Match report: Southwark Lancers 25 – Greenwich RFC II 10

Despite conceding an early converted try Greenwich’s pack started to totally dominate Southwarks forwards in the first half and the pressure built until Stuart Winfield broke the Southwark defence to score his first try for Greenwich RFC. Greenwich were unable to convert the score but managed to keep the pressure on Southwark for the rest of the half. With the ball moving well through the backs and strong running from new South African centre Enard, Greenwich worked a good try for number 8 Gerard Vallely but were again unable to convert. An excellent break in the last 5 minutes of the half from Enard, Wilson Miguel and Ross Knapp with some neat passing almost ended in a try but a last ditch tackle on Wilson Miguel from Southwark put the ball into touch. Greenwich were punished for their indiscipline at the ruck with Southwark kicking two penalties before half time.

The second half started well enough for Greenwich after making 3 substitutions. Despite winning the ball in another Southwark scrum, a mix up between the half backs and the pack led to Southwark running in another converted try against the run of play. Indiscipline from both sides at the breakdown led to the game becoming very scrappy and Greenwich were punished with Southwark kicking two more penalties. With frustration growing Gerard Vallely was sinbinned, effectively ending his game. The Greenwich pack still remained dominant but a lack of fitness started to show in the last 20 minutes.

The game ended 23-10 but GRFC had some very promising performances from it’s new half back pairing and centres and the tight five will take a lot of confidence from its performance. Hopefully as the new players become more familiar with each other the GRFC 2nd team should seriously start to challenge for the Kent Metropolitan Late Red League title when their season starts on the 4th October against Kings College II’s

T- Vallely, Winfield
C-
P-

MoM- 3: Winfield
2: Corbin
1: Sam Knapp

Line up: Gavin Blackston, Tony Smith, Sam Knapp, Mike Corbin, Ross Knapp, Stuart Frost, Gerard Vallely, Sam Nutland, Bruno Boucherikha, Stuart Winfield, Enard, John Lambie, Wilson Miguel, Dave Jones

Subs: Dan O’Niel, Ross Phillimore, Richard Hatch, James Lambert