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

Disappointed would be how I’d sum up this performance, in the first competitive fixture of the season I feel deflated. While contemplating the matches events over my Co-co Pops and cup of tea this morning I’m surely happy with a win?
True enough in years before. But this isn’t years before, this is now, and we are writing a new book. Striving for better, achieving greater and becoming more than any Worthing College side has been before.
May be the crowd full of friends, Worthing College Rugby Alumni, family, new students from across the globe and potential new students from around the county placed extra pressure on the side. In execution, not quite hitting the mark and players not quite making the grade at what is the start of certain to be the toughest of seasons to come.

So with another spoonful of crunchy poppy-ness exploding in my mouth and the magic milk somehow turning chocolaty before my very eyes, it dawned on me, “what a great win first up.” For sure I was still disappointed and so I’m sure were the players, bringing to life five clear cut chances, then leaving them strewn across the field to suffer and die like a scene from Platoon. But creation, now that is where we should be looking, the big dollar is in the new idea and while scoring trys is not a new idea the manner in which we did it confused the defense. I’m not trotting off to see the Dragons any time soon with cap in hand, but we could be onto something here, no investment from the the wealthy 5 just the 50 involved in the process.

So the game started off with Worthing playing into the wind and within 11 seconds the first penalty was conceded by the home side. Not great and with the wind at the visitors backs it was an early chance for them to get into the Worthing half. This was unfortunately the shape of things to come. Worthing eventually giving away 18 penalties to 6 and 2 yellow cards to 0 not the form of champions or even smart rugby players.
On wards and the one very exciting thing for Worthing was the shape and determination of the defensive system. Each man laying body on the line to prevent the Richmond waves crossing and for the most part it was an effective showing, but over keenness provided the visitors chances to rest, recover and either build their own or break the Worthing pressure.

But in between the Co-co pops and the toast course the exciting attacking rugby again entered my consciousness. We stretched the opposition and made life very hard for them. Into the wind there was some nice interplay on one occasion Nick White almost putting Parker in but for a foot in touch.
After some concerted attacking from the Red jerseyed side Lyons went over for the first of his two trys Pegg with the conversion.
Much almost good but not quite there attacking play followed but Worthing did cross for two more trys both converted making the final score 21-0.
The attacking pattern emerged and went away, as did parity in number first going down to 14 then 13 late in the second half. Players know when there is more to come and this side has plenty left in the early season tank.
So as a chop the last of the orange juice and munch on a couple of pre work grapes (2 of the five a day there) thoughts turn to what might have been. By my count at least one catch and drive score missed and four clear cut chances in open play this could have been a cricket score for the opener. I’d have loved to report it but then I think our players would have become yet bigger for their boots. A balanced start rough with the smooth and all that, plenty to cheer and similar to regret pleasingly everything a learning experience.

Congrats on a winning start and a clean sheet, see you Friday 7.30am