moved to Wing where Godwin drew the last defender to pass back inside for Tom Woodford to add a third try. Again Woods added the extra points from the touchline. 21 – 0.
Sidcup not really reading that it was not a great idea to kick the ball to Max Coyle, again box kicked from inside their own half to find Coyle just outside his 22. Max ran the ball back linking with Graeth Stephens and Mitchell again he made god ground down the right wing, Passing back inside to scrum half Alex Skinner who with one defender to beat he found the Hooker and Birthday Boy Ciaran Nestor in support for the bonus point try before half time. With the conversion infront of the post Woods added the extras. Half Time score 28 – 0.
Second Half lacked the tempo of the first half which isn’t surprising considering the weather and the first game of the season. Sidcup’s larger pack seemed to win the lions share of the ball but failed to take any real advantage from this.
It was until the twentieth minute while OR’s where inside there own half Conor Woods again stepped inside and beat three defenders once he was over the half way line he put a kick ahead which gave Gareth Stephens and Tom Allen a foot race after the ball Stephens managed to get to the ball to stop Sidcup regathering it and Allen picked up and claimed his second of the day. For once Woods was unsuccessful with the kick 33 – 0.
Sidcup kept playing and managed a try of the own right at the end of the game.
A convincing start to the season and 5 out of 5 points. Next week is an away trip to London Cornish who lost to Beckenham Saturday. It will take a number of weeks for the league to take its shape but Old Reigatian will be happy with that start.
Final Score: ORRFC 33 v 7 Sidcup
Man of the Match: Conor Woods (Pictured)
Team: 1. Ciaran Lee, 2.Ciaran Nestor, 3. Toby Collister, 4. Reilly Franklin-Talbot ©, 5.Dan Grant, 6. Will Godwin, 7. Oli Brooks, 8. Dan Jones, 9. Alex Skinner, 10. Conor Woods, 11. Harrison Mitchell, 12. Tom Allen, 13. Gareth Stephens, 14. Tom Woodford, 15. Max Coyle. 16. Ethan Monk, 17. Harry Plowman, 18. Joe Wills.
