Worthing XV 31 King Edward VI Grammar School 17

A week of defensive work eventually paid off with plenty of opportunity to put systems and individual technique under pressure via an indifferent performance.



The first half started with Worthing setting themselves the target of not conceding a penalty on the defensive side of the ball. This did not get achieved and as soon as the first minute KEGS’s Christmas arrived in the form of 15 Navy and Sky players trying to violate every law in our beloved IRB Law book. Unfortunately for the visiting side the official had decided they were indeed bending to breaking point all laws available to a modern day rugby official, his whistle was the MVP early on.



With much of the ball the home side went to work and scored a converted try under the horns, Worthing having not listened or heeded any of the officials warnings. Roberts was running for Prime Minister as he was invited into numerous high level conferences with the man in the middle. It was apparent that he has the most delicate of touches as the official allowed the traveling players to remain at 15 on the field. Until that was Pumfrey fell on the yellow card grenade for the entire back line being off side. Penalty kicked 10-5 to the home side.



Its at this point I should send Roberts directly off the pitch to purchase a Euro Millions Lotto ticket because what he did was at the farthest end of the spectrum of long odds. Sliding across the opposition 22 seeing he was outnumbered 2 to 5 he threw what can only be called an outrageous dummy sending 3 defenders in the wrong direction then a turn of ‘Bolt’ like pace was followed by the maker of sleepless nights for the KEGS 15. A step by the Wizard from the principality which made the Fullback fall without touching the intended tackle recipiant. A full length dive that Tom Daily would have been proud of and the five pointer was notched. Lyons nailed the extras Worthing by 2 at the turn.



A number of players were working hard on and off the ball, Herron was getting into good positions, Laszlo got into good turnover positions and the front row in all of its guises really took care of the scrum. Worthing spent the entire game struggling to gain any dominance in the line out and this was an issue when trying to disrupt the opposition threat and create one of our own. A work in progress.....



A raft of changes at the half way point and Worthing turned to play up the hill and into the wind with a slender lead. The half was not going quite to plan in all areas however there were morsels of delightful delectability even a fired up Gordan Ramsey would struggle to use the F word at. A period of 5mins in the middle portion of the half brought home the bacon for Worthing as combinations started to link, Parker upped the speed around the base and Pegg threatened running at 10. Pumfrey, Green and Fastnedge were challenging the defence in centre field while Lyons attacked well from deep.



Green plopped over after some good work from N White this opened or partially parted the flood gates. The best try was in the post, Wigzell turned the ball over and it was moved across the field where Lyons hit the line at pace. Penetration achieved interplay between Luke, Wigzell and then back to Lyons who finished well. 70m, 6 passes, 5 points, the highlight of the day (apart from the captain’s effort).



The game was drawing to its conclusion and the home side got over from a well worked back row play. Not wishing to be over shadowed the visitors mustered one last turn over, great sending and receiving skills with all involved stressing the defenders ended with Fastnedge notching the 5pts.



On reflection some excellent rugby in places, but for the a long time it was a disappointing trip into ‘No-skillville’ where all 23 players had an equal stake-hold. But pleasingly they organised a field trip to ‘We have played rugby before town’ population 23 (for approximately 6mins). Effort scored at 7/10, organisation 5/10, skill 6/10, Rugby understanding 5/10.



More to work on and more building blocks in place, a reasonable weeks work more to come. Monday.........