Coulson's Chatter - SEEVIC U19 XV vs Worthing College U19 XV

SEEVIC 36 Worthing 12

No there is no mistake in the score line, unlike almost every part of our game today. If a place exists where losing was an art form and being beaten by an opponent was held in high regard, we’d have a couple of properties there one in the town and one on the beach, we would be Mayor, King, President and the Law. If I were from SEEVIC I’d be asking myself two questions:

1. Where were the Worthing College side that pushed us so hard twice last season?

2. How did we conceded 12 points today?

Well the first is easy to answer, Worthing College did not bring their ‘A’ game, giving too much respect to the opposition and spent most of the day giving up the gain line. On the odd occasion we did win the gain line we were not able to finish what we had started.

In answer to the second question, Worthing played some good rugby in parts but were under too much pressure to make a real fist of the game.

The one question Worthing could ask would be “would the missing players have made the difference?”

Well a difference yes, the difference possibly. Not because they are any better than the team that played but because of what they typically bring to the game. A physicality and dynamism that on occasion was lacking today.

Long story short, SEEVIC dominated in all but the scrum, and were good value for their trys (x6) so congratulations to them.

Changes during the week did not make life easy for the Worthing side but a front row of Hoddy, Luke and Cook really took care of business at scrum time providing good ball at the base. Although the 9 - 10 link was not at its most efficient from the platform created, this in turn put pressure on the centers and stifled any offensive threat before it had begun. In the SEEVIC midfield power and size combined to place the extra stresses on Worthing in both attack and defense.
The home side looked dangerous every time they got the ball and managed to break the gain line and flood with support on a number of occasions. This made the scramble defense of Worthing key and for substantial parts of the game it kept the home side out. Unfortunately this was not good enough and Worthing were found out, there is only so long you can play without the ball before you give up the scores.

Penalty count at 14-6 against is again not good enough and this did create issues when trying to build pressure. Only trailing 7-0 in the last minute of the first half, in possession and about to clear, an easy penalty to give for the Ref ‘Side entry’. Three phases later and its 14-0 at the half.
A weak kicking game told as Worthing tried to get field position and play. Poor execution and chase let the opposition off. Pressure evaporated as poor decisions were made, and chances slipped though the fingers. This made even more difficult as normal throwers were not present, but Luke made a descent fist of it and so did Short when his time came. On opposition ball Watts, White and latterly Trencher pressured. Trencher made a big impact when he made his entrance and Reed held his own. Birch Worked hard as ever and Short was solid from 8. Laszlo tried and succeeded in hassling the halfback but too often a team infringement released the pressure valve. Leeding went well and contributed when he came on and Dixon was brilliant considering he was on the wing on a huge pitch and had very little experience in his position. White (Nick) made some excellent contributions and needs the confidence to back himself and link with his team mates of which some evidence was present. Both the Baths’ made positive contributions and Leeming was again a real leader in defense and an attacking threat at all times. Maslen was heroic in playing, Fastnedge and Lyons had a gargantuan battle for physical supremacy in midfield, which they only just lost on a split points decision.
Every man made a positive contribution unfortunately they came too far and too few apart with the SEEVIC side having the edge in nearly every department.

Lyons got over for 2 trys and made one conversion, missing the other from in front, this unfortunately typified the ‘nearly’ nature of the Worthing performance today.

On reflection this game was in result a disappointment, in performance a let down and in effort a solid 7/10. Players went on the field but didn’t play to their best, on the positive side no one gave in and the last score was from the Worthing side.

Every player can be proud of their individual effort, disappointed in the team performance but pleased to know that there is plenty more to come from this group of players. After all it is only September and we have plenty of distance to travel before we become the team we possibly could be, the team we can be, today we were the team we deserved to be.

Great effort chaps, see you Friday at 7.30am.