1st XV
Matches
Sat 30 Mar 2019  ·  London 3 South East
Park House
35
29
Vigo RFC
1st XV
VIGO KNOCKED OFF TRACK

VIGO KNOCKED OFF TRACK

trevor newnham2 Apr 2019 - 16:07
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PARK HOUSE 35 VIGO 29


Vigo’s last lingering hopes of staying in the promotion hunt, as unlikely as it seemed, disappeared on Saturday. In an error strewn match, Park House, buoyed by last week’s win over league leaders Crowborough, put in a splendidly committed performance to consign Vigo to defeat. And yet, Vigo really had only themselves to blame. They conspired to butcher a handful of chances and were drawn into a slugfest with their muscular opponents.
On a warm spring day, there could be little excuse for the many handling errors committed by both sides in the opening stages. Neither side were able to string a sequence of passes together without dropping the ball it seemed. Tony Whitehead knocked over an early penalty to take the lead for Vigo but already Vigo had grassed a good chance as Vigo dominated the early stages. Then Vigo really should have had a penalty try, Nick McPherson tackled off the ball as he chased a kick. As he and the ball were over the line, the award was seemingly certain, but only one person’s opinion mattered, and that was the ref’s. Vigo shrugged off that blow by continuing to attack the home side. Two more gilt edged opportunities to score came and went with poor handling, or in one case, a dreadful pass, until, Praise Be, Vigo scored. The fact that they actually strung together more than four passes in a row without dropping the ball, probably discombobulated the Park House defence. Be that as it may, Dom Mickelburgh passed off the top of a line out, James Clemmence burst through from full; back and sent Elliot Stickings away down the wing to score, Whitehead adding the extras.
The score woke up the home side,and they too began to treat the ball with less disdain than previously, driving the ball up through the middle, Toby and Ben Barker, a muscular driving force. Richard Russ, at stand off was becoming a big influence, either with a little pop pass to willing runners or a penetrating kick to drive Vigo back. Ben Barker, then Ash Holdaway, broke through to build up a head of steam, that Jack Knight released by scoring in the corner. Buoyed by the score, Park House attacked strongly pressurising Vigo into conceding a penalty which Russ converted with some ease.
The big Park House crowd started to crank up the volume now, hitherto a tad quiet, as the home side continued to attack, initially driving through the middle, and sucking Vigo in before releasing their backs. As Vigo reeled back, they were again penalised. Before they could recover, Ian McElhone tapped and went, feeding Pat Shiell who crashed over in the corner to give his side the lead. Vigo were stung into action, coming back hard, James Clemmence running hard to lead Vigo into Park House territory. A loose clearance kick was seized on by Nick McPherson, who ran hard drawing a penalty from Park House, which was narrowly missed, but Vigo had started to build up some momentum. Another panicky kick from defence was fielded in open space, Dave Winstone busting through to feed McPherson who scored, Whitehead converting.
Vigo were being drawn into an arm wrestle, however, when it was apparent that they would get more success by spreading the ball wide to their dangerous runners, Stickings and Hunt. But still they persisted in trying to run the ball through a thicket of Park House defenders who relished the chance to smash into the tackle close in rather than having to cover the flanks. The home defence stood strong, causing Vigo to drop the ball with some meaty tackling. As the referee prepared to bring the half to a close, Park House struck. Vigo, not for the first time, made a hash of the line out, Park House won the ensuing scrum and attacked down the blind side. Jack Knight appeared to be covered but had the strength to batter his way over in the corner to give his side a one point lead at half time. There was still time for Vigo to throw away another scoring opportunity after a great break by Hunt came to nothing, the ball knocked forward with the line open.
Coach Whitehead tore into the side at half time, palpably unhappy with their performance, and his temper would not have been eased as Park House went further ahead within minutes of the restart. Park House had claimed their own kick off, building up a fair head of steam. They bashed away at the Vigo line for a while. Vigo’s line of defence spread, but crucially left a bit of a hole close to the fringes, which replacement Tom McMurdo spotted and gleefully scored. Russ’s conversion was straightforward. But Vigo came straight back. Park House knocked on, Vigo won the scrum, went blind, fed Hunt who stepped the covering defence, and scored with some ease. That simple. It’s a pity Vigo did not learn from that. Feed the wingers, they will score. But still Vigo tried to take on their opponents through the middle, and were invariably stopped dead. Park House were increasingly confident, their catch and drive in fine order and it was indeed, this element of their armoury that led to a fine try. A big drive sucked in Vigo’s defence, and Ben Barker went blind. A superb tackle by Stickings stopped the drive but Barker fashioned a brilliant pass out of the tackle to an unmarked Ashley Holdaway, lurking on the wing, who crashed over.
Vigo were not yet done, their spirit unbroken,if their thinking a tad muddled. Park House knocked on but the referee played advantage, and as park House perhaps hesitated, Liam Wiltshire, enjoying a fine second half of the season, drove over for a try, Whiteheads conversion narrowly missing. Just a point separated the two sides, but Park House regathered and drove at Vigo, once again building up a fair head of steam. Vigo were forced back, Russ using the booit well to peg Vigo back. Again a catch and drive brought dividends, this time hooker Toby Barker, muscling his way over after a good catch and drive.
Vigo are always dangerous in the closing minutes and they furiously threw themselves at a retreating home side as time began to run out. But still, they could not find their way through an excellent defence. They tried to batter their way through the middle, which was not working. Two great opportunities were wasted as the Villagers started to panic but Park House stood firm and were able to see off Vigo’s challenge to their obvious delight.

