Albert King sang ‘’If it wasn’t for the bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all’’ and that could have been the theme for this match for the hapless Vigo team. Luck, good or bad, ran through the game but Vigo probably edged it on the negative side, although the discussion with the excellent home supporters, the Sidcup Faithful, erred towards their side, naturally, leaning towards the negative.
Vigo welcomed back scrum half, Dom Carslaw after a lengthy spell out with injury but were without Tony Whitehead and Nick McPherson, the two wise heads and beating heart of the team. Thus, we found the outstanding Tommy Barrett in the unfamiliar position of fly half. Vigo started, though, on the back foot, the quick-witted Brandon Sullivan at 9, and Tom O’Shea at 10, who possesses a howitzer of a right boot, pinning Vigo back deep in the opening minutes. The defensive aggression Vigo displayed last week was tested once more, and not found wanting as the visitors repulsed the early onslaught. Slowly but surely, Vigo turned the tide and began working their way down field. Sidcup were giving away a few too many penalties, which allowed Vigo to move onto the front foot. The referee, arguably one of the best we’ve seen this season was not exactly endearing himself to the SF (Sidcup Faithful), but he was precise, firm and, crucially, always withing feet of the action. Vigo progressed and after about ten minutes, Vigo had their first scrum. The set piece, with Sidcup’s hugely experienced Dave Fawole at tight head, against the equally experienced Darren Cox, whilst the return of Will James on the loosehead for Vigo, has given the team such a boost in the last 2 weeks, was always going to be crucial Well, Vigo edged forward, but then proceeded to earn the opprobrium of the referee who pinged Vigo in the next few scrums. Whatever happens in the dark recesses of the scrum has always been a mystery7 to me so I can’t really tell you why Vigo kept getting penalised, so Sidcup were able to keep pressurising Vigo. Eventually that pressure told, when Vigo tried to break out from deep. Fawole snaffled the ball, Sidcup sent it wide, veteran wing Richard Rodgers managed to get away a clever kick in the act of being felled by Adam Fitzpatrick and scrum half Sullivan won the race for the ball to open the scoring. From the kick off, O’Shea sent a huge kick downfield, Sullivan then added to that with a great box kick and Vigo had to work hard to dig themselves out of the hole. Sidcup’s passing was a bit wayward, otherwise Vigo might have suffered more, but the Villagers were holding out, their new found defensive obduracy tested but holding. Vigo, by now, were rudely manhandling Sidcup’s scrum but not to the referee’s liking, Vigo taking some time to conform to Mr. Collins desires.
It wasn’t all defence, however, for Vigo as Tommy Barrett probed and Shay Keelam danced. Fitzgerald stormed down the wing, only to be beheaded as he sidestepped his opposite number. A stern warning, a penalty, but Vigo failed to take more advantage, but Sidcup were now fully aware that Vigo were in the game, and Sidcup would need to earn their victory the hard way. So, half time was reached with no further score, Vigo seemingly adjusting their scrummaging technique to the ref’s satisfaction, and beginning to believe in themselves, constantly being encouraged by skipper, George Rawelings, having a fine game in an unfamiliar position of number 8.
