Dubs 0 vs Lightwater 11 (01/12/07)
With Lightwater dropping out of Surrey 3 last season, it had been a while since we met up, and with the reformed team enjoying a good position in the table it seems to be a welcome return to the leagues. With the newly crowned world champions in action at Twickenham before a well-deserved break, we were missing a number of our first choice Saffa's (no commitment!!) but with more depth this season we still fielded a team without too much cajoling in midweek.
The game didn't disappoint and it was a good old-fashioned game of old boys rugby from the off, with both sides competing well and closely matched in personnel. We probably had the edge over the Lightwater pack but failed to make best use of our possession, particularly from the base where good scrum yards should have been picked and carried to draw in the midfield defence before shipping the ball out wide. In the slippery conditions, the contest for the loose ball became the key area and we conceded two early penalties within scoring range which Lights duly put over to take a 6 - 0 lead. The referee was paying the breakdown area close attention and we then lost Dom to the sinbin late in the half, a somewhat harsh decision but having made himself a target for the referee, perhaps one to be expected. The half finished 6-0.
The second half started with us still a back row down, and when Lights secured good possession from a lineout 15 yards out, they got a decent rolling maul going for forward Adam Strong to go over the line. The conversion was missed, 11-0.
The game did open up as the half developed, with only some good tackling on both sides preventing further scores through the backs. Lights then lost their tighthead to the sinbin for a rather obvious and clumsy punch in front of the referee and the 6 was seconded to the front row. We should have capitalised on the man down to get back into the game with 15 minutes plus remaining, but without key playmakers around to make the right decisions, too many moves ended up going laterally and breaking down in the midfield.
All in all, it was a good physical game, played in good spirit and although we didn't pick up the away points, we are evenly matched and is it well within our abilities to make amends at the return fixture.
Photos have been posted to the Picture Galleries, thanks to Lightwater for the ones from their site which I nicked as well - please feel free to do likewise!
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