High-flying Thamesians take the spoils against Uxbridge in physical encounter

Uxbridge made the short and now regular trip down to St Mary’s University in Twickenham to take on Thamesians aiming to avenge for the 24-12 home defeat suffered in November.

Thamesians, flying high at the top of the table and looking to take a step closer to winning promotion had clearly prepared thoroughly and were up for a fight after last times close encounter.

The game began with Uxbridge dominating the opening stages, Nick Guy pulling the strings at fly-half and putting Simon Batts and Isaac Williams into space early on.

The Uxbridge pack was making it hard for Thamesians to assert any kind of dominance in the scrum and ruck area keeping their feet to the fire and pining them back. The first score of the game came as the ball found its way wide to Sam Dillamore to drive his way over the line following good work in the forwards and across the back line. Guy added the extra’s with a superb kick from a tight angle.

This whirred Thamesians into life and the expected onslaught came as the Uxbridge line was under sustained pressure before the home side levelled with a tap and go penalty from close range, which was converted.

As half time beckoned, neither team really stamped their authority on the game before Thamesians managed to score on the referees half time whistle.

With the usual rallying call from coach Ron Matthews, the visitors went out into the second half with a plan to reduce the score deficit. Thamesians had clearly had a stern talking to as they too came out knowing they were in a match and needing a good result.

The usual hard running from Dillamore, Tom Redrup, Jake Lamport and Simon Batts continued but both side’s rhythm and structure were affected by injuries in both the forwards and backs. The Thamesian lineout a constant thorn in the Uxbridge side and a potent weapon as a the main source of their front foot ball and this paid dividends twice as Thamesians scored off the back of their good lineout work and gave them a 24-7 buffer.

Undeterred and still with plenty in the tank, scavenger-extraordinaire Adam Lackey on as sub at the break bought some intensity to the breakdown and won several important turnovers as Uxbridge kept digging in and probing the Thamesian line. They got their reward three minutes from time with good forward and back play seeing Guy run through to dot down and convert his own effort to take the final score to 24-12.

Uxbridge First XV have two games over the next week- Wednesday 14 March vs Ruislip Second XV away in the Floodlight Cup (Kick-Off- 19:30)and Saturday 17 March home to Mill Hill (Kick-off- TBC)