The second half was barely minutes old when a superb break from deep by Freddie Barrett tore a gaping hole in Sidcup’s defence. Dom Mickelburgh was in close attendance, carried forward to be stopped close to the line by some superb Sidcup defence. However, the move was halted by Vigo dropping the ball 7 metres out, but Vigo had the scent and went for Sidcup with some ferocity. From the knock-on, Vigo annihilated the Sidcup scrum and earned a penalty. Vigo tapped and went; Rawlings stopped on the line. But in their desperation, Sidcup had committed some thing illegal and Alex Tompkins was yellow carded for preventing a try., the referee adding insult to injury by awarding a penalty try This caused huge amusement amongst the SF, the debate starting about whether this was the fastest yellow card in history as the unfortunate Tompkins had come off the bench barely a minute before. The SF were also of the opinion that the yellow card was hardly a surprise, although Sidcup’s forward coach Anton Denniss was not at all happy – not for the last time. The anger manifested itself into a ferocious onslaught by Sidcup and Vigo were thrown back into defence. Sidcup might well have scored but some over-ambitious passing let Vigo off the hook. Down to 7 in the pack, Sidcup were smashed in the scrum, their fine Academy prospect, Billy Mildwater, performing small miracles to retrieve the ball from the wreckage, but Vigo kept earning penalties which helped them get on the front foot. A superb run by Keelam opened up Sidcup again, but once more, excellent defensive work kept Vigo at bay. Several penalties in the ‘’red zone’’ were won, Vigo opting for the pushover with their advantage in the scrum. Thus it came about that Vigo scored, not without some controversy. As Vigo’s scrum drove for the line, Rawlings picked up but was stopped inches from the line, Darren Cox picking up the loose ball and driving forward the remaining few inches. Sidcup protested bitterly, adamant that the ball had been edged forward in the build up and Cox had been held up over the line. The referee was equally adamant that there had been no transgression and awarded the try, much to the fury of the SF (a lot further from the action than the referee) and the furious Anton Dennis. Tommy Barrett’s conversion attempt hit the woodwork. Sidcup were pretty miffed by the score and turned that sense of injustice into a blazing assault, Dennis, fuelled by the outrage storming over for a try, Freddy Neath converting. Scores level. But Vigo were fired up and hit back hard. Rawlings put in a clever kick into the corner, Vigo stealing the line out and setting up a strong drive for the line. Sidcup defended their line ferociously but Vigo kept coming, until the unfortunate Mr. Tompkins got a bit carried away and was a bit too ferocious at the breakdown for the referee’s liking, earning a second yellow card, and banishment from the field. Even the SF couldn’t argue with that. Again, Vigo took advantage and went for a scrum from the ensuing penalty, driving the Sidcup scrum back over their line, Rawlings dotting down.
Sidcup were furious and flew at Vigo, moving the ball around and attacking Vigo with pace, if not precision. A promising break down the left wing was halted by a rather wild tackle by Freddie Barrett that earned him a yellow card and eventually stitches. 14 against 14 and Vigo were struggling to keep their hosts at bay, soon down to 13 when Dom Mickelburgh hobbled off. Vigo had had only one replacement, Phil Sewell, and he had already replaced a lame Dan Burgin (who had again underlined his potential with a strong performance). Sidcup attacked, again rather spoiling some fine attacking with a loose pass or two but eventually, with a couple of minutes left broke through. A deft grubber kick behind Vigo’s defence opened up Vigo and as a Sidcup player appeared to win the race, Dom Carslaw instinctively pulled him back. Result – a penalty try and a yellow card for a rueful Mr. Carslaw. Vigo down to 12, a couple of minutes to go, Rawlings and Sewell smashing forward, Tommy Barrett by now limping, Vigo tried to pull the game out of the embers. ‘’kick the ball out’’ implored the SF, so Sidcup did just that only to undercook the kick, the ball rolling slowly towards the line. Lewis Pitchell tore after it, but it rolled slowly, agonisingly over the line, the referee blew the whistle, signalling the end to an intriguing match, in which luck played an important part, probably for both sides.
Vigo team: F.Barrett; A.Fitzgerald, S.Keelam, D.Mickelburgh, L.Pitchell; T.Barrett, D.Carslaw; D.Cox, D.Norton, W.James; D.Burgin (rep: P.Sewell 60’),B.Howe; M.Gregory, T.Cox; G.Rawlings (capt.)

Referee: Liam Collins (London Socy)

Man of the Match: The Vigo crowd found it difficult to choose one outstanding candidate such was the collective effort but Dom Mickelburgh garnered the most votes, showing his versatility by playing at inside centre and putting in a massive defensive effort. For Sidcup, their coach selected their highly promising Billy Mildwater for the award.
George Rawlings: I am immensely proud of the effort by this team. We never gave up and gave a great account of ourselves. I believe we edged the set piece and came within one decision of winning this game.
MOG’s view: I’m not going to harp on about how much luck played a part in this game. We were unlucky Tony Whitehead was unavailable, missing his line and goal kicking ability. Unlucky that Tommy’s conversion hit the post. We deserved at least a draw but them’s the breaks. What is frustrating is the fact that Vigo have shown such application too late. With displays like this more frequently we would surely not be anchored at the foot of the table. Relegation? Likely. Would that be a disaster? Probably not but performances like this clearly show that the team has the ability to compete at this level.