Whits' problems Mount

After a week off Whits found themselves back down the A3 playing fellow Surrey one promotionlist Old Georgians. Both teams looking to gain the advantage in a league of mixed talents and styles but one thing was guaranteed when OW and OG play rugby it's going to hard and fast. The weather was perfect, as it always seems to be at the Weybridge Education Centre, and the pitch - probably the best in the league - looked fantastic.

Andrew Marshall, back at fly-half, started the game in typical classy style with a teasing kick off that immediately drew a knock on from the hosts. From this forced error Whits colossus Alex Emeni collected the pill and crashed through OG defenders. From the avalanche of man at the ensuing breakdown, Clarke at scrum-half found the ginger version of Hugh Grant(from 4 weddings and funeral not the bloke who got with a prostitute in his car in Vegas, two very different people)Alex Smith. The agile backrower found returning number eight Jonathan Mount who, as always, made huge yards. Now in OG twenty-two, Clark gave Marshall clean ball who gave quickly to the newly married Tim Catling at outside centre. Multiple phases later and OG struggling to handle the pace of game let Emeni up the middle for a well-deserved try which was easily converted by Clark in Jordan Lewis’s absence.

What comes next are purely your correspondent's thoughts and do not necessarily represent the view of Old Whitgiftians RFC.

As a player of many years, I have always prided myself that I play a game of physicality and courage but also honour. That is embedded in every player whatever the level. I also totally understand the need for player safety. I have friends who have concurred terrible injuries, injuries that make you realise every time you step on the pitch you are taking a risk to play the game that you love. What happened only yards in front of me ten minutes into the game is where I struggle to understand where the game is going. The game is made faster, the players stronger and collisions are brutal. when Jonathan Mount went to tackle the OG standoff a clash of heads occurred between one player preparing for a tackle and the other looking to change direction. The speed was immense and both players were left unconscious on the floor. Blood was pouring from OG'd flyhalf’s head and JM was not moving. Normally, if any rugby player feels there has been foul play they will immediately move into defending their teammates. This did not happen, both teams were more concerned for the players on the floor. The referee had a decision to make and decided that JM was at fault being the defending player and was awarded a red card for failing put arms in a tackle. An action that is very hard when you are already knocked out when someone runs into you by accident. I am in no way blaming the referee either, I can completely understand his decision, it happened in split second and I don't think anyone saw what I saw, plus he doesn't get a replay.

The following seventy minutes robbed the evenly matched teams of a contest. A contest that would have been memorable, a game to talk about for the following seasons and future encounters. If Whits had lost the game fair and square, or even if the red card was for deliberate foul play, there would be no qualm but this need for punishment for a contact sport is killing it for the players as well as the spectators. We don't want to see rugby league style scrums and football contact rules but the game is moving that way. It saddens me that this is what I have written about for thirty minutes, and I am in no way trying to take the result away from OG's as they were the deserved winners, but I am sure they would of preferred to have beaten us 15 men against 15.

Rant over.

Quickly after that OGs scored 2 converted tries, a non-converted try and penalty to Whit's and the game finished 22-10. Graham Johnson and Alex Smit at six and seven were standouts as was Tim Catling at centre.

The Wanderers, recorded a cracking win over Purley John Fisher away, finishing with only 14 men but coming out in top 40-17. Captain Rupert Bradshaw and his brother Toby both dotting over the whitewash.

Next fixture Saturday 27 Oct away to Battersea Ironsides.