Droitwich RFC News from February 2008

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Droitwich Under 7's vs. Evesham

Sunday, February 24, 2008

On Sunday morning Droitwich Under 7’s made the short trip to Evesham finishing as the better side over two hard matches.

The first match was a 4 - 4 draw with tries for Droitwich scored by Arthur Carter, George Hale, Ryan Reynolds and Harry Alldritt.

Droitwich emerged as 4 - 1 winners from the second match where the try scorers were Tom Hale (2), Joseph Neale and Joe Corlett.

Following excellent winning performances against Dudley Kingswinford and Nuneaton during the previous two weeks, February has been a very successful month for the under 7’s. Well done!

Droitwich under 15's beaten at the quarter-final stage of the North Midlands Cup by Hereford

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Droitwich played hosts to Hereford for this quarter final tie, on a blustery morning both teams eagerly took the field and commenced to test each other out. The first fifteen minutes of the half was a very evenly matched affair with both teams probing and pressurising each other trying to find the opportunity to open the scoring. Hereford after some persistent pressure finally broke through the Droitwich try line diving over to score and also completed the conversion. The rest of the half saw both teams pressing with Droitwich narrowly missing a penalty and some dogged defence by both teams, the half finished Droitwich 0 Hereford 7.

The second half started much the same way as the first half finished with both teams pressing in attack and defence to score or defend their try line. Droitwich were nearly rewarded for excellent defensive play when Sam Cave intercepted a pass only to be judged to have knocked it on. The game continued to follow a clearly defined pattern with both teams pressing and defending in numbers. Hereford continued to have the better run of the ball, and not being penalised for; flooding the breakdown area and persistent knock-on’s maintained pressure on the Droitwich defence. Hereford used this to their advantage scoring their second try in the corner which was not converted. Hereford pressed home their point’s advantage to run in two more tries in the corner after some effective scrimmaging, but without converting either. The final try of the game came after Hereford turned over a Droitwich line out and dived through to score in the corner, this try was converted.

Special mentions must go to Alex Moore for some excellent distribution and passing; Sam O’Brien for a captain’s performance.

Overall this was an improved performance from Droitwich, in which the score did not reflect the pattern of the game. There were a number of instances in the game where if not only a referee but two official linesmen were in attendance perhaps the result would have been a lot closer.

The final score: Droitwich 0 - Hereford 29.

Sponsor's (The “Smithsteel”) man of the match: There were two player who stood out in this match Jack Knight of Droitwich and Charlie Bird of Hereford. Well done to both of you.

Droitwich 10 - Edwardians 3

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Droitwich turned in a thoroughly dire performance on Saturday, but just managed to hang on to claim victory against bottom of the table Edwardians.

Droitwich were without regular outside half Duncan Hughes, so Matt Blackmore was given the kicking duties, but suffered a complete nightmare missing all five of his attempts on goal, including two in front of the posts.

The game started brightly enough with Jon Andrews carrying strongly to feed Jonny Critchlow who threw a long pass to find winger Craig Mortlemans to score. Shortly after Ross Coombes made a superb break to sprint home from 40 metres. The visitors hit back with a penalty, and were unlucky not to score when Critchlow’s wild pass was intercepted.

The second half proved completely pointless in more ways than one. Both teams looked devoid of ideas and made a catalogue of unforced errors and dropped passes. The only highlight of the half was the strong running of veteran Nick Godfrey and the clever work of Steve Poke. The final whistle brought relief to the crowd who had been watching the poor spectacle.

Droitwich will have to massively improve on this performance if they are to make a serious bid for promotion. A philosophical Blackmore added after the game, “We were awful today and make no excuses, the only consolation was that we won. And as for my kicking, the least said the better!”

Droitwich U15's 11 - Ledbury U15's 15

Sunday, February 17, 2008

This match was a disjointed affair with both teams suffering throughout with recurring penalties and mishandling. The match started off very even with both teams probing for openings and testing the oppositions defence. Droitwich put the first points on the score sheet with a move constructed by Sam O’Brien who neatly laid on the pass for Sam Cave to slip through the Ledbury defence to score the opening try of the game, Oliver Swift was unlucky with the conversion from an acute angle which hit the cross bar and bounced out. The game continued to be littered with penalties and errors which didn’t allow either side to play their normal flowing style of rugby; Droitwich took advantage of some good positional kicking, which allowed Oliver Swift to add a drop goal to Droitwich score. In the later stages of the first half Ledbury finally opened their account with a try in the corner after some well constructed positional kicking and line out play, the first half finished Droitwich 8 - Ledbury 5.

The second half continued in much the same way as the first, with errors breaking up some good positional and attacking plays by both sides and good defensive kicking keeping the game in the middle of the field. Droitwich again opened the scoring with an Oliver Swift penalty, which Ledbury quickly responded to with a penalty themselves. The game became a midfield battle with both teams pressing for the score which looked likely to win this very close match. As the final few minutes were ticking down Ledbury were pressing the Droitwich try line and charged down a defensive clearance allowing them to run in for a try and kick the conversion. Droitwich pressed from the restart, pushing Ledbury back to their own try line and continued to probe for an opening as the clock ticked down and also well aware that the ball must be kept alive, to have any opportunity to score themselves. Finally, it was an error induced penalty which brought the game to an end.

Droitwich 36 - Berkswell & Balsall 20

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Droitwich eventually managed to subdue a stubborn Berkswell and Balsall side at the Memorial Ground on Saturday to keep up their push for promotion.

Several changes were made from the previous week: veteran Jon Andrews returned to number 8; and young winger Andy Vizor made his first league start.

