Match report by Simon McCullough
Vees tickled pink to win local derby
Verulamians RFC met Old Albanians
on Friday night in aid of a very special cause. Vees sported a new pink strip,
courtesy of skipper Matt Luckhurst, in aid of cancer
research. A good crowd on a chilly, clear November evening turned up to donate
and in anticipation of a high scoring game. They weren’t to put disappointed.
Vees were quickest out of the traps and began to dominate the lineout which gave
them valuable ball from which to build a platform. Vees began a try scoring
spree through tries from Ross Graham, vice captain Rob
Saunders, and the fastest fliers since the Wright Brothers – Ashley and Darren
Westhead. Simon McCullough converted two from four for
a half time lead of 24-0 to Vees.
This shocked the OAs into a number
of half time substitutions to try to retrieve something from the game. Vees
threw what worked in the first half out the window and began to make elementary
errors. OAs began to make ground through the middle
and within the twenty minutes were level on points. The crowd began to sense
that it was going to be a tense finish. Vees worked a number of phases and move
the ball wide with great vision from Saunders. Winger
The game began to get niggly as
both sides realised what was at stake. After returning to what they do well and
ditching the John Wells coaching manual Vees began to win a number of rucks close to the opposition twenty-two. With numbers being
sucked in to defence Saunders sensed the opportunity to drop into the pocket.
Having done so he successfully imitated another local amateur
player and scratched the crossbar with his drop goal. He is still waiting
for the cheque. There was still just enough time for Vees to seal a 30-24 win
with a late penalty from McCullough.
Once overheads were taken out of the equation a whopping £412.02p was raised for charity. It was fitting that Steve Mather, following line-out domination on a Victor Matfield scale, should receive the man of the match award after losing his father to cancer in recent weeks. Special thanks to all involved including the match referee.