VIGO 60 CRAWLEY 0

Crawley bereft of a whole host of players – 26 injured or absent at the last count apparently – were no match for a Vigo team in rampant form. In fact, the score is subject to a stewards’ enquiry. To this observer, the score should have been 62 – 0. But heigh ho, whatever the final score, Vigo have now gone 258 minutes without conceding a try,244 minutes without conceding a point. That is testimony to their resilience and an excellent defence.
Crawley have been particularly hard hit by P.D.S. (Personnel Deficiency Syndrome) so were distinctly green around the collective gills, when Adam Fitzgerald latched on to a wonderful cross kick by George Cook, in imperious form, to score after just 3 minutes. Crawley hesitated, half in doubt about a possible knock on, but the referee, in a great position, had no doubts in awarding the try.
They say it’s a sign of old age when doctors and policemen look young. Well, to this old rugby player, it’s when referees look fresh out of school (and having to micturate about five times a night , but that’s another story), and Mr. Oliver Smith looked as if he was fresh out of the Sixth Form, but his youthful looks belied his authority and excellent positional sense.
So, three minutes down and five points up, Vigo, on a mini-run of ‘nilfers’, were in the mood. Especially before the biggest crowd of the season, many of whom had been partaking of a splendid V.P. feast (and, it has to be said, a few measures of electric soup). So, ready for entertainment, the throng were soon in joyous mood when Dominic Mickelburgh surged over just three minutes later. Crawley, under pressure, had kicked deep but Liam Wiltshire caught the ball and simply ran through a host of attempted tackles, cast aside bodies in his wake. When stopped the ball was moved quickly and Mickelburgh, loitering with intent in the backline, swept over. Cook added the extras.
Crawley responded like a wounded beast, centre Chris Dean making a wonderful run, penetrating the Vigo defence, before being halted close to the line. Vigo managed to clear the ball on this occasion, and returned to the attack. Notably, the interplay between the backs and forwards, which has been a feature of Vigo’s modus operandi, left Crawley grasping for shadows. Vigo continued to raid and gained their reward when another excellent handling movement, featuring a great tip pass by Tony Whitehead, gave Adam Fitzgerald the opportunity to smash through a couple of Crawley defenders for his second try, again converted by Cook.
By now, Vigo were showing great confidence. Their running, passing, pop passes and support were too much for an increasingly desperate Crawley side, valiantly though flanker Ian Haywood threw his body in the way of repeated Vigo attacks. Liam Wiltshire, Nick McPherson and Luke Henderson all grabbed tries before half time, Cook converting one or two (as stated before ,his conversion rate is subject to a stewards’). Thus, at half time Vigo jogged off to their half time haribos with a commanding 36 (or 38) point lead. Many of the crowd drifted off for a refill – not that that was needed in some cases.)
Vigo were in no mood to rest on their collective laurels but perhaps the haribos had a less than salutary effect, and they were a tad sloppy, much to the ire of their coach, John Whitehead, whilst assistant coach, Dom Saunders, furiously scribbled a few paragraphs in his notebook. Something to work on in training no doubt. So Crawley stubbornly fought back, Fly half Paddy Dean, broke through and threatened the Vigo line, his team responding, building a wave of attacks, Chris Dean again prominent. Vigo held firm but at the expense of a penalty. Crawley opted for the scrum instead of a certain three points and were absolutely smashed in the scrum. Vigo cleared, Cook sending a great kick behind Crawley. Phil Checksfield, newly married and playing his first game, got to the ball first, had enough time to give a wave to his lovely wife and scored.
Back in control, Vigo were in the mood to treat the crowd to some prosecco rugby (not quite ready for champagne yet). Their style of rugby, of keeping the ball alive, was simply too much for Crawley, as valiantly as they tried, Crawley’s loose head Jermaine Weeden was particularly durable. Vigo continued to attack across a broad front although Crawley had their moments but Vigo’s tackling especially Checksfield, Clemmence and Henderson was percussive. Each big tackle greeted with delight by the crowd (oo er Matron).
Nick McPherson was denied a try by the referee, again in perfect position to spot a forward pass, before finally gaining reward for another fine display with a legitimate try. Liam Wiltshire again powered forward but was denied a try again by referee’s intervention (although photographic evidence later did prove that Liam’s try was in fact legal). But there was no need for the fourth official when Ben Moorhouse swept imperiously through a by now bedraggled Crawley defence, his try converted by Cook. Crawley, defiantly tried to run the ball out from under their posts but a pass, not so much telegraphed as screaming ‘’Catch Me’’ was duly plucked out of the air by Jake French who simply strode forward for a well deserved try. Cook converted.
With about ten minutes left to play, Crawley came hard at Vigo, searching for a consolation score. Their courage could not be questioned but Vigo were in no mood to break their record of three matches in a row without conceding a point.

Vigo team: T.Whitehead (capt.); A.Fitzgerald, P.Checksfield, J.Clemmence (rep: D.Winstone 52’), L.Wiltshire; G.Cook, D.Carslaw; W.James (rep: P.Sewell 57’), G.Rawlings, D.Norton; J.French, B.Moorhouse; L.Henderson, D.Mickelburgh (rep: R.Hayes 40’); N.McPherson.

Referee: Oliver Smith (SEFed)
Man of the Match: Adam Fitzgerald (Vigo)
Crawley MVP: Ian Haywood.

Clayton Saunders (Crawley head Coach). We were missing a lot of our players, so understandably perhaps, the accuracy was not there. We gave away the ball too often, and got punished by Vigo. We need to be more intense, more accurate with our passing, and we needed more bodies at training. We stuck at it but Vigo are a much improved team and didn’t give us a lot.
John Whitehead (Vigo Director of Rugby) We actually could have played better. We were not sharp enough with our passing, although our vision and attacking intent was fine.