Academy back to winning ways

After the disappointment of last Sunday, the visit of our local friends and rivals Old Reigatians to the Meads presented the Academy players with an opportunity to refocus.

With both teams comprising big squads the intention was to play 3 x 20 minutes, enabling everyone to get a fair crack at game time; additionally, a surfeit of forwards also gave the Academy coaches the opportunity to play some of the pack in the backline.

Game one started brightly with the Academy receiving the kick off. After some initial probing of respective defences, we were over the try line for a nerve settling five points. Halfway into the first period Old Reigatians replied with an unconverted try of their own. Both teams were evenly matched; and whilst parity could have led to an attritional stalemate, instead both sides were up for a competitive contest. The break, when it came, fell to the Academy who worked the ball into the ’22 before going over for a converted try. Score 12-5.

Effectively, with player rotation, there were two new teams on the pitch for game 2; and both sides were eager to pick up where their colleagues had left off. However, whilst the contest did not lack for intensity and incident, it did risk concluding with no points being added to the scoreboard. There was no shortage of good rugby on display, but this was a period where defences - at time frenetic - were to the fore. Numerous attacking plays by both teams were quashed by the opposition; however, in the last period of the game, Old Reigatians finally broke the deadlock with a converted try to level up the score 12-12.

For both teams the final period had the added spice, therefore, of winner takes all; and on this occasion, with 15 unanswered points, the Academy took the spoils. An early unconverted try started the ball rolling and whilst Reigatians has numerous opportunities to add to their tally, the Academy’s defence held. Having scored early, it was not until the latter stages of the game that a brace of Academy tries sealed the win. Final score 27-12.

Positives for the Academy across all three games include bragging rights at the scrum and lineout; although we need to be wary of encroaching offside and controlling the set piece more - a few unforced penalties and free kicks could have been avoided. From a coaches’ perspective the maturity of the performance, this early in the season, across the whole squad was encouraging and hopefully bodes well for the rest of the year. So still plenty to focus on in training, but also plenty of positives that we can take back on the road to Sutton & Epsom next Sunday.

A big Thank you to Peter H for bringing his whistle out of semi -retirement and reffing the Match