The Home Team welcome back a few senior players from injury or unavailability, with Reilly Franklin Talbot, Dan Jones & Paul Marshall certainly adding some bulk to the Home pack.
Reigatian started well and looked competitive; however, this had been the story against league leaders Beckenham last week. Then, following a kick ahead, Battersea’s ran the ball back through their Ex Harlequin’s Winger Amir Sultan, who gained great ground and scored an impressive individual try. With the conversion in front of the posts, the away kicker was slightly casual and great work from Tom Woodford, who charged the kick down. 0-5.
Next up, the other Battersea Winger showed whatever his team mate could do when he made a great break from inside his own half, and again OR’s found themselves two scores down from breakaway tries and having most of the field position.
With 30 minutes on the clock, the home side produced some great rugby, and Tom Woodford, playing at inside centre, a change from his normal fullback, showed good pace to score the Home side’s first points. Ben Holder kicked the conversion 7-10.
However, just on the stroke of halftime again from a strong attacking position for the Reigate team, Battersea broke clear and with their speedy Wingers they again ran the length of the field to score, giving a half-time score of 7-17.
With only three minutes into the second half, OR’s Captain Tom Allen scored a great try to close the gap to 14-17 with another Holder conversion.
Sadly, two minutes later, a loose pass was intercepted by a Battersea player, and he ran in 70 meters to score 14-27.
The home side showed massive commitment and heart to not give up but dig deep and once again come back at the visitors. Firstly, it was the Captain again who scored another converted try, 21-27. Still with 15 minutes on the clock, Reigatian pushed again and once again Tom Woodford scored in the corner 26-27. The kick was too wide, and as much as the Home team pushed for that first win of the season, unfortunately, they could not add to their score before the final whistle. This was a massive improvement and something the team can take great confidence forward as they start to play against some teams in the lower half of the league. First a tough away trip to Horsham next Saturday, before Canterbury 2XV, who themselves are looking for their first W.
Old Reigatian 1st XV
1. Val Garrec 2. Ciaran Nestor 3. Ciaran Lee 4. Reilly Franklin Talbot 5. Dan Grant 6. Paul Marshall 7. David Niven 8. Dan Jones 9. Max Nicol 10. Ben Holder 11. Finn Coyle 12. Tom Woodford 13. Tom Allen © 14. Harrison Mitchell 15. Dom Flynn. 16. Seth Saunders 17. Adam Mendoza 18. Will Parker
