Uxbridge pack dominance basis for win over West London

In abject weather conditions, Uxbridge grind out a win on the road at West London

Uxbridge made the short trip to Greenford to take on a West London side looking to get their season back on track. After a 19-19 draw in the reverse fixture in October and the recent progress made, Uxbridge went into the game looking to put the disappointment of last week’s loss behind them.

The game began with a minutes silence to club stalwart Henry Brydges who sadly passed away this week following 60 years association with Uxbridge RFC. All the players and coaches would like to pass on our condolences to Henry’s family.

The game kicked off and the visitors had to endure 15 minutes of solid pressure on their line as they tried to get a foothold in the game. Crunching hits from Sam Dillamore, Nick Guy and skipper Jake Lamport kept West London at bay, and the score at zero.

Uxbridge were finding real joy up front with a front five weighing a combined 100 stone rolling the West London scrum back and stealing the ball on the home sides put in.

Uxbridge then subjected the West London line to some severe pressure and after strong carries from Steve Partridge and man-of-the-match Wes Spiller, the referee awarded a penalty try for repeated infringements.

As the half wore on tempers flared and West London saw a man sent off and were reduced to 14 and mistakes began to creep in.

Half-time came at the right moment as it provided an opportunity to calm down and assess were improvement was needed. Coach Ron Matthews gave his frank assessment of the game so far and the team went out in the second half looking to act upon his words.

Playing slightly down the hill, fly-half Guy was on the money with his kicking to the corners and pinning West London back. After strong line-out work from Cliff De Jager who was up like a salmon for every ball, the referee awarded a penalty for killing the ball, which Lamport opted for the scrum and Sam Dillamore dotted the ball down following a drive over from the pack. The following conversion was missed.

The game continued in a scrappy fashion and despite good work from both backs and forwards, Uxbridge found the West London defence to be firm and unable to make any real in roads. West London opened their account with a penalty to take the score to 12-3 Centres Sean McAndrew and Simon Batts were both running hard and making the yards as Uxbridge looked for their third score.

It eventually came with a carbon copy of the second try with the pack using their weight advantage to drive over the line from close range and Dillamore to fall on the ball. Sadly the conversion was missed.

With tired and weary bodies across both sides, neither side seemed to string together long phases of possession, and following what looked like a serious injury to a West London player (the club wish him well), Uxbridge were able to close out the game, but sadly not claim the bonus point. Final score West London RFC-3 Uxbridge RFC-17

Uxbridge’s next game is on Wednesday 7 February against Pinner in the Floodlight Cup (Kick-off- 19:30) with no games scheduled for next weekend (February 10).