The Spa side seemed to take an age to get out of the blocks by which time Berkswell had scored a try in the corner to take the lead. Droitwich did then get their act together with Jon Andrews scoring a try with a pick-up from the back of a ruck. Duncan Hughes converted.

Scrum half Steve Poke increased Droitwich's lead by picking up from the back of a scrum and squeezing over in the corner.

The home side then tried to run the ball from their own ’22, only to gift possession back to Berkswell, who used the blind side intelligently to level the score. A penalty by each side ended the scoring for the first period.

The second half saw Droitwich up their game, creating pressure in the Berkswell half, before ever alert outside half, Hughes, intercepted a loose pass to gallop 40 metres to give the Spa side the lead again.

More pressure by the home side saw them press to get the vital score to clinch victory, but crucially they were unable to go over; due mainly to good defence and over elaboration by the Droitwich side. Berkswell managed to clear their lines, and create pressure of their own to score a try, although, crucially, the simple conversion was missed to leave Droitwich with a slender two point lead with fifteen minutes to go.

The home side now managed to find another gear, and a good lineout take by Sweeney was driven dynamically by the Spa forwards, a full fifteen metres before the ever alert Nick Godfrey peeled off to score. Hughes added the conversion.

Good ground by Phil Horton set up one more attack for Matt Blackmore and Mark Strutt to make good yardage, a long pass was thrown to Critchlow who cut, incisively, through the defence to put the result out of doubt.

A satisfying display by Droitwich, which sets up an intriguing end to the season, a sentiment echoed by winger Mark Strutt “we took a while to get going today, and to be fair, Berkswell tackled very strongly, but it shows how well we have developed as a team to keep going until the chances came.”

Bredon Buzzards 19 - Droitwich U15's 3

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Droitwich found themselves again on the road this time visiting Bredon RFC.

The match started off at a brisk pace with Droitwich pressing from the kick off looking to take advantage of some early pressure and forcing Bredon back into defending their try line. Droitwich were rewarded with some early points when Bredon conceded a penalty which Oliver Swift converted to give Droitwich an early 3 to nil lead.

The contest moved into a phase of positional play, each team utilising their kicking game to attack and defend the try lines. Bredon exerted some strong pressure to force their first try of the match and duly converted it. Droitwich continued to press creating a number of chances but were not able to convert these chances into points. Bredon took advantage of this and scored their second try of the half, but missed the conversion. The half closed out with a score of Droitwich 3 Bredon 12.

The second half continued in much the same pattern of play as the first, Droitwich pressing for an opening and not being able to convert possession and position into points when presented with the opportunity, whereas Bredon scored on their only opportunity to increase their points total with a try and conversion.

The match then balanced itself out with both teams having their fair share of possession and opportunities only to be denied at the last moment. In summary this was a close game, in which the score didn’t reflect its true competitiveness and if not for the missed opportunities it could have been a lot closer.

Bedworth 7 - Droitwich 28

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Droitwich did well on Saturday to subdue a stubborn Bedworth side, and eventually run out 28 points to seven winners.

In superb spring like conditions both sides chose to keep the ball in hand with good ground by dynamic full back Matt Blackmore resulting in a penalty, which the ever reliable Duncan Hughes slotted.

The home side hit back with some indecision in the Spa ranks gifting them possession. Also a lack of communication by Droitwich allowed a forward surge to score, the conversion was kicked giving Bedworth the lead.

Hughes hit back with a penalty, before a clever run by Sean Walker saw Stevie Poke run infield to feed the effervescent Jonny Critchlow to power over. Hughes added the conversion.

The second period saw the Spa side raise their game. Number 8 Sam Herrington powered forward to find Poke in support to race home from 40 metres.

Godfrey was now ruling the roost as far as loose ball was concerned, and if Droitwich had not been guilty of over complicating affairs on a number of occasions they would surely have scored more points. A great kick by Critchlow saw Paul Sweeney claim a lineout take, for the irrepressible Godfrey to score.

This good result keeps Droitwich firmly in second place in the league. After the game team manager Paul Walker added, “We played some good stuff today, especially with two debutants on board. The rest of the season is a challenge we are relishing.”

Droitwich 9 - Cullompton 23

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Droitwich’s Twickenham dream came to an end when they were defeated by a talented Cullompton side on Saturday.

In blustery conditions the visitors started brightly using their mobile pack to run at Droitwich to make good ground. The home side, though, kept plugging away and making yardage through good runs by Dean Goddard and Phil Horton.

A penalty was awarded and the reliable Duncan Hughes added the three points.

A typically strong run by Jonny Critchlow found Nick Godfrey in support, but he could not quite get the pass away, for what would have been an almost certain score.

Cullompton hit back with a penalty of their own, before quick ball from a scrum was passed down the line. Droitwich allowed the attackers too much space and the very pacey left winger breezed over unopposed. Droitwich hit back with two more Hughes penalties.

The second half was always going to be difficult for the Spa side, playing into the stiff breeze, but their cause was not helped by constantly kicking away possession, especially bearing in mind the visitors had a very fast and very talented back three.

Another two penalties from Cullompton saw them stretch their lead, before another aimless kick by the home side saw the visitors counter attack and go the length of the pitch to score the decisive try.

Droitwich came back strongly in the last few minutes, but it was too little too late as they pounded the visitors’ line, but were unable to cross it.

Overall the best side won, but it must be said if Droitwich had taken their chances, and not insisted on kicking away too much possession they may have faired better.

After the game a disappointed captain, Dean Goddard, added “We are naturally very disappointed, but we are second in the league and have everything to play for, so we will put this setback behind us.”

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