Old Alleynians 5 - Kingston 5
Feb
The top two teