The 2nd XV Suffer first defeat of the season
Verulamians 2nd XV 14 - 32 Berkhamstead
It was great to see two home games for Vees 1’s and 2’s at Cotlandswick for the first time in years. An earlier kick off and VP’s lunch crowd as well as the travelling supporters from Berkhamstead RFC led to a packed touch line for start of the 2’s game.
Berkhamstead arrived undefeated this season, with a big side and Vees with a pack again of smaller but courageous front row and ‘experienced’ (old) second rows were in for a tough afternoon. Vees started the game in hesitant fashion, uncertain with the ball in hand and lacking structure.
Berkhamstead capitalised early and bullied their way over for a score , Jon Ward at 56 years young and Darren Westhead locked the scrum with a mobile back row including the returning Mike Hollister. The visitors slotted a penalty to take a 10 point lead. Vees started to play some better rugby, probing wider channels and giving quicker ball to Skipper James Ryan at 10. Vees converted pressure into points with the try machine Omar Ramdani crossing again after last week’s hat trick.
Vees were getting back in the game and starting to frustrate the opposition, forcing mistakes and pushing them back in defence. With 10 mins to go in 1st half, two turning points swung the game away from Vees. Firstly Westhead had to leave the field to be replaced by old timer Simon French, only a year younger than Ward, and definitely more unfit and more importantly after a ruck near Vees line, No 8 Hollister was given his marching orders for a punch right in front of the ref despite claims of it being retaliation.
Half time 7-10 to the visitors but they were clearly concerned as they brought on even more beef…they feed them well at Lockhart Field. This initially counted for little as prop Louis Wosnitzka again showed his power, pace and guile to clear up a wayward line out throw, dummy his way passed the back line and sprint over from 30 yards. The conversion from full back Manley gave Vees a 14-10 lead but the final 30 minutes were to be very tough for the home side.
With better cohesion and some aggressive ball carriers, the visitors pounded away as Vees fringe defence. Vees lost Ryan to injury and Ward to old age which saw the willing Ellis (wing) and then Golding forced into 2nd row duties. Vees 7 man pack was pushed off the ball and the visitors’s 6ft 8’ James Bond Villain at 2 in the line, ensured the home side’s supply of ball dried up and Berkhamstead scored 4 further tries to finish with a well deserved but hard fought 32-14 victory.
The first defeat for the 2’s this season but huge credit to the whole squad for never giving up and once again wearing the jersey with pride. Too many players to mention everyone but a man of the match performance from Lewis Wosnitzka and big shifts put in by Tom Golding, Matt Ellis and Ciaran Hennessy. Another youngster in Ollie Gardner (42) also pulled on the jersey again looking like he’d never been away, with Vees as ever willing to give youth a chance.
Right , who’s next !!!!
