Error strewn Reeds Display hands Cup to Battersea

PAPA JOHNS – SOUTH PLATE COMMUNITY CUP – FINAL
BATTERSEA IRONSIDES 18 REEDS WEYBRIDGE 3

Reeds Weybridge have finished third in the league and reached the final of the Community Cup competition, by any standard a highly successful season. Reeds achievements have been centred around their all-court style of play, unleashing their strong back division, however, in the wet conditions that prevailed last Saturday, Battersea put the Reeds attacks under intense pressure, there were frequent handling errors, and Reeds were pinned down in their own half for long periods by a side that were not short of passion and commitment and kicked well.

From the kick off, Reeds were locked into a desperate defensive battle delivering a series of try saving tackles, however with the Reeds defence up tight, it was inevitable that penalties would be conceded and Battersea collected a fairly straightforward three points from in front of the posts albeit from distance. Up front, Reeds were in dominant form, the two young Day brothers and Josh Brown shunted the Battersea pack around all afternoon and that allowed Ollie Palmer Reeds No 9 to fire out some trademark, long distance passes. However, it was one of those wet days when attacks can break down and Battersea were quick to hoist the ball back into Reeds territory. They set up camp on Reeds five metre line, Reeds committed defence did so well to prevent the forward charges from close range, but with the back row cover locked into the forward exchanges, the possession was spun out wide allowing a try by the flag and a long-range conversion, Battersea were into a ten-point lead. With thirty minutes on the clock Battersea extended their lead following a lengthy spell in Reeds territory, followed by a series of rucks and mauls which rumbled over the line and Reeds were fifteen points adrift. Reeds hit back when Jack Jesty hoisted a long-range penalty just before the break and a subsequent kick drifted wide but it was Battersea who looked to have a firm grip on the game at half time being 15 – 3 up.

The wet conditions dictated the Battersea game plan, hoist the ball up-field and chase down any response, it was a plan that succeeded as Kitan Ojo and Marcus Clark, Reeds potent finishers, couldn’t break out of their own half and given the territorial advantage a Reeds comeback was unlikely, late on Battersea collected another three points to seal the win. This was a day when Reeds were put on the back foot far too many times through their own mistakes and which at times put them under huge pressure and whilst it might be argued that Reeds scrum dominance deserved more from the referee the better side on the day won. A painful defeat that hopefully the team will learn from and hold us in good stead for next season.

Team: Josh Brown / Rhys Day / Lennan Day / Ollie Tack / Shannon Fullen / Cameron Goodwin / Herbie Finn (capt) / Joe Wastie / Lewis Jones / Luke Edwards / Simon Fozard / Ross Stratton / Michael Wasko / Toby Rawding / George Corner / Alex Corner / Ollie Palmer / Jack Jesty / Kitan Ojo / Matthew Stephenson / Jonathan Rogers / Marcus Clark / Josh Clark / Ethan Taylor

GS May 6^th

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