First Defeat for Plucky As

The A XV travelled to Thurrock last Saturday for the third game in their Merit Table campaign. Since the last outing a combination of injury, 1st XV call ups, departures to university and general unavailability had cut a swathe through their ranks, leaving just six players from last weeks squad remaining.

A frantic week of texting and grovelling swelled the ranks slightly but by Thursday’s night training session it was still looking bleak. Only one prop, one lock and three or four gaps in the backline. More calls to Clapton players ensued but still to no avail.

At the last minute the call for assistance was answered by three members of the Hemel Stags Rugby League team. Two brothers, Barry John and .Gareth Swindells, sons of an obvious fan of early 1970’s Welsh rugby, and an Australian mate of theirs. This left Clapton with an awesome back line but still light up front. Dave Allen was called up for his first senior match meaning usual hooker Lyndon Franklin, had to switch to prop with Allen slotting into the vacant hooker berth. The failure of a couple of players to turn up on the morning of the match meant that Clapton had to travel with a bare fifteen. This resulted in A XV coach, Gary Watts, having to put on his kit for the first time in two seasons and take his place on the substitute’s bench.

Thurrock had a big, experienced pack and a back line full of bulk, so the game plan for the day was simple; avoid the tight play wherever possible and try to play a fast, open game that would hopefully tire the opposition out by half time and allow Clapton to run riot in the second period. Best laid plans….

Thurrock kicked off and within minutes they were seven points ahead. Knock-on from the kick off, five meters from the Clapton try line; destruction of the Clapton scrum and a push-over try for the Thurrock Number Eight.

This initial setback was soon forgotten as the visitors went straight on the offensive from the restart kick resulting in a kickable penalty opportunity for fly-half, Gary Akers; 7-3.

Twenty minutes into the match and an injury to Matt ‘Doodles’ McDonald meant that ‘Old Man’ Watts had to join the action much earlier then he’d hope for; a five minute cameo at the end of the match would have been more then sufficient.

Thurrock again attacked through ‘route one’ and the much lighter Clapton pack were unable to prevent the driving maul from crossing their try line; 12-3.

Akers took the restart kick and as the waiting receiver caught the ball he was hit by both junior and senior Watts in a simultaneous tackle. In the larger picture of the match a pretty insignificant action that probably barely registered in the mind of the son but to the father, a genuine ‘tear in the eye’ moment.

Again Clapton attacked; B.J. Swindells bursting through tackles and motoring into the Thurrock twenty-two. A last gasp tackle from the home fullback just managed to bring down the Clapton man but B.J. was able to offload to the supporting Tim Philps. What looked like a definite score was prevented by a superb covering tackle but Clapton now had the momentum.

The power and running lines of the league boys was a pleasure to behold and as the first half came to an end, it was the visitors that finished stronger; Michael Goodman going over in the corner. 12-8.

Clapton started the second half on the front foot. A perfectly flighted kick off from Akers; Thurrock receiver smashed to the ground by the chasing Watts (senior); not releasing on the floor; penalty to Clapton; Akers three more points; 12-11.

Thurrock are a good team who beat Wanstead by 59 points last week and any thoughts of the Clapton youth and pace taking control of the match were soon dashed by another two Thurrock tries, both coming courtesy of their pack; 24-11.

Akers kept the visitors in touch with two more penalties taking the score to 24-17.

Doodles re-entered the fray after Watts senior had to leave the field following a reoccurrence of an old injury.

The match was now finely balanced with the power of the Thurrock forward play being countered by the flair and invention of the U.C. backs.

With ten minutes remaining, the Thurrock forwards again crossed the Clapton line and it appeared from the touchline that, with the score now at 31-17 and only a few minutes remaining, the visitors were dead and buried but nobody told the Clapton players that.

The last few minutes of the game saw U.C. camped in the Thurrock half and following a move that dragged the defence from one side of the pitch to the other, Michael Watts ran in the second Clapton try. Akers again converting, 31-23.

The match was now in its dying moments but Clapton still refused to admit defeat. Wave after wave of red and white battered against the Thurrock defense with Clapton coming tantalizingly close to another score in the final play of the game. Quickly recycled ball at the breakdown; fast hands in the backline and a gap on the outside for Goodman. Not to be. The pass to Gooders was slightly behind him causing him to check his run in order to catch the ball and giving the covering defense time to close the gap.

Final whistle and the A XV had lost for the first time this season. Clapton had come up against a very experienced team who knew how to play to their strengths and also how to play to the ref. As a learning experience for the younger Clapton players, the fixture was priceless.

That said, Clapton didn’t shy away from the confrontation and instead went toe to toe and fought for the full eighty minutes.

A loss yes, but also a great deal to be proud of.