London Welsh RFC Wizards

Saturday 10th April saw the Wizards travel to Cobham knowing that a win would clinch us the title in the JONAP Surrey Premiership Merit Table.

Cobham have been playing well recently but they really didn't stand a chance as we were so determined to win that it could have been their 1st team for all we cared, a team we have narrowly lost to in the recent past, and although our resources for the day were not huge, they were very good with experience a plenty and no lack of skill either.

It was clear from the 1st whistle that it was going to be a matter of defend as much as possible and live off of scraps for Cobham and despite the referee stating he wanted a proper contest in the scrum he penalised us at the first for 'pushing too hard' I think, as they had the feed, we drove straight, hooked the ball but were still penalised for something or other.

In fact we were to get penalised repeatedly throughout the game, but we still came back again and again at Cobham and after several near misses a lovely break and pass from Sully but Murphy over in the right hand corner to open our account. 5-0 and a penalty shortly afterwards extended this to 8-0.

Cobham managed to get into our half from one of our errors and were awarded a scrum in a good attacking position however the 'Old Guard' were out in the front row with Jonny, Sumo and Steve out to make a point and unfortunately the Cobham tight head had met his match and popped his ribs on the drive.

After a period of discussion about uncontested scrums and the like, Cobham's 1st team reserve hooker was pressed into action and after settling himself for the hit and engagement promptly found him self popping out of the scrum as he headed backwards at a rate of knots, however the ball was somehow spread along the back line and a speculative chip bounced nicely and the Cobham winger re-gathered and scored a nice individual try. 8-5 conversion missed.

The remainder of the 1st half saw us camped in the Cobham half battering their line but through a combination of good defence, sloppy hands or mystery penalties we were unable to extend the score line any further.

A good half time team talk and with everyone staying positive the 2nd half began just as the 1st had finished with wave after wave of attack. As is fairly typical I went to re-fill the water bottles just as Scamp provided the goods and scored our 2nd try in the left hand corner this time taking us out to 13-5, conversion missed.

We then spent the entire second half camped in Cobham's half. Two perfectly good tries were disallowed as the ref was the only person on the pitch not to see the grounding, even Cobham were amazed, but rules is rules and we don't have a TMO but in the end Cobham's excellent defence was undone by the now familiar sight of a 2nd row, Dunc, putting in a deft chip kick for Ben to snaffle and touch down to seal the game and the League, 20-5, with possession and territory easily 90% to us on both counts, Hurrah!!

I thought everyone was excellent, the silly bitching of the previous match was gone and everybody pulled together. Wil has learnt to stay on the pitch when his contact lense falls out, Jonny, Sumo and Steve with the help of Dunc, Wrighty and Jacket destroyed the oppo front 5, back row was everywhere and the backs as a whole kept up the momentum all game. A thoroughly deserved win on the day and a thoroughly deserved League victory.

It's been a difficult season with resources sometimes stretched but everyone has played a part and it's been good fun, thanks to all.