BRIGHTON & HOVE SEA SERPENTS 5 - 22 BERKSHIRE UNICORNS HADRIAN'S CUP - POOL A 7th March 2020

The Unicorns got to face their friends from last competition the Brighton and Hove Sea Serpents and were hoping for a similar result to that match after a disappointing pool opener. The Serpents are a big side up front and while this delights some members of our team off the field, on the field it usually leaves us at a disadvantage as we are not a big team. Having watched the opening match between the Serpents and the Typhoons the Unicorns spotted a number of opportunities to exploit and hope that they would be enough to secure victory. The post Tritons team talk seemed to have worked and the Unicorns entered the fray strong and determined playing a number of phases to get the ball to our wings, but great defensive cover from the Serpents meant that we were denied. Our first try would come from a back worthy run from Prop Richard Dunn who gleefully steamed down the 5m channel to the corner making a conversion all but impossible, despite wind assistance (though it was noticeably closer than the other attempts so far). Strong defence by the Serpents saw little progress made for some time but just before half time Centre Marcos Cerqueira broke through the line and sailed to the posts bagging a try and the Unicorns first conversion by his golden cankle boot. He would have made it two after a tremendously sneaky kick from Darren Chester saw the ball bounce to the line but a clumsy fumble and unwillingness to dive, driven by waterboy Chris Freeman's antics last year, resulted in a knock on. Marcos swears he was offside so could not have scored anyway but neither the referee or Captain agreed so Dick of the Tournament is almost assured for such a heinous crime!

Half time score 12-0 to the Unicorns.

Driven by a hunger for the Golden Unicorns and a cheeky smile, Prop Richard Dunn again impressed with another half field run down the outside early in the second half that saw his second of the game, but a singular unwillingness to walk across to the posts meant another edge of field drop kick which was left to Richard to attempt out of sheer bloody mindedness (the attempt was thankfully missed lest we never hear the end of it). After a lot of midfield play the opportunity came for another run down the outside but it was not to be. Some would say this was because Fly Half John Kelly copied Marcos and knocked on, others might say a poor pass from Jon Rooke to empty space meant the ball was never in a playable position. So much mud in the water means there can be no clear answer but the result was Darren did not get to run and ultimately play went in the Serpents favour. This they exploited to the fullest and aided by the wind attempted a superb kick that was unfortunately intercepted at the line by Fly Half John Kelly, resulting in a 22 drop out. The Serpents need not have worried at being thwarted as old iron boots kick went the opposite direction he wanted straight into the arms of the Serpents wily young winger who took the opportunity to score under the posts. Unlike the Unicorns the Serpents boot proved more capable and converted the try. The last play of the game gave Winger Darren Chester the try he craved and some lovely phased play saw him score the try close to the posts but sadly dropped short on the conversion. Victory for the Unicorns but one which could have gone either way at several junctures.

Unicorns coach and 1st XV Captain John Kelly was happier that the team had got into their groove, but still concerned by the complacency that being ahead gives us. He commented "After throwing away the last match we stepped up our game and the team proved to me that they are hungry to compete the cup. We are still relying on a lot of XV's tactics but are fortunate that others are equally guilty. It is always a pleasure playing the Serpents and we owed them a great game after the help they gave us last cup and that we did. The game could easily have gone the other way and the score does not reflect how evenly matched it was. In the end our pace in the backs (and forward) proved pivotal. We have some work to do in our next game, which because of the Barbarians team withdrawing will be our last pool fixture and we have to win if we have a chance to get to the Semi Final."

Match 3 will see us face the Lancashire Typhoons RUFC.