Uxbridge kick off the season with a blast!

On Saturday the 3rd September, Uxbridge RFC took a strong squad down to Phoenix RFC to play against their 2nd XV and their 1st XV in a four times 20 minute periods match. The game would be split where the first two periods of twenty would be against the 2nd XV of Phoenix then the 2nd two periods would be against the 1st XV from a league above.

The first ‘mini’ game saw an incredibly dominant performance from the club side. It all started from the first minute as Uxbridge kicked off kicking to Phoenix where a strong chase caused a turnover at the breakdown. This then lead to Uxbridge breaking the gain line with each attack which resulted in a scoring chance to Tom Rainey but Phoenix held the forward up on the line leading to a five metre scrum. However, this did not stop Rainey from shortly crossing over the line in the next attack. The conversion was swiftly taken in a flash with the skipper Nick Guy slotting over the two points leaving the score to be 7-0 to Uxbridge. After the restart Uxbridge were back up into the oppositions twenty two where Nick Guy broke the line to go clear through under the posts to double Uxbridge’s total as he converted the extra two points, 14-0. Uxbridge’s impressive attacking display saw them hammer the Phoenix’s defence several more times. Until two minutes later Matthew Cowper was over for his first try of the afternoon with Nick Guy converting again, making it 21-0. But the skipper was shortly over the try line again for his second try and as well converting it, making the score 28-0. Uxbridge did not stop as they approached the break with them entering the final play of the quarter as Simon Batts scored out by the corner flag. But Nick Guy missed the kick meaning Uxbridge went into the break leading 33-0.

Going into the second quarter it gave the opportunity to rotate some players and bring on some fresh legs. This quarter did not start of like the first as it was not as fast paced due to the replacements getting into the swing of things, but Uxbridge did score a sixth try of the afternoon as Matthew Cowper crossed over the white line with another Nick Guy conversion, taking the score to 40-0. Five minutes later winger James Malvenan received the ball and sprinted down the wing to score the seventh try of the afternoon but the conversion was missed, making it 45-0. Uxbridge then again attacked the Phoenix defence with the outside centre, Ieuan Jones making a break after Gareth Wiggins made the opening for him to storm home to bring Uxbridge’s eighth and final try of the second quarter. The conversion was missed which left the final score of the first two quarters and the first ‘mini’ game 50-0 to Uxbridge.
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Phoenix then swapped around their sides as they brought on their 1st XV. The scores reset back to zero to both sides as the second ‘mini’ game would start along with the third and fourth quarters of the game. This game would not be as easy as the first due to the Phoenix 1st XV are in the league above us in their area league system.

However, it seemed Uxbridge had picked up where they left off against Phoenix as they gained marched their way into the Phoenix twenty two. A penalty five metre’s out gave Uxbridge the opportunity for a catch and drive at the line out. The line out was good and the maul was set up, a big drive from the pack drove the Bridge towards the line. Phoenix’s forwards were not giving up trying everything to stop the Uxbridge’s pack, but winger James Malvenan snuck into the maul and took the ball from the pack and dived over the line, to take the score to 5-0. Phoenix immediately came back testing the Uxbridge defensive lines, pounding and pounding the Uxbridge defence until a poor attacking error lead to a turnover at the break down in Uxbridge’s twenty two. This then meant Uxbridge went into the break 5-0 up.

Just like the first ‘mini’ game Uxbridge yet again made replacements before the restart. Bringing on an incredibly experienced and strong front row coming Uxbridge wohad been intended to give them an upper hand in the scrum due to an incredibly but the replacements did not seem to work as four minutes into the fourth a final quarter Phoenix broke and scored due to a lack of concentration from the defensive line, the scores were therefore tied at 5-5 due to the missed conversion. This sparked Uxbridge back to life, stepping up a gear to try and win this match. Uxbridge kept charging at the wall like defence of the Phoenix first team who held firm until a last ditch attempt resulted in a two man overlap Karl Canvin scored out wide near the corner flag. Uxbridge had done it, they had won the game in the final play and swiftly finished with Nick Guy converting the kick. Leaving the game to finish 12-5 to Uxbridge and take the overall eighty minutes with an aggregate score of 62-5.

Overall, an extremely dominant display from the Uxbridge club side in their first friendly fixture of the season. The side impressed the new coaches Ron Matthews and John Porter-Griffiths who had plenty of positives and negatives to take from their first proper viewing of their new side. Next week the second team are the only side in action as they are in league action away to Civil Service Barbarians. However, the firsts may have a friendly arraigned so look out on the website for more information one is organised.