20th March 2010

Anchorians v Ashford

Following last weeks match against the same team Anchs started off well, albeit with a depleted team. The injured skipper watched from the sidelines as Alistair Parker took the team into attack from the kick off by the visitors.  The ball was well taken and immediately run back at the Ashford half forcing the first scrum of the game deep into the Ashford half following a knock on.  The Anchs pack dominated the scrum and forced the visitors backward.  Al Brown as scrum half was quick on the ball forcing an error by his opposition and a penalty against Ashford for holding on.  Richie Collins stood up for the kick and registered the first points of the game through the posts for the Anchs.  From the restart Ashford piled into the Anchs half and picking up loose ball from a charged down kick ran the ball through to register a converted try.  Anchs were now trying to make up lost ground.  Quick running by backs Collins, Tim Banner-Martin and Ben Davison pulled them back into the Ashford half and with good support from the forwards managed to seal another penalty just in front of the posts which was easily converted to 3 additional points by Collins.  A long restart by Ashford well chased by their quick backs bought them deep into Anchs territory but an excellent run and kick by Anthony O’Brien (AOB) returned the ball to the halfway line for a lineout to Ashford.  The ball was knocked on in the line out by Ashford and from the scrum Al Brown came out with ball in hand to place a well spotted grubber kick up field to find touch just inside the visitors half.  Once again the ball is knocked on by Ashford in the line out, Anchs scrum, in a powerful and concerted push maintained possession with Brown lifting the ball out to AOB.  O’Brien took the ball mid-field before popping it to Davison who, with a strong run, made another few yards with an Ashford player swinging off his back before going to ground.  However, the Referee had spotted and earlier infringement by Ashford and took Anchs back for a penalty.  AOB kicked to touch 15 metres out from the try line.  Ashford won the line out and kicked the ball up-field with a well placed clearance kick just inside the Anchorians half.  Anchs won the lineout through Richie Kyle but the ball was stolen by Ashford he hit the ground and Ashford came out running with ball in hand.  Sterling defence by Anchs kept them at bay and enabled a turn over for AOB to kick up-field which was chased by Brett Little. The Ashford winger took the ball in the air and was bundled into touch by Little.  Then, in a strange play of events the Ashford player held onto the ball and Little tried to retrieve it for the line out but was then sin-binned by the referee and a penalty awarded to the visitors enabling them to clear with a long distance kick to touch.  Anchs absorbed the pressure of playing with just 14 men but inevitably the pressure against them paid off and Ashford placed another try beneath the posts which was easily converted to bring the half time score to 6-14.

Starting the second half, still one man down Anchs came back at Ashford but the additional man enabled Ashford make a return visit to the Anchs half.  Once again, bodies were placed on the line and Kyle was taken off injured, replaced by Phil Dedman.  Anchs managed to sustain the defensive line for the duration of the binning without conceding any more points.  Now back up to full strength Anchs made a strong run into the Ashford half and forced and error by the visitors who conceded a penalty at the limits of Collins range which fell short enabling the Ashford winger to pick up loose ball and charge back up-field before being bundled to the ground with a well placed tackle by Craig Whiting. Ashford retained possession and kicked to touch in an effort to clear the attacking Anchorians from their half.  Anchs won the line out and quick ball across the field enabled Collins to make a strong run through the middle supported by Parker who took the ball from Collins making another couple of valuable yards before going to ground.  Ryan Dowling, now playing at scrum half after Brown was substituted by Kenton Parbutt, lifted the ball and passed it to AOB who placed a well placed kick up-field to touch 5-metres out.  Anchs piled the pressure on the Ashford line and a series of 8-penalties were awarded to Anchs inside the Ashford 22 before the referee decided to ‘bin’ one of their players for collapsing a maul.  Now with the one man advantage Anchs were desperate to make the most of it but strong defence and quick feet enabled Ashford to hold out until Collins picked up quick ball from Parbutt to place the ball in the corner for a try to Anchs.  Unfortunately the angle and distance were just too tight and the conversion was unsuccessful leaving the score at 11-14.  Anchs continued with the majority of possession but just couldn’t get over the try line.  In the dying minutes Ashford started to use the chip and chase but excellent defence and quick legs by Banner-Martin and Davison prevented the score.  Anchs came back, desperate to make one last score.  Again, Ashford gave away a series of penalties to allow the Anchs to gain ground and get within kicking range.  With the final kick of the game Collins slid a 37-metre kick through the posts to make the final score 14-14.  It wasn’t a glorious game and there were many errors made by Anchs and Ashford.  Undoubtedly Ashford will leave our ground knowing that they had played a tough game of rugby today; a game which had been played with true Anchorian grit and determination not to lose.  It was a shame that we couldn’t score the last try but we maintained composure throughout and demonstrated composure and professionalism.
 
Gillingham Anchorians Man of the Match is Wayne English for supporting play throughout the game, working strongly in the background and without his tackles the result may well have been very different

Next weeks game Saturday 27 March away at Cranbrook.  3 o’clock kick off.

Reported by Clive Davison