Whits maintain unbeaten home record

Saturday saw Whits host title challengers Old Georgians for a top of the table clash. A contest which could have a big say in how the season would pan out. A loss for Whits would see OG's come level on points and a win could take the hosts 10 points clear at the top of Surrey 1.
A stark change in conditions from all the previous games in 2018 saw a glorious day at Croham Rd. The sun was wearing his hat and the wind was nowhere to be seen giving the Jazz men what they craved - free-flowing, fast rugby.

The game started off at a furious tempo. Whits playing up the hill in the first half were not going to sit back and let the visitors gain confidence. The squad, at full strength for a rare occasion, saw Duncan Macleod come in at tighthead prop to add bulk to the already gargantuan front row of Chris Hall and Alex Emeni. Sam Mount came in at outside centre to pair up with national hero Miles Daly at inside centre and James Aitken on the bench after recovering from a terrible bout of lovesickness. Luckily lothario Chris Hall was there to provide emotional support (until he had to leave to take his date up the Shard).

The hosts started the stronger and their expansive free-flowing style of rugby was in full view for all to see. Matthew Clark starting at scrum-half was getting quick ball which he paid in kind to standoff Andrew Marshall who whipped the ball to all corners of the pitch. After a great clear out by master bridge builder Graham Johnson, the ball came to Marshall who put in the most delicate of grubbers for Jordon Lewis to chase like a rampant rabbit. Lewis outpaced his opposite number with ease, dived for the ball and dotted down just before the ball went dead. It looked like the ball may have gone out of play but the referee had a perfect view and awarded the try. Catling missed the conversion to leave the hosts 5-0 up after 10mins.

Whits enjoyed long periods of possession throughout the first half but failed to convert, multiple chances going missing from poor decisions. Lewis had an opportunity to make it a brace but some stout defending from OG's held up the Christmas pudding shaped winger. A couple of penalties a piece saw the score at 8-3 as the assured left foot of Tim Catling slotted home from the touchline in a master class of kicking.
The game was getting faster and more brutal by the minute as both teams jockeyed for control. Whits, with their multi-faceted play, used Macleod and Ryan to batter the door down. Clark, spotting a gap down the blindside slipped through the OGs defence, Lewis was there again in support to take a softly given pass and go over in the corner for his, and the Whits, second. Score 13-3 with 5 minutes of the half to play.

OG's responded quickly and from the restart put Whits under pressure in their 22, the Whits defence - renowned for its physicality - stood strong for some 10 phases. Smit, now on for Johnson at openside, repelled the OG's onslaught with some huge bone smashing hits. But eventuallyy the pressure told and OGs had their first five-pointer. Any lead playing up the slope first half is welcome, so 13-8 lead at the break against the second place team in the league was positive.

Coach John Youngs asked for more of the same from the team at the break, seeing their new game plan start to pay dividends. The first 10 minutes had the Old Whits home supporters in awe of some fine rugby in attack and defence as the two teams battled it out like Senna and Prost in Suzuka 1989 Grand Prix. A offside penalty gave the visitors an opportunity to close the gap to 13-11.

Whits, knowing the next score was so important, rallied and started to build until outside centre Sam Mount - the more gifted Mount brother - sustained a nasty knee injury which will likely leave him out for the rest of the season. Lewis, who was hotter than a room with Nelly in it, moved to outside centre and from the next scrum geriatric number 8 - and less gifted Mount brother - Jonathan charged around the blind side of the scrum created quick ball. Clark, enjoying the dryer conditions, fizzed the pill to Lewis who slapped on the gas and shut the gate on his winger to score his and the Jazzers third try. Catling converted from the touchline with ease making it 20-11 with 20 minutes to play.

OG's were second in the league for a reason and a strong young unit wasn't going to give up and walk quietly into the night. A penalty on the Whits 10-meter line was kicked into touch to give the visitors much-needed field position, the one line out Charlie Petschi didn't steal was put to good use as the OG pack rumbled over the line to get another 5 points.

20-16 with 15 minutes to play would see another blockbuster finish which the Whits massive have now come accustomed to. OG's, sensing they could take the game and shock the hosts counterattacked with devastating ease. The OG winger, who was part of a very impressive backline, looked to be coasting into the corner. Marshall and Lewis chased the rapid speedster and made an Underhill-esk tackle to save the try only for the referee to conclude the tackle was high and had prevented a certain try. The visitors were awarded 7 points Marshall given his first ever yellow in Whits colours. 20-23.

Ten minutes to play, one man in the bin and the task was looking bleak. Whits teams of the past would have rolled over but not this bunch of Jazzy men. Straight from the kick-off Whits played as though they had 16 men and looked as possessed as Elliot Mac's girlfriend when he asks to play on a Saturday. A penalty was given to the Whits after some strong work from the tiring pack. Clark, now at flyhalf, kicked for the corner and let Hall and his compadres do their work. Hall fired another inch-perfect throw to the high jumping and ever impressive Petchsi who linked cleverly with the ginger-bearded pirate figure of Smith at the back of the maul to score and give the lead back to Whits. Catling converted and gave the Whits a four-point lead. 27-23.

After the restart, the men from CR2 were given a new lease of life and sailed down the slope with ease as the OG's started to tire. With holes opening up, James Schad gave a little show and go to give some much-needed field position. Ryan and Skipper Hipsey carried on their tireless assault on the defensive line. OGs, desperate to hold out the hosts had to resort to some old school no arms tackling into the defenceless elderly statesman of Mount. The second rower was lucky with the yellow card but he would not finish the game and the following penalty was once again kicked to the corner for a mirror image replay of the previous try. This time at the line out the OG's didn't contest but the result was the same except revenge was sweet as the Number 8 and man mountain Mount crushed the OG's hearts. 32-23.

A penalty for the visitors straight from the restart brought the scores to 32-26 with less than a minute to play. Whits, who love a bit of drama were awarded another penalty. The choices of kick it out and finish the game or take the 3 points and stop the visitors getting a losing bonus point. Catling whose fame under pressure from his Varsity hattrick at Twickenham stood up. This time it wasn't to be, lofting the ball wide but into the hands of the OG's rotund winger, he charged up the field making light work of the slope, some gallant defence from Daly put an end to the attack. Hearts in mouths Whits held on and the whistle blew to give the hosts an 8 point lead at the top of the table with five games to play.

No game for the first team next week. Old Walcountians make the visit to Croham Road on the 3rd of March in another important clash.