Scorers: Park House: Tries: Knight (20’, 39’), Shiell (30’), McMurdo (43’), Holdaway (52’), Toby Barker (68’). Cons: Russ (1). Pens: Russ (1) Vigo : Tries: Stickings (15’), McPherson (35’), Hunt (45’), Wiltshire (60’). Cons: T.Whitehead (3). Pens: Whitehead (1)

Vigo team: J.Clemmence; E.Stickings, L.Vint, D.Winstone, M.Hunt; T.Whitehead, D.Carslaw (rep: C.Whitehead); W.James, H.Wilson, D.Norton (rep: P.Sewell); L.Wiltshire, J.French; R.Hayes, D.Mickelburgh; N.McPherson.
Referee: Andy Evans (London)
Vigo MVP: Elliot Stickings.
Stewart Turner (Vigo President): Park House had a basic game plan which worked. Vigo were drawn into an arm wrestle which played into their hands. When they moved the ball wide, they looked a different side, but just didn’t get enough of the ball.
John Whitehead (Vigo coach): A disappointing performance. We showed a lot of naivety, taking the wrong options in the wrong positions of the pitch. Perhaps it was a hangover from last weeks result. I was disappointed also with the refereeing at the breakdown which were not allowed to develop – to be fair for neither side.

Match details

Match date

Sat 30 Mar 2019

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

London 3 South East

League position

4
Vigo
7
Park House
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - Goldblatt & Co
Club Sponsor - KMH Group
Match Day Sponsor - Marsham Car Sales
http://www.mayflex.com/ - Mayflex
Match Day Sponsor - Millhouse Leasing
Club Sponsor - Rainbourne Associates
Match Day Sponsor - Screwfix
Club Sponsor - Precise Building Solutions Ltd
Shirt Sponsor - Purfleet Truck Wash
Club Sponsor - Harvel House Farm Shop
Club Sponsor - Advance Vehicle Alarms
Junior Sponsor - The Bull Inn, West Malling
Club Sponsor - Northern Commercials
Club Sponsor - Lime Logistics
Club Sponsor - Holywell Park
Club Sponsor - cablecafe
Club Sponsor - Zantra
Senior Team Sponsor - Meopham Fitness and Tennis Centre
Player Sponsor - New Ash Green Dental Centre
Matchday Sponsor - Star Platforms
Club Sponsor - Rolling Stock
Junior Section Sponsor - First Title
Club Sponsor - Oaks Electrical Supplies
Club Sponsor - Thakeham