The 2nd XV Strike Again!
Two games into their long awaited return, Vee’s 2nd team once again had to regroup and dig deep to come away with a victory, this week over local rivals St Alban’s 3rds.
10 of the team had been to training on Thursday and it showed as they started quickly, echoing the 1st XV tactics of quick rucks and close passing from the forwards. Jo Brando was quickest out of the blocks carrying hard and tackling like a demon. This brought Vees early pressure and Darren Westhead barged over in the corner to open the scoring. Jimmy Ryan was unsuccessful with a tricky conversion but had a much easier kick minutes later when winger Dan Williams somehow broke a number of tackles on the left flank and cantered round under the posts.
12-0 and the large crowd of travelling supporters were hopeful of a high scoring game.
To their credit, St Albans had other ideas. A team that has clearly played a lot of rugby together, rolled their sleeves up and started to bully the visitors. A dominant scrum and skilful close quarter ball retention starved Vees of possession and led to an increase in Penalties conceded. A driving maul earned Saints their first try but Vees countered with a towering cross kick from Ryan and great chase and collision by evergreen Ross Graham. Centre Travis Fisher maintained his scoring run by scooping up the loose ball to stride under the posts. Back came Saints with another close quarter try for a half time score of 19-12.
St Albans started the 2nd half in the same vain, dominating possession and pushing Vees back with accurate kicking from their scrum half.
From one line out, Saints drove over for a score although a clear penalty infringement had been committed but unfortunately missed by the whistleblower. Minutes later Saints powerful scrum pushed over from 5 metres out. This time the referee saw an infringement and decided it warranted a penalty try.
Down 24-19 with time running out, Vees regrouped and started to attack Saints in wider channels. Having created gaps, Charlie Ricketts galloped through a tiring defence showing a clean pair of heels to all but the covering full back. Despite being tackled, Ricketts had the presence of mind to offload to spring chicken Ben Moralee who turned the clock back to sprint under the posts. Ryan converted. The score galvanised Vees and they started to earn penalties and drive Saints back with kicks deep into their half. One last patient Vees attack brought them to the try line and Charlie Ricketts scored a deserved final try. Ryan converted for a final score of 33-24.
Huge credit to Vees for the comeback but also Saints, with many players well into the twighlight of their careers but showing the metal that always makes them difficult opponents. Again it is difficult to pick out individuals in such a great team come back but thanks to Callum Ralph for stepping up from the bench after a late injury, Dan Monaghan and Lewis Wosnitzka for stepping into the front row to cover injuries and Dan Williams who ran and tackled strongly on his return to the blue and gold. Last but not least Kevin Sheppard making his season debut at 61! Now, who’s next?????
Written by Simon French
