Reeds Secure Battling Bonus Point Win
REEDS WEYBRIDGE 32 SIDCUP 13
Sidcup RFC were founded 142 years ago, but this is their first visit to Reeds Weybridge ground at Whiteley Village. It hasn’t been a successful season for the visitors so far, but a close look at the table shows that they have lost most of their games by narrow margins. It was Presidents Lunch Day, that guaranteed a huge crowd to cheer their heroes to victory. They needed that help as the visitors, down the slope. exerted all the pressure in the first quarter with their 10putting on a kicking masterclass to secure some great field position. However, Reeds have a splendid defensive record and Sidcup hammered on the front door, but despite having the best of the possession, they couldn’t kick the door down. Inevitably in these defensive circumstances, penalties are conceded, two in quick succession banged over by Josh Twyford, the visiting fly half, Reeds were six points adrift and Sidcup were in the red zone looking for more, they came so close to extending their lead with another long-range penalty shot but it missed by fractions. However, Reeds were in charge of the lineout through skipper Herbie Finn and Joe Wastie and especially the tight scrums where the two Day brothers and Josh Brown shunted the Sidcup pack around all afternoon. That quality possession, allowed Ollie Palmer, Reeds scrum half who is such an excellent reader of the game to unleash the back division. Billy Maddock was causing all sorts of problems for the Sidcup defence in the midfield and that gave space out wide for wingers Marcus Clark and Joe Moriarty, they take some stopping and their work led to a number of incursions into the Sidcup 22 only to be stopped by great defending or small errors. Eventually however these incursions allowed Reeds to set up camp with a series of attacks in the five-metre zone. A rolling maul with Josh Brown at the back rumbled forward, Brown pirouetted off the back and Reeds had their first try of the day. The conversion attempt drifted wide, signalling halftime. Reeds were still a point behind at 5 – 6, but they had the benefit of the slope and the breeze to come.
Perhaps Reeds over used the kicking option in that third quarter, as the Sidcup backs had shown they had the necessary firepower and the ability to attack from deep in their own half. Reeds then decided to pin Sidcup down with a series of lineout drives and punishing scrums. It was Josh Brown who collected his second try of the day as once again he pirouetted off the back of the maul and touched down, the conversion went over and Reeds had a tenuous six-point lead at 12 – 6. More Reeds pressure and it was conversion specialist Jack Jesty, Reeds No 10, who slotted the vital penalty that put Reeds ahead by more than one score at 15 – 6. Up front, Reeds forwards were in control, another lineout in the five-metre zone, this time it was the ubiquitous front row forward, Lennon Day who touched down, he loves to run the ball and he barged his way over in an unstoppable manner for a seven pointer to make it 22 – 6. Sidcup realised they were going to have to run their limited possession to get back into the game, some hurried passing in midfield, great press defence from Reeds and the ball went astray and there was young Jesty on to the ball in a flash, a kick downfield led to a kindly bounce and he was under the sticks for the killer blow to make it 29 – 6. Bonus point win secured as there was no way the visitors were going to overturn that deficit, but they came back strongly in the closing moments when Reeds were down to 14 men for a high tackle by substitute Douw Styger whom we welcome back from Richmond Rugby Club – the possession was spun wide, then back inside and a jinking run from Luke Sheridan the winger put him under the posts for a seven pointer. With the clock on red, Reeds came back strongly with Herbie Finn securing the kick off in dominant fashion and charging downhill – they were awarded a penalty, and decided to collect the three extra points to make it 32 – 13 and close the game out.
Yet another stand-out performance from skipper Herbie Finn earned him his third Man of the Match Award of the season. He is such a talismanic, inspirational leader who is central to Reeds success this season.
Man of the Match – Skipper Herbie Finn
Team: Lennon Day / Rhys Day / Josh Brown / Will Scott / Herbie Finn (capt) / Michael Wasko / Cameron Goodwin / Chuggs Wallis / Joe Wastie / Douw Styger / Alex Corner (vice capt) / Ollie Palmer / Jack Jesty / Marcus Clark / Billy Maddock / Josh Clark / Joe Moriarty / Jack Grady.
Reeds next league game is on December 2nd against London Cornish – Away