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Home  Reports 2006
Match Reports 2006
2006 / 2007
Sun sets on OC promotion hopes
London Media 10
Old Cranleighans 6
Old Cranleighans last game of the league campaign saw them fall just
short in a courageous bid for promotion. In sapping heat, the team threw themselves
at the challenge, full of commitment and desire. Stark analysis of the game
would acknowledge there was little flair on offer, yet that would be to ignore
the raw ingredients of a tense, attritional contest, which went right to the
wire, as Media sought to justify their champion status, and Cranleighans desperately
fought for a winning score.
As the game kicked off, OCs knew that
nearest rivals Teddington were likely to achieve the victory they needed to
share equal second place in the league. With a superior points difference, Teddington
would be promoted if Cranleighans lost. From the outset, OCs launched at
the home side, playing with control and aggression, the 'must win' burden seeming to galvanise the side.
Substantially outweighed in the pack, the OC eight struggled at the set piece,
though Al Lawson was as ever, a constant lineout banker. Despite the rearguard
action, the back row surged forward, with Chris Roe outstanding, and Keg and Baz
Anayi grafting for every hard yard.
LM seemed rattled early on, as
the pack superiority failed to provide good territory. Even when they did attack,
a swarming OC defence really stood up to be counted. OCs were rewarded with
two Dom Hammond penalties, and looked good for that lead after the first quarter.
As the half progressed however, LM began to find momentum, their big forwards
starting to gain the upper hand that would ultimately prove decisive. On the
stroke of half time Will Freppel chipped over an easy penalty, to halve the lead.
Media
began the second period with purpose, battering at the OC
line. Cranleighans defence held out manfully, but finally cracked as LM's inside
centre barged over under the posts to gift Freppel the simplest of conversions.
10 - 6 with thirty-five minutes left on the clock, the tension palpable. The
LM pack found the heat a constant pressure, with their number two lineout jumper
'Shadow' living up to that title, reduced for a time to little more than a
walk. Yet from somewhere they found collective will and strength to defy an OC
team which battled to the last. Despite decent field position for much of the last
quarter, Cranleighans lacked penetration and width, unable to release danger
man Dave Shaw. OC's effort was outstanding, but that moment of magic, that game
breaker simply would not come. Untimely knock-ons, minor errors, penalties conceded?the
game, and with it OC's promotion hopes for the year, ended in frustration.
This would in all likelihood be coach Jim Maskell's last game in charge. He
spoke of the progress the club has made from the worrying lack of players of recent
seasons, to a side which only narrowly failed to achieve promotion. OCs owe
Jim a big debt of gratitude, his enthusiasm for the game, fun company, and appreciation
of the sort of blokes he was dealing with, ensuring he will always
be more than welcome at Thames Ditton. Cheers Jim mate, from all of us? shame about
the parking ticket!
News of a Teddington win meant Cranleighans
would live to battle for this same title next season. It has been a tremendous
campaign, one of the best for some years. Two losses to Reigate earlier in the
year proved crucial, as Cranleighans might have sewn up the title prior the final
game with success in those matches. Ultimately, the last day victory
requirement proved too much, but OCs can reflect on some fine rugby this year,
and some outstanding individual performances, making skipper Graeme Brown's 'Player
of the Season' selection a tight contest.
As the sun set over
Old Deer Park on a balcony outside a cosy local hostelry, players, supporters,
past players, and the OC faithful, proved that OC rugby is in rude health, enjoys
a pint, great camaraderie, and several more pints?.and can look forward to next
season with confidence and expectation high.
Man of the Match: Chris Roe
Tan of the Match: Will Fawcett
Match
Report Moment of the Season?.? Offers invited to
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.See you
all the AGM
OCs worth promotion shot
Old Cranleighans
13 Worth Old Boys 6
Old Cranleighans, and a sizeable gathering of well-fed and watered past
players, came through a nervous afternoon with this victory over a stubborn
Worth OB side. The hosts struggled to turn dominance at the set piece into tangible
reward, but held the upper hand throughout an entertaining game.
Cranleighans' promotion hopes rested on this win, and at times the anxiety
showed through. As the scoreboard stagnated so the OC challenge was to wrestle
the game from a visiting side, strong in the maul and proud in defence of their
goal line. Dom Hammond opened proceedings, his penalty the direct result of a
fine run from Sam Langmead, as, not for the last time, Worth were penalised on
the floor. The visitors soon levelled the tie however, Ed Gordon-Steward's left
boot punishing the offside OC backline. Cranleighans were already starting to
command at the scrummage, the front row powering into their opposite numbers. Yet,
eager to turn the screw, the ball was often taken on a stride too far into
isolation, and Worth were strong enough to slow down the succession of attacks.
The
deadlock was broken in spectacular style, as the hosts countered
a wayward Worth kick, with excellent work down the right, from Baz Anayi and
Langmead, again, before Mike Darcy galloped over to complete a great passage of
play. Hammond's attempted conversion looked perfectly floated on a gusting wind,
yet somehow held its course to finish wide. The interval came with OC's tenuous
lead deserved, but not yet consolidated.
Calm the nerves was the half time wisdom; hit big forwards up the narrow channels,
sap the Worth resistance, and the scores would come. From the restart it seemed
this was advice well understood. Strong, direct and purposeful the opening salvo
took Cranleighans deep into Worth territory. But as before, the pressure was
absorbed and chances frittered away. OCs were soon unhappy, as a raking clearance
from Langmead was adjudged to have been struck once he'd carried the ball
back into the 22 metre zone. Gordon-Steward again obliged from the resultant penalty
to close the gap to an uncomfortable margin.
OCs now stepped
up the pace, props Keg and Ben prominent in the loose in addition to their crushing
superiority at the scrum. Not to be outdone, front row colleague Baz Anayi
crashed over following a series of close drives, adjudged to have recollected
a bobbling ball as he powered over for the deciding score. As the crowd held it's
collective breath, the conversion again held up on the breeze, the mere seven-point
margin not enough to calm the tension in a frantic final quarter. Aware
of the need to improve points difference in the league standings, OCs opted to
go for further tries rather than penalties, yet despite camping in the Worth half
in the closing minutes, the score board proved as obstinate as the visitors.
For the hosts, Sam Jenner had a great game at flanker, well supported by Chris
Roe and the second row Lawson Kwist axis, whilst outside Langmead's class will
be sorely missed after a fine performance.
So Cranleighans march on, to what has always looked likely to be the key match of
the season, ever since the fixture list emerged. With Teddington also victorious,
but by some margin to consolidate their push for second place, OCs will know
that only victory against champions elect London Media on April 14th will realize
their promotion hopes. Media were beaten at TD earlier in the season in the
most heroic manner. A repeat of that commitment and passion will bring the season
to an epic conclusion.
Well over sixty Golden Oldies, (some well
over, others just looking that way post lunch and Tony Price's speech!) voiced
their passion for OC Rugby, roaring the team to victory in this penultimate
game. The club is buzzing, the team has come together over a concerted campaign.
Now it comes down to this, one game to go one shot at glory. Tim Roles back from
honeymoon (!), Tom Rive to miss brother's wedding and fly back from NZ for
the game (!!), Bluett at full volume on the touchline, President Meyer promising
champagne? Come and support, come on lads. Once more unto the breach?."OOOOOO
CCCCCCs!"
Man of the Match: Sam Langmead
Men on the Lash: Golden Oldies
OC romp sets up season finale
Old Cranleighans 79 Pelhamians
0
Old Cranleighans are right back in the promotion melting pot, as they put a
poor Pelhamians side to the sword at Thames Ditton. Thirteen tries, including
five braces reveal the gulf in class. Indeed, but for the tricky wind making conversion
something of a lottery, and a kindly official, who put the visitors out
of their misery ten minutes early, a three figure score was attainable.
Following defeat to Teddington last time out, OCs were desperate to get back on track.
Pelhamians tried hard with limited resources, but by the end this resembled
a training run, with virtually every restart returned at pace to the OP try
line. Dom Hammond slotted seven conversions, as Sam Langmead, Tom Rive, Al Lawson,
Tam and Thomas Davies grabbed two tries apiece.
The pattern was
established as early as the second minute as Rive, playing his last game this term
before returning to NZ for brother Luke's wedding, ended a period of sustained
pressure. Langmead, heavily involved throughout, followed shortly after, before
skipper Baz Anayi made a customary short charge to the line. Pelmanians were
already puffing, and allowed Davies to hold off limited cover for a fourth score.
Next a fine movement put newly-established second-row Dennis Kwist clear
with the line at his mercy. Never one to avoid route one, Kwist neglected a side-step
and ran straight into the only defender left standing, only offloading to
Al Lawson when scoring seemed the easier option! OCs were in danger of sitting
back at this stage, an untidy ten minutes finally broken as simple swift hands put Tam away to the left corner.
Thirty-six points to the good at half time, Cranleighans might well have eased back.
By the end of this period, a further forty-three points reveal a determination
to handle and play some really attractive stuff. The whole team enjoyed the
open spaces, particularly when Pelmanians were compelled to opt for uncontested
scrums. Keg, Baz an Ben in the front row operated as auxiliary flankers, and
Hammond had fun at fly-half, starting the ball rolling after the break with a long
run, finished off unopposed by Davies, one of four support runners who might
have scored. Next Lawson's faithful support was rewarded with his second, before
a steady stream of scores from Jones, Rive and Langmead continued the rout.
With the referee keen to end the visitors misery, the match climaxed in spectacular
fashion, as replacement Will Fawcett joined the party, latching on to a loose
pass and easing those old hamstrings to the line. And the crowd went wild!
Cranleighans
face two much sterner tests in the league, at home to
Worth Old Boys in two weeks, then away to league leaders London Media to finish.
This emphatic victory has helped the points difference, but all will know that
only two wins will satisfy promotion ambitions. A well attended Golden Oldies
lunch promises vociferous support for the first of these decisive fixtures, and
Cranleighans can really make that a day to remember, as victory here will set
up a thunderous League finale.
Man of the Match: Sam Langmead
Linesman of the Match: Mike Fawcett (a full workout
to and from the Pelmanians tryline!)
Dutchman of the Match: Dennis
"white line fever" Kwist
OCs lose way in Bushy Park
Teddington 13
Old Cranleighans 8
Old Cranleighan's promotion ambitions lie in the balance after this narrow
top-of-the-table defeat. Slow to start and significantly lighter at the set piece,
OC's tactics played to the Teddington pack's strengths, and despite hammering
at the hosts' line at the death, Cranleighans must acknowledge that the result
was a true reflection of a hard fought encounter.
The Teddington pack carried a stone-a-man advantage, boasting a particularly
well fed front row. From the off, the hosts looked the likely leaders, with OCs
too eager to throw isolated runners at big men. However, against the grain,
OCs took the lead, Dom Hammond punishing an offside back division. Virtually from
the restart, Teddington fly half Paul Manley, revelling in the protection of
his large forwards, levelled the score. The game settled, with neither side threatening
the opposition 22 for a period. Manley missed a simple chance in front
of the uprights, but would later make amends to take Teddington to a marginally
deserved lead at the interval.
Cranleighans now enjoyed advantage
of the slope and light breeze, and would surely look to push Teddington back
towards the corners. With total lineout domination on their own throw, and Lawson
and Hannon stealing plenty of opposition ball, the tactic was apparent. From
the restart however, an attempt to break out from deep ran into trouble. Teddington
pressed hard, and were only denied by last gasp heroics. First Graeme Brown
managed to get under both ball and prop forward on his own line. Then from the
resulting scrummage, a brilliant ankle tackle from Hammond denied Manley in
the shadow of the posts. Manley was to rue his chance, as a second straightforward
penalty miss drifted wide.
Teddington continued to exert a stranglehold however and finally the pressure told,
as loose ball was shovelled back and the clearing kick charged down. Despite
Brown's valiant effort to repeat his earlier try saving exploits, Manley just
managed to squeeze over. A thinned conversion skidded over, and suddenly Cranleighans
were ten points down. As so often this season, adversity bought out the
best in the visiting side, who finally began to play with real devil. Strong in
the maul, which marched the heavier home pack back on several occasions, OCs started
to believe. The intensity rose with Roles, Roe and Keg leading the charge.
Tom Rive put in one thunderous hit, and would claw OCs back into contention
scrambling in at the right corner after a concerted drive. Hammond's conversion
attempt drifted just wide, but it was the visitors who now held the upper hand.
As
the game built to a climax, OCs saw two tries disallowed, the first
as Nick Robinson was bundled into the corner flag in the act of touching down.
With no video link available in the depths of Bushy Park, the referee consulted
the home touch judge, who less than surprisingly confirmed the touch in goal.
Shortly afterwards, the ball was deemed knocked forward as OCs claimed a score.
With the final play of the game, OCs took a tap penalty, only for the last
gasp attempt to fizzle out in an unintentional offside malaise.
Three games to play, and the probable necessity to win all three, is the stark
equation Cranleighans now face. The top three sides all face difficult fixtures
however, and OCs still have the ability, and the will, to turn this most successful
season into tangible reward. All to play for then?.
Man of the Match: Keg
Maze of the Match: Hampton Court
Hampton Court:
Teddington prop as ball kicked direct into his crown jewels by spectator!
Cranleighans struggle through Wandsworth congestion
Old
Cranleighans 32 Old Wandsworthians 0
Old Cranleighans maintain their promotion drive with this latest victory, but will
derive little satisfaction from this forgettable game. The hosts were never in
danger of losing the game, but the first half in particular offered little quality,
OCs finally pulling clear with a late scoring burst to add a little lustre
to the scoreline.
With an almost entirely new back division introducing themselves before kick off,
OCs struggled to find any rhythm. Despite their total dominance at the set piece,
the lack of cohesion ensured a half of thud and blunder, the only highlight
a fine run from fly-half Harry Jupp, who made space for himself and gratefully
accepted the yawning gap the OW defenders offered, before gliding through to the
posts. Jupp's conversion added to his early penalty to earn a meagre ten-point
lead at the interval. OWs sit marooned at the foot of the league, and rarely
looked like visiting the OC line. Even a charge-down and break-away opportunity
seemed mired in slow motion, encapsulating a limited performance. Cranleighans
found it hard to escape from the descent into mediocrity, though Chris Roe showed
well in the back row, only finding some form in the closing minutes.
Skipper
Baz Anayi returned from the blood bin to add some typically bullocking
charges, and it was the hooker that emerged from the bottom of the pile to
claim the next score after the break, following a line out catch and drive. The
OC front row was consistently penalised for the opposition's weakness, and the
pack frustrated by OW tactics at the breakdown. Cranleighans only began to ease
clear in an exciting final quarter, realizing quick hands, superior fitness
and use of the wide open spaces were all that was required.
In rapid succession, two sweeping breaks, both featuring fine handling from second
row Al Lawson, saw long distance scores. First Nic Robinson made good yards down
the left wing, before Surinda, supporting well as ever, finished off the move
from the 22. Next Robinson himself skipped away to take the hosts well clear.
Finally, a blind side raid featuring a buccaneering run from full back Mike Darcy,
saw debutante Jumbo Jupp on hand, as Darcy was held just short.
Cranleighans
face a difficult fixture list in the coming month, with a tough
game away to improving Teddington next week. Victory in that game is sure to be
hard earned, and will require a concerted effort to improve on this lacklustre
spectacle. But, with players returning, and title aspirations bubbling to a head,
this win, however ugly, keeps OC ambition and incentive riding high.
Man of the Match: Harry Jupp
Mane of the Match: Mike Darcy
Stag spotted week early in the Park
Stoke Park
3 Old Cranleighans 29
Old Cranleighans returned to winning ways with this comprehensive victory on
a fine February afternoon. Five tries shared amongst backs and forwards tell
the tale of a fine attacking performance, though it was the close quarter defensive
work against a heavyweight pack that laid the platform for success.
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