Southwark Rugby

Southwark Tigers U14s claimed an historic victory last Sunday in their first ever competitive match at junior level against Old Alleynians in Dulwich.

This was a top of the table clash which saw the Tigers outscore their hosts by six tries to three and with the reliable golden boots of Morgan Timpolo slotting the conversions from all over the pitch the Tigers looked in great form. It was in fact Timpolo who led from the front as the Tigers tore into the opposition, the Tigers pack are blessed with a number of good ball carriers in Aaron Whiteford and Matthew Martinez and it only took 3 minutes to register their first score, a try for Timpolo. Ieuan Jones, playing his first game at scrum half, kept the tempo of the game high choosing to run the ball at every opportunity and this tactic reaped it’s rewards with three further first half tries, one for outstanding Number 8 Martinez and two for Tigers top scorer this season, Silas Paul Johnson.

However Old Alleynians refused to lie down and scored a try in injury time in the first half to give them a glimmer of a chance. It was in fact the hosts who then began the 2nd half the more lively team and scored soon after the restart.

But you can’t keep a good Tiger down for long and 5 minutes later Johnson scored his hat-trick try and the Tiger’s 5th, with some great support from the touchlines now their tails were truly up. With half-backs Jones and Avuya Mini becoming increasingly influential it was Mini who scored the Tiger’s 6th try, a superb try created by a flowing move with backs and forwards handling the ball until Mini took a lovely pass on the Old Alleynian 22 and with a step and a dummy Barry John would have been proud of, he scored under the posts to round off a great victory that keeps the Tigers in contention for this years title.

It was a great team performance and a mention must go to Tino Gaskin who twice was unfortunate to lose control of the ball with the line at his mercy, Ashley Harvey for a thundering tackle in the first half that set the tone for the Tiger’s defensive effort and a special mention to man of the match Romari Doswell for his tireless support and creativity at open-side flank.