OLD MID-WHITGIFTIANS 20 WEYBRIDGE VANDALS 48

Vandals took out their frustration at not playing the previous Saturday with a pulsating, powerful performance against a side, who potentially were at one stage lying with them for the runners-up position in the league. With Reeds Weybridge confirmed already as Champions after their thumping victory against Old Haileyburians, Vandals are in a prime place to take the second promotion spot, and if they can continue to play in a committed and passionate fashion, and produce a thrilling brand of rugby as they did against the Mid-Wives, as they affectionally called, they have every reason to believe they can achieve their goal. Struggling initially to show their pedigree and only leading by four points at half-time, they put in a masterful display after the interval, scoring 31pts with the execution of each try demonstrating fine team work, and excellent individual skills.

Mid-Whitgiftians took advantage of Vandals not dealing with the kick-off to pile on early pressure. Opting for the scrum when awarded to penalties in quick succession, they moved the ball to mid filed and drove over for the opening try, which they converted. A penetrating thrust from Vandals centre Cassian Branham-Law, wo was a powerful influence for his side, set up a good position deep inside the attacking 22, and Captain Adam Bullett, who had another strong game, forced his way over. Scrum half Dave Loubser and flanker Harrison Edgerson, his usual Belli Gerent Self, kept Vandals on the front foot, but Mid-Wives did win possession back and looked dangerous in a mid-field break, but superb play by Vandals lock forward Richard Crabb, who made several meters after an outrageous dummy, found Greg Lynch in support ;and the full back sped away for the try which Joe Spencer converted. Mid-Wives quickly reduced Vandals lead with a penalty, and with their scrum half make a fine break from deep, it appeared they were to take the lead, but his pass to his winger was way off target, they did kick a second penalty to go one point in front, but crucially Vandals scored again on the stroke of half-time, with Braham-Law powering forward again and setting up a try for Theo Barkway-Hall. This must have dented the home side’s morale, as Vandals had scored this try down to fourteen men, Flanker Jon Cottam having been harshly sin-binned.

The early minutes of the second half were evenly matched with both sides looking for the chance to take control. But it was a defence splitting break by Vandals fly half Harry Weatherall which paved the way for his side’s renewed ascendancy. Back row players Edgerson, Joshua Carter and Cottam now restored to the ranks were now storming forward putting more pressure on their opponents, and it was no surprise when Branham-Law burst over for the try. Brimming with confidence the same player powered through a desperate defence to score again after good possession from a line-out with the conversion from Weatherall Vandals total climbed to 39 pts, leaving their opponents with a mountain to climb. Mid-Wives fought back and did eventually score a try under the posts from a tap penalty having thrown away a golden chance minutes earlier. Any thoughts they had of scoring again quickly evaporated as Vandals came raging back with three scores. First Lynch bamboozled the defence with a weaving run for his second try, and then Barkway-Hall showed similar skills to record his double. Finally Weatherall showed a clean pair of heels to score a try which his overall performance deserved, his conversion and those of earlier tries took Vandals final total to 48. In on the triumph for the final minutes, were prop Jack Woodhouse replacing legend Wayne Mason, flanker Karl Hoade, and centre Dan Wellden whose fleet of foot caused even more problems for the homeside.

Written by John Farrow