Captain Larry opening the season strong with this match report for the first game of the 22/23 season Vs Reeds Weybridge.
Game week 1, Racal Decca entertained an away fixture to surrey rivals Reeds Weybridge in the picturesque Whitely village in Hersham. Although a strong team on paper Friday night, Decca were resigned to a solid 14 come Saturday (and what a 14 at that!)…
Freedom day (South Africa national holiday – on Thursday) was continued by Hellman until the early hours of Monday (3rd October). Tokyo Alan was also not available… He succumbed to a particular variant of Saki brewed and distilled in a small costal village outside of Yokohama…Distilled with nothing more than an open fire and a beaker…. (the undercooked pork also probably played a part).
Given the lack of numbers in pre-season, and the fact the Worcester Warriors owners have been eyeing up a slice of Racal Decca and the Tolworth Arms Park…. The turbulence didn’t affect the account from the boys in Blue. The first 20 minutes ended in a stalemate with neither side being able to make a dent on the scoreline. This was even with the fact Racal Decca were operating without a fullback…. Spanish (Stonleigh) George / Jorge and Freemans Gareth sharing shifts in slotting at fullback as well as their wing positions… Venturing out into the wilderness like house cats on heat.
Even early on, Racal Decca’s assertiveness in set pieces was a thing to marvel… None more so than in the scrum. The pack consisted of Stroudenhousen, Benjamin Tailz, Luke Bojangles, Freemans Paul, Zachary the Sylar, Hazard, a few from Leatherhead and a few from Old Freemans…. The front 8 knew they had a long day in the office with the lack of numbers and witnessing the early threat from Weybridge’s dangerous outside centre. It would be Weybridge to score first, with a scintillating try that ultimately wasn’t converted.
Racal Decca would hit back not too long after.. Dancing feet quincey reminded all those who care to notice why he is called dancing feet. An innocuous chip and chase from his own 22 was regathered just short of the halfway line. Weybridge paying respect to Quincey gave him a bit of space (as nobody knew what the jester would do next)…. When Quincey was finally hauled down… Powerful strong runs from Ricky Ross, Zachary the silar & Luke-Bojangles set up a decent field position just
outside the 22…. A penalty advantage ensued….
Sir Robert Peel decided it was the right time for a drop goal attempt…. He missed….. Galliard Holmes had another chance for another drop goal…. He missed (again)….
The penalty advantage resulted in a scrum…. Benjamin Tailz filling his boots at number 8 took the ball and passed to Lakka on the short side. Paid-in-Full-Larz knowing Woody didn’t have his kicking boots on today dotted down close to the right upright…. Robert Peel took the conversion…. He missed.
The home team didn’t have to wait too long before hitting back before the half was out. The score was 12-5 at the interval.
The second half started in the same vein as the first half ended…. Continuous scrums, and Decca being rewarded penalties. Weybridge certainly had more pep in their step…. Or maybe it was because they were doing rolling subs…. (keeping in the spirit of “rugby values”, and not offering a player to make things even on the field). This was a telling factor as Weybridge were able to keep the scoreboard ticking in their favour.
Rather unfortunately Racal Decca struggled to maintain pressure on Weybridge with uncharacteristic knock-ons and wayward passing. Freemans Paul and Zachary making strong busts up the middle but resulting plays ended in scrums.
Racal Decca’s final try came after repeated red zone infringements and were awarded a penalty try with a yellow card…. This comes after Benjamin Tailz effort was deemed not to have been grounded on the line.
Racal Decca: 15; – No player, 14; – Stoneleigh Jorge, 13; – Swedish-Larz, 12; – Ricky Ross, 11; – Freemans Gareth, 10; – Galliard Holmes (Rob) 9;- Chip kick Quince 1; Leatherhead Prop – 2; – The Welsh Hazard, 3; – Zachary the Silar, 4; – Stroudenheisen 5; Freemans Paulie- 6; – Leatherhead Flanker, 7; – Luke-Bojangles, 8; – Benjamin Tailz
Tries: Swedish Larz, Penalty try