Whits Stop the Rot with First Half display

Whits entered the weekend rooted to the bottom of the table, but still in touching distance of relegation rivals and this week’s opposition Andover RFC. In the first couple of weeks of 2019 Whit’s had started well but had not punished their opposition, this week Whit’s were not going to miss their chance! A bonus point win was the only result which would stop them sinking closer to a return to Surrey 1. The weather was set fair and the pitche looked like it could be used in the Ally Pally giving Whits another week where they could play their fast, expansive game of rugby. Whits lost the away leg earlier in the season in a wet and miserable encounter that suited the hosts on that day. Whits prayed for the rain to stay away as scrums were going to be Andover’s main weapon with their large portly forwards.

From the kick-off Thor lookalike Alex Smith caught the misguided drop kick. The openside, who’s performances of late have put him in contention for a Marvel call up, spread the ball to fly half and referee mediator Matthew Clark. Clark, building in confidence In the stand-off position used his forwards in the early exchanges bringing in Alex Emeni and Barney Hoskins to punch holes through the Andover defence. Whits, now just inside Andover’s 22 with quick ball saw Jordan Lewis give a bullet-like pass to Clark who gave a gentle pop to Jim Ryan put the large second row in a gap that meant big yards for the hosts. With 2 defenders struggling to bring him down Ryan off-loaded the pill to Serbian International Charlie Petschi who ghosted through the final defenders like the mists on the Yorkshire moors. 5-0

Whits continued to dominate even though they were playing up the pringle shaped pitch. Chris Hall and Jonathan Mount were looking work like a couple of gipsy tarmackers from the turn of the 19th century, every yard was hard earned. Andover defended stoutly and eventually a mistake by Whits lead to a comedy of errors down the far side as Andover made the hosts pay as they collected the ball and counter attacked with great efficiency, the ball was spread quickly wide with the Andover prop throwing a large speculative pass to miss out three Whit’s defenders for an against the run of play five points to level the game. 5-5.

This was the rocket up the backside Whit’s needed. The restart caused a knock-on by Andover and the following scrum was messy with the ball spitting out of the back. Clark recovered and fizzed the ball to Nick Byrne who, with a lot to do under the extreme pressure from the upcoming defence, managed to step his way into safety. From a ruck, the clear by Ryan and Emeni was precise and Mount pick the ball from the base to go over the game line with ease. Lewis looked left and spotted Clark with numbers outside him. Clark hit Jim Ryan who sliced through the defensive line, looking like he was going to gallop forty yards paid back the compliment to Clark as the classy stand off went untouched under the posts for seven points as Lewis converted with ease. 12-5.

Moments after the restart the Jazzers were back at it. This time Edward Holmes and Byrne interlinked to make easy yards right into the heart of the Andover defence. The ruck was being faught intensely by both teams. Skipper Tom Hipsey collided into his 12th breakdown of the day to give Lewis the time and space to dummy fly half Clark and lay a gentle inside pop to Mount. The Krytron Shaped headed number 8 bashed his way through the defensive line on the oppositions twenty two and with a Carlos Spencer like step beat the fullback for another seven points. 19-5.

With five minutes of the half left the home side went straight back up the slope. Hall collected the high restart like a Gumba in New York in the early 60s. He was well supported by Elliot Mack who was returning off the bench after a long injury layoff. Mack passed to Miles Daly who was having an outstanding game at inside centre started to showboat as he gave the old show-and-go and went past his opposite number. Holmes, who was putting in another quality display on the wing, was on hand to support. He charged for the line but he was not to score his second in as many games as Chris Starns picked up one of his easiest tries of the season. 24-5 HT

The second half was meant to be more of the same but after an early penalty that Lewis calmly converted Whit’s took their foot off the peddle thinking that five points was secured. Andover rallied well and started to get themselves back into the contest by using their strengths in the pack, their maul was effective and the greasy conditions meant for a mountain of scrums. Eventually the defence of the second half saw Clark in the sin bin for a cynical penalty under the hosts posts, but Andover could not score against the 14 men. Ten minutes to play and with Clark back on and Luca giving Hoskins a rest in the front row saw a two more deserved tried for the visitors as they pressed to the end but for no avail and no points with a final score of 27-15. UTG

Whits play Old Georgians at home on the 9th of February for a massive ten point encounter, get down and support the Jazzers. These two teams are very evenly matched and all the games are close and played at pace with an expansive style for the neutral.