Cotham Park 17 - 23 St Brendan's Old Boys

Fortress Failand faltered on Saturday at bitter local rivals St. Brendans Old Boys arrived to spoil Cotham’s fine run of form at home.

1. Joyce Williams
2. Johnny Saunders
3. Rob Clubfoot
4. Kiwi Glass Knees
5. Victor
6. Marcus
7. James “Pete Ashby” Sage
8. Johnny A

9. Mr. Jimmy
10. Matt Ace
11. CJ
12. Lozza
13. Ben Higham
14. Elliot
15. Gaz

16. Ginna
17. Olly Squire
18. Jon Cresswell
19. Matt Smith

Cotham’s up-down season showed no sign of letting up as a poor performance allowed the visitors an unlikely victory. Recent results against the Saints have gone Cotham’s way. Completing the double over them last season was followed up with a comprehensive victory in the Ashley Down Tournament in pre-season. But Brendans were in no mood to shy away in a brutal encounter in the autumn sunshine.

The home side’s warm up was muted; an odd air of nonchalance about the boys as we went through the motions before kick-off. And when the time came, the visitors instantly got themselves on the score sheet with a penalty courtesy of a certain over-excited centre (no names, but he squeals and his name rhymes with Ben Shmyam). Not to worry though, as the instant 3-pointer was countered with 7 for Cotham. Marcus, putting his name in the frame for a shot at the flyhalf shirt, stroking a perfectly weighted chip over the top of the blindside defence for number 10 Matt Ace to run on to and trot over for the score, including a rather audacious hand-off in the in-gaol area to ensure Jimmy got the easiest possible. 7 – 3.

For the next 40 minutes we hardly saw the ball. Saints where willing and able to throw it wide, their forwards controlling the breakdown and exposing the overlaps on numerous occasions. Some poor decision making, wayward passing and almost no ball retention afforded the visitors to run riot at times – making yards at will and putting Cotham on the back foot. When Park did get their hands on the ball, the visiting 7, who was man of the match by a long way, ensured that the backs options were cut, providing the tackling where their flyhalf could not. Breaks from Ace, Lozza, Ben Higham and many of the forwards could not be converted to points, and too often led to turnovers. To add insult to injury, the usually unstoppable force of Victor was stopped, with force, but no long term damage.

Glimmers of hope came from excellent breaks from the returning CJ: twas nice to see his magic feet gracing the Failand turf once again, and a superb scrum spear-headed by John Williams (playing out of position apparently), the versatile Johnny Saunders and Rob Pinchin (this week wearing a cork in his anus to negate any repeats of last week’s halftime toilet farce).

Halftime came and went: Cotham knowing they needed to pick things up, and fast in order to turn around an 18-7 deficit.

The second half brought a change in tempo and mindset for the home side. The forwards began to control the breakdown, and make the hard yards around the fringes. The scrum really began to turn the screw, and the backs had room to run more and more. However, the visitor’s defence stood firm for much of the second period. The result may have differed had the referee issued a much deserved card for an ill-mannered no-arms “tackle” on John Williams as he blazed down the wing, but Cotham’s constant plugging at the Brendan’s line brought little reward. Johnny A did go over for a try set up by the forwards rumbling scrum, with Jimmy adding a penalty to make it a 1-point game with 10 to go. The introduction of Matt Smith for a historic 6th appearance for Cotham in 18 months added some extra drive from the wing; Smithy breaking the defence with his first touch, only for Cotham to turn the ball over a few phases later.

The scrum eventually reverted to the un-contested format as the final 20 minutes lasted an age due to injury stoppages. The Saints forwards in particular dropping like flies. And Park’s desperation for the score left gaps in the defence, enough for Brendan’s to put the nail in a disappointing coffin and seal the win.

There would be one last throw of the dice as Cotham, worked their way into Brendan’s territory in the final minute. But the less said about “throwing” anything the better!

At the end though, the game was lost in the first half. Limited control and direction gave the visitors the result on a platter.

We are better than this.

Tries: Matt Ace, Johnny A
Cons: Jimmy Cook (2)
Pens: Jimmy Cook

Man of the Match: The Saints 7, he had a storming game.

Cheers,

Matt Ace