The Right Result

CSRFC 19 Tewkesbury RFC 12

 20/01/07

 On a Sad week in Chipping Sodbury Rfc History, a win was much sort after. With Tewkesbury visiting after there crushing victory earlier in the season this would prove to be a very difficult task.

 This being the first league game of 2007 for the otters after 2 games abandoned for water logged pitches nearly saw the same fate, but for the referee to give the go ahead saying” it should hold up”.The team Sodbury had put out was a formidable one, with strength, youth, speed and experience throughout.

 Right from the KO Sodbury looked focus on what they had to do and were immediately on there opponents 5m line, piling on continuous pressure the first score came quickly from rapid passer Clarke to lightweight Mark Fisher from quick ball ignoring the 2 man over lap and bundle his way through for the first try of the game. 

Sodbury Had massed most of the possession in the first half and was looking dominant but still lacked the killer ability in the red zone. Two or three opportunities went begging, were Sodbury going to rue these missed chances? Just before half time a school boy professional foul on the Tewkesbury winger brought a 10 minute brake for slender prop G. Stait. 

Now in the second half Sodbury were put under the cosh by Tewkesbury and the 14 men were defending valiantly with Pete le meat Butcher leading the way with awesome tackling taking him and his back row round the park like possessed men. But eventually Tewkesbury scored with a fine maul from the 22 to push over for first points and to convert luckily of the bar and over. 7 all with Stait back on the field Sodbury picked the pace of the game up once more with Hulk like Taylor leading the forward drive Sodbury sat in the there opponents 22.Eventually this hard worked paid of for Battered Phil Player to go over for a unconverted try. 

Soon After with great lineout work by Steve Hopes to provide quick ball of the top to send Player crashing into the weakening defence. Slightly isolated Player held up for his forwards to join and turn into a beautiful sequence of pick up and drive moves to see eventual Man O the Match Pete Le Meat Butcher drive over for a deserved try ,with Romanowski converting this gave Sodbury a commanding lead considering the dire conditions on the worsening pitch. 

The Latter stages were fought out vigorously by both teams, a slight lapse in concentration and poor tacking let the young Trfc Full back score in the corner , but this was too little too late for the away team and a deserved win for the otters.  

9^TH DEC 06

CHIPPING SODBURY 15 HARTPURY COLLEGE 36

 After weeks speculation of the up coming fixture a feeling of awe was left lying. Sodbury who had won the last game the week before were still dubious considering results going against them in prior games to teams who were clearly not superior.

The conditions suited the away team, boasting a youth full team throughout. Looking for quick ball and to spread the possession away from situations were they could execute with deadly results. 

The commanding presence of the sodbury skipper obviously made inroads by winning the toss and selecting to play into the wind and sun, a gutsy call knowing the quick climate change famous at the ridings.

Receiving the KO, the style of play was printed into the game by a steaming catch by resident local law enforcement officer Steve Smith crashing into the oncoming Hartpury defence. The game plan was clear that they were going to use all the experience in the solid pack.

Inspirational No 8 James Febry called back from attending marriage counselling school stepped in as if had never been away. Linking well with mature scrum half Simon Clarke to coordinate the pack into a dominant machine, clearly Hartpury were not use to being deprived of the ball for such long periods. Romanowski failing with a penalty from the touch line gave the students the ideal opportunity to show what they were all about. A quick 22 drop out sent the ball to the half way line which was quickly turned over spread wide to there nippy full back who just creeped over for a good score.

A reply was needed and duly came with more intense pressure by the sodbury pack, with the highly rated future second row prospects of Taylor and Palmer, the engine room behind the war horses of keeping and stait caused more panic on the league favourites. Another penalty this time Romanowski was precise. 5-3

Half an hour had gone and it was believable that this was winnable. But another queried decision by the linesmen left gaps in the sodbury defence and led to another unconverted try.

This try left sodbury hurt as they had felt they were the better team, but as sodbury proved the fight was back in the team and the forwards were again outstanding in supplying the scrumhalf quick ball which left Romo a slight gap who found the Slim line Moyise to go over from short distance.

Ten eight at half time left sodbury wondering if the impossible was achievable, but after five minutes the travelling team proved why the were unbeaten with three quick tries from turn over ball or fast hands.

Instead of laying down sodbury stood up, the substitution of David Dickinson brought on numeral genius Van Barker. A different dimension to the game was tried but what was not different was the tackling, passing, rucking and overall class of eventual man of the match Debbie Butcher. The ex Stroud and Gloucester academy player just showing what many clubs had missed out on.

Tens minutes of possession proved vital as another penalty was awarded to the otters. Debbie got his reward with a clever train ground move to score under the posts, Romo converted.

The score line flatters the league leader in a truly classic encounter.

Match Report - 30 Sept 06

Chipping Sodbury RFC 1st XV    32
Brockworth 1st XV                          5

After stern words from the coach following the below par performance against Bream last week, Sodbury went out to prove a point against Brockworth.

Even so Sodbury looked shaky in the opening exchanges against a mobile Brockworth unit. James PC Smith came in for the injured Spry and did not let up hitting ruck after ruck with his back row partners of Butcher and Winstanley.

After 10 minutes of Sodbury defence they tuned the pace of the game up with eventual man of the match Steve Romanowski seeing a lot more of the ball at stand off.

Now Sodbury were sat on the Brockworth 5m line needing to come away with some points, which they duly did from a clever back row move from the base of the scrum. Captain Simon Clarke fed young starlet No. 8 Pete Butcher who, through an alleged dummy, scored under the posts. Romanowski converted and then scored two quick penalties to give Sodbury a 13-0 lead at half time.

Sodbury began the second half facing downhill, into the gusty wind. There was an enforced change in the front row when Graham Staite came on for the injured Al Keeping, who had worked in the first half as if it were his last 40 minutes of rugby.

The handling was as if from a different team. Player, Hopes and Taylor battered the Brockworth defence until finally the rakish Dave Moyise went over to score.

The forwards were a force to be reckoned with, giving the backs the time and possession they crave. Romanowski and Knight showed their experience and maturity linking well with each other in quick succession to be rewarded for their efforts with a try each. Romanowski converted all but one leaving himself with a handy 19 points for the game.

A lapse in concentration in the final minutes of the game saw the Brockworth No. 13 score in the corner.

There is still much to do against Bishopston next week…..

09th Sept 06

Old Bristolians 1st XV       17
CSRFC 1st XV                   24

Sporting a new Coach, new Captain and new shirts Sodbury set out at Old Bs to show a new style and vigour in their play.

Following a rip-roaring start a string of penalties kept Sodbury pinned in their own half while they endured a nerve jangling series of kicks at goal, all of which the Old Bs kicker missed.

Having composed themselves Sodbury worked steadily up field until a lineout produced the quick ball desired at all levels. Nathan Spry burst onto Steve Romanowski's sweet inside pass he was on the edge of the 22, cutting a ferocious line at extreme pace saw him safely beneath the sticks leaving a simple conversion.

When a pedestrian back row move was seized upon by Old Bs it took a last ditch tackle to save conceding a soft try but it wasn't long in coming. This was quickly followed by a successful penalty and a further try to leave Sodbury 17-7 a drift at the break.

Sodbury set out their stall early as they decimated Old Bs at the first scrum of the half, this was backed up by some unhinged rucking and mauling which left Old Bs shell shocked.

This pressure led to the home side panicking slightly and poor clearances compounded their woe. All action and eventual man of the match Dave Moyise was a thunderous presence at Full Back as he ran back everything with interest.

Of most interest to Sodbury's loyal travelling support was seeing Moyise at full tilt, careering deep into the 22. Such was his momentum that six of Old Bs defenders were skittled out of the way for a crucial five pointer.

Sodbury's kicks at goal went well due to Romanowski's tireless summer practice while his understanding of how to put a player in a gap is peerless.

Using strike runners like Phil Player, Mark Fisher and Pete Butcher who was on his toes all game.

Sodbury continued to soften up Old Bs until Spry struck again, only this time he dragged five exhausted Bristolians over the line for his second try which Romanowski converted from the touch line.

It seems that Sodbury are on the right path, but plenty of work lies ahead to cut out lapses of concentration and unforced errors.