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1st XV - Report
Date: Saturday 21st April 2012 - Kick Off: 15:00
South West Division - South West 1 East
| Marlow | 20 | vs | 0 | Coney Hill |
Marlow is resolute and shuts out Coney Hill in the final fixture of the season (Marlow 20 – 0 Coney Hill)
Tries from Rauchwerger, Martin and Saunders gave Marlow revenge in a sometimes fierce encounter at Riverwoods
Coney Hill travelled to Riverwoods for its first ever visit, arriving in 8th place, 9 points and 5 places behind Marlow. The reverse fixture on the opening day of the season was disappointing for Marlow, with Coney Hill comfortably winning 37 – 7. However, the next week I thought we hadn’t done too badly after all as they thumped Abbey (66 – 0!), before going on to win the first 8 matches, and then 10 out of the first 12. Marlow’s squad showed 7 changes from last week’s game against Witney with prop Richard Townsend, second row Paul Martin, back row forwards Chris Ellis and Ben Phillips, outside half Will Fulton, wing Ben Veitch and full back Steve Pincott returning.
The heavy showers of the morning had relented by the time the game started, and the afternoon was bright with a cold breeze blowing diagonally across the pitch. Marlow kicked off, playing into the breeze, and then robbed Coney Hill on the visitors’ 10m line. No time was wasted and the ball was moved to the left and centre Mike Rauchwerger was away, beating 3 defenders in his run for the line, and scoring an excellent try in the left hand corner to put Marlow ahead by 5 – 0 after only a minute. A penalty after the restart gave the visitors a lineout 15 metres from Marlow’s line, but second row Paul Martin gave early notice that he would dominate this aspect of play by stealing Coney Hill’s ball – he was later to be gouged in the eye for his troubles.
An exchange of kicks after 7 minutes led to lineout close to Marlow’s 22 and as the ball was moved away there was a huge brawl and Mr Hudson lectured both captains and awarded the hosts a penalty.
Full back Steve Pincott managed to gather a loose pass and a penalty came when he was tackled. The lineout was won and centre Miles Noble charged forward but was stopped 2 metres short of his objective. The visitors got a 5m scrum in front of their posts, but infringed and outside half Will Fulton kicked the penalty to extend his side’s lead to 8 – 0 after 16 minutes. Four minutes later, after the whistle had gone for a penalty, a second series of fights broke out and this time Mr Hudson awarded Coney Hill a penalty for whatever was the original offence and sent two players to the bin, with Noble selected as Marlow’s representative.
The next 15 minutes or so of play was more subdued and was punctuated by penalties as Mr Hudson was understandably reluctant to play advantage because of the earlier violence. Marlow stole Coney Hill’s ball at successive lineouts and following the second one the visitors’ no. 12 got a yellow card. Marlow ran the penalty and flanker Ben Phillips made 25 metres before being hauled down. Coney Hill then achieved its first period of sustained pressure and for once took Marlow’s ball at lineout 20 metres from the try-line. However, Marlow defended solidly and, after two 5m scrums in quick succession, ran the ball from its own line with Pincott breaking clear just as the half time whistle went after 44 minutes.
Marlow knocked on Coney Hill’s restart kick, but came back quickly when Pincott caught Coney Hill’s kick ahead and he, and then no. 8 Harry Rodger, brought Marlow back to half way, but a forward pass ended a promising break. After 48 minutes, it was Rodger’s turn to take the visitor’s ball at the tail of a lineout at halfway and he sprinted to the 22 before passing to Martin, in support on his right, and he scored a fine try in the corner. Fulton’s excellent conversion from the touch line made the score 15 – 0 after 50 minutes and tightened Marlow’s grip on the game.
For the next 10 minutes play moved between the 22m lines, as handling errors and penalties spoiled each side’s momentum. Coney Hill’s discipline remained poor and a 3rd yellow card came after 64 minutes for one of the replacements - who left the field for 10 minutes very soon after coming onto it. After another lineout success on Coney Hill’s throw, scrum half Jon Dawe kicked to touch at the visitors’ 10m line. A knock on gave Marlow a scrum and Dawe broke away and fed Phillips who got into the visitors’ 22. A penalty came and then a further 10 metres for dissent, so Marlow took the 5m scrum. Noble was held up just short of the line, but wing Matt Saunders was on hand and his junking run took him over the line to the left of the posts and made the score 20 – 0 after 74 minutes. Six minutes later Coney Hill’s 4th yellow card came when the left wing went off after abusing the referee – given the nature of his outburst he was fortunate not to see a red one. The game was now well and truly over as a contest and the final whistle came after 84 minutes.
A good performance from all of the Marlow players, who did very well to maintain their discipline and concentration to shut out Coney Hill. Coney Hill was well drilled and effective in last September’ game, but Saturday’s side was not - 4 yellow cards means a team is down to 14 men for half the game, which is a great gift to the opposition. Maidenhead’s bonus point victory at home to Reading Abbey was the decisive result in our league in two respects – it secured the league title and automatic promotion for Maidenhead and condemned Abbey to relegation along with Buckingham and Olney. Salisbury finished second and will play Avonmouth Old Boys (from League SW1 West) next Saturday to decide which Club gets the remaining promotion place.
On behalf of everyone at the Club, I thank both our coaches for their contribution to another successful season. It was Fe’ao Vunipola’s and Daniel Gillespie’s last match at the helm on Saturday - we will miss them and we send to them our good wishes for the future. We will make an announcement very soon about coaching arrangements for next season.
Marlow Team:-
Richard Townsend (Tom Kanchanawat), Conor Mitchell, Mike Davey, Paul Martin (captain), Chris Clarke, Ben Phillips (Chris Ellis), Richard Pyke, Harry Rodger; Jon Dawe, Will Fulton, Ben Veitch, Miles Noble, Mike Rauchwerger (George Harjette), Matt Saunders, Steve Pincott.
Scorers: - Tries: - Rauchwerger, Martin, Saunders. Conversion: - Fulton. Penalty - Fulton
Yellow Card: - Noble
Referee: - Mr Mike Hudson, Buckinghamshire Society
Match Report by Gwyn Stone
Photographs by Paul Kuiken
The heavy showers of the morning had relented by the time the game started, and the afternoon was bright with a cold breeze blowing diagonally across the pitch. Marlow kicked off, playing into the breeze, and then robbed Coney Hill on the visitors’ 10m line. No time was wasted and the ball was moved to the left and centre Mike Rauchwerger was away, beating 3 defenders in his run for the line, and scoring an excellent try in the left hand corner to put Marlow ahead by 5 – 0 after only a minute. A penalty after the restart gave the visitors a lineout 15 metres from Marlow’s line, but second row Paul Martin gave early notice that he would dominate this aspect of play by stealing Coney Hill’s ball – he was later to be gouged in the eye for his troubles.
An exchange of kicks after 7 minutes led to lineout close to Marlow’s 22 and as the ball was moved away there was a huge brawl and Mr Hudson lectured both captains and awarded the hosts a penalty.
Full back Steve Pincott managed to gather a loose pass and a penalty came when he was tackled. The lineout was won and centre Miles Noble charged forward but was stopped 2 metres short of his objective. The visitors got a 5m scrum in front of their posts, but infringed and outside half Will Fulton kicked the penalty to extend his side’s lead to 8 – 0 after 16 minutes. Four minutes later, after the whistle had gone for a penalty, a second series of fights broke out and this time Mr Hudson awarded Coney Hill a penalty for whatever was the original offence and sent two players to the bin, with Noble selected as Marlow’s representative.
The next 15 minutes or so of play was more subdued and was punctuated by penalties as Mr Hudson was understandably reluctant to play advantage because of the earlier violence. Marlow stole Coney Hill’s ball at successive lineouts and following the second one the visitors’ no. 12 got a yellow card. Marlow ran the penalty and flanker Ben Phillips made 25 metres before being hauled down. Coney Hill then achieved its first period of sustained pressure and for once took Marlow’s ball at lineout 20 metres from the try-line. However, Marlow defended solidly and, after two 5m scrums in quick succession, ran the ball from its own line with Pincott breaking clear just as the half time whistle went after 44 minutes.
Marlow knocked on Coney Hill’s restart kick, but came back quickly when Pincott caught Coney Hill’s kick ahead and he, and then no. 8 Harry Rodger, brought Marlow back to half way, but a forward pass ended a promising break. After 48 minutes, it was Rodger’s turn to take the visitor’s ball at the tail of a lineout at halfway and he sprinted to the 22 before passing to Martin, in support on his right, and he scored a fine try in the corner. Fulton’s excellent conversion from the touch line made the score 15 – 0 after 50 minutes and tightened Marlow’s grip on the game.
For the next 10 minutes play moved between the 22m lines, as handling errors and penalties spoiled each side’s momentum. Coney Hill’s discipline remained poor and a 3rd yellow card came after 64 minutes for one of the replacements - who left the field for 10 minutes very soon after coming onto it. After another lineout success on Coney Hill’s throw, scrum half Jon Dawe kicked to touch at the visitors’ 10m line. A knock on gave Marlow a scrum and Dawe broke away and fed Phillips who got into the visitors’ 22. A penalty came and then a further 10 metres for dissent, so Marlow took the 5m scrum. Noble was held up just short of the line, but wing Matt Saunders was on hand and his junking run took him over the line to the left of the posts and made the score 20 – 0 after 74 minutes. Six minutes later Coney Hill’s 4th yellow card came when the left wing went off after abusing the referee – given the nature of his outburst he was fortunate not to see a red one. The game was now well and truly over as a contest and the final whistle came after 84 minutes.
A good performance from all of the Marlow players, who did very well to maintain their discipline and concentration to shut out Coney Hill. Coney Hill was well drilled and effective in last September’ game, but Saturday’s side was not - 4 yellow cards means a team is down to 14 men for half the game, which is a great gift to the opposition. Maidenhead’s bonus point victory at home to Reading Abbey was the decisive result in our league in two respects – it secured the league title and automatic promotion for Maidenhead and condemned Abbey to relegation along with Buckingham and Olney. Salisbury finished second and will play Avonmouth Old Boys (from League SW1 West) next Saturday to decide which Club gets the remaining promotion place.
On behalf of everyone at the Club, I thank both our coaches for their contribution to another successful season. It was Fe’ao Vunipola’s and Daniel Gillespie’s last match at the helm on Saturday - we will miss them and we send to them our good wishes for the future. We will make an announcement very soon about coaching arrangements for next season.
Marlow Team:-
Richard Townsend (Tom Kanchanawat), Conor Mitchell, Mike Davey, Paul Martin (captain), Chris Clarke, Ben Phillips (Chris Ellis), Richard Pyke, Harry Rodger; Jon Dawe, Will Fulton, Ben Veitch, Miles Noble, Mike Rauchwerger (George Harjette), Matt Saunders, Steve Pincott.
Scorers: - Tries: - Rauchwerger, Martin, Saunders. Conversion: - Fulton. Penalty - Fulton
Yellow Card: - Noble
Referee: - Mr Mike Hudson, Buckinghamshire Society
Match Report by Gwyn Stone
Photographs by Paul Kuiken
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