Unicorns wow home crowd with decisive victory

BERKSHIRE UNICORNS 79 - 5 WESTCOUNTRY WASPS IGR UK SOUTHERN LEAGUE 16th November 2019

After a disappointing start to our league campaign the Unicorn's were keen to find our feet and improve upon that performance. We approached the game with great expectations knowing that our rugby brothers the Westcountry Wasps are a similar level to us as a team being just one year old. After a similar performance against the Vikings that the Unicorns produced against the Lions our expectation was a hard fought battle and our tactics to starve the opposition of ball. The Unicorns had the home advantage for this battle of the debutants and the team was keen to impress the assembled friends and family and our gracious hosts Maidenhead RFC. For this first home match we were gifted with the opportunity to play on the Maidenhead 1st XV 4G pitch and conditions could not have been more perfect for an afternoon of rugby being cool, dry and sunny. Our visitors long journey time did not give us much opportunity to size up the opposition before the game started but for once we used this extra time to our advantage in tidying up our set pieces. With what looked like a fairly even match up in the forwards and backs the scene was set for an interesting game.

The game started in the Unicorns favour after an impressive break away run by Scrum Half Sam Clarkson saw the Unicorns score under the posts which was ably converted by Rob Wilkins after just 1 minute 12 seconds (Sam had obviously been taking his cue from the national side in the World Cup). Not content with one debut try Sam Clarkson ran in another just 5 minutes later. After a couple of strong scrums the Unicorns managed to lose the ball from the back to the Wasps scrum half, who ably offloaded to centre Jay Smith who ran in an impressive half pitch try, despite the efforts of the Unicorns back three in chasing. Shook from our complacency the Unicorns sought to take back the initiative and play our rugby again with that patience rewarded with a strong run from Inside Centre Andrew Jones who scored between the posts in the 17th minute. Again Rob Wilkins golden boot ensured the conversion. After 6 months of training it Coach John Kellys dream came true when a textbook execution of the Unicorn Ball by John Hamp and Richard Dunn saw the former run over the line to score the Unicorns bonus point try in the 24th minute. 7 minutes later Sam Clarkson with another ballerina worthy set of twists and turns found the line break to score his hat trick try and self converted. After a half of many assists and able runs Winger and Chairman Darren Chester's patience was rewarded with a clean pass and a step that had him score in the corner. The Unicorns had dominated the half by executing our game plan perfectly and starving the Wasps of the ball giving them no free opportunities to run at us and test our defence.

Half time score 36-5 to the Unicorns.

The second half started much like the first half with a well placed Cross Field Kick that found Winger Steve Tyler who was quickly swamped by the Wasps defence, however under Unicorn challenge a penalty was conceded. Never one to miss an opportunity of a short run our big boy Andy Rajakrishnen crossed the short distance to the line to score in the 43rd minute. This was followed up by a well executed use of space and overlap to send Charlie Fidler over for his second Unicorn try and establish his record of scoring in each Unicorn fixture. After a series of impressive chip kicks that saw the Unicorns gain enormous ground Number 8 Richard Dunn walked in his debut try in the 54th minute.

Unfortunately with a comfortable lead the Unicorns fell into the type of complacency that has punished many a side and forced us on the defensive with a number of opportunities that the Wasps were unlucky not to execute but acted as the kick up the backside that we needed. Speaking of kicks Tom Maclean who replaced the golden boot of Rob Wilkins at Fly Half after a calf injury forced him off decided to channel his inner Jackie Chan and try all manner of kick chases. One perfectly executed kick had him sail across the line and self convert in minute 61. This was quickly followed up by an impressive half pitch run by Winger Joshua Paul in the 63rd minute which Tom Maclean ably converted. After many close calls during the match Winger Steve Tyler finally received the ball in space and went on his signature run to the corner, but in typical fashion was not quite satisfied with that and chose to test the resilience of Captain John Kelly's heart as well as others by running the dead ball area close to the line and touching down under the posts, giving Tom Maclean an easy conversion in the 71st minute.

With the game in the closing stages the Unicorns again went into relaxed mode and again were very lucky not to be punished by a resurgent Wasps attack. After winning an earlier penalty and getting it turned over by mouthing to the referee Hamish Kebbell redeemed himself by running in the Unicorns final try at the 76th minute which despite a questionable celebration dance, Tom Maclean was able to convert.

The Unicorn's had dominated the match from start to finish and the difference between Cardiff and this game was light years apart. Execution of the game plan, decent handling, precision kicking and starving the Wasps of the ball had resulted in the game going the way we had hoped.

Unicorns coach and 1st XV Captain John Kelly was characteristically ambivalent at the side's performance, again feeling great pride for the effort put in on the pitch by all concerned, yet disappointed that the game discipline broke down by complacency, however he managed a slight smile at winning the Unicorns first home fixture. He commented "After Cardiff, I was tremendously disappointed at the result as I knew that we were much better than the result and the lads owed it to themselves to show that. Home games are always a different affair and usually means one steps up their play to impress friends and family. The Wasps game was one that I felt we had to do well in as the side are at a similar stage of development to us and the fellow newcomers in the league. All credit to the Wasps they had a long journey and were on the receiving end of a drumming score wise, but they never gave up and put in a full and hard shift and I am certain that we will all see great things from them as the season goes on and the team come together. They were very unlucky not to exploit the opportunities we gifted them and on another day that gap would have been much narrower. It is an old rugby trope that you cannot score without the ball and in that sense the Unicorns were ruthless in making sure we kept a hold of it denying any opportunity to be tested in defence. Although there were a lot of positives from this game, not least the perfect execution of the Unicorn Ball that I have drilled into the team, there are areas we will need to tidy up before we return to Wales and face the Vikings."

"For me, there were some stand out performances that are gratifying to see as a coach particularly from Sam Clarkson, Peter Howe, Andrew Jones and Marcos Cerqueira who owned their positions this match. Along with the same passion and energy from John Hamp and Richard Dunn that worked well in Cardiff it made for a positive set of developments that will set us up well for the future."

"I want to thank the Wasps for a great game played with great passion, discipline and energy and wish them success with their remaining IGR UK Southern League fixtures. We look forward to our visit to the Westcountry and all the hospitality that entails with a great bunch of lads and their supporters."

A standout debut performance from Sam Clarkson saw him nominated for Players Man of the Match, whilst Captains Man of the Match was shared between Marcos Cerqueira and Peter Howe. Special mention to our Irish sweetheart Brian Brady for lending his talents to the Wasps as prop (not his natural or preferred position) to ensure we could run a contested scrum and to keep us honest by giving us grief on the field. Thanks also to the Kings Cross Steelers who stepped up to help out the Wasps - this is what IGR brotherhood is all about!

The Wasps held their own during the post match drinking competition on Saturday night and we happily consider it a draw! We would like to thank the Staff and Venues of Off The Tap and Smokey's Maidenhead for an awesome post match social. Our thanks as ever also go to our lovely hosts Maidenhead RFC for our post match food and refreshments. With the second of our league fixtures fulfilled the blessing will start their preparation for our return to Wales to face the Swansea Vikings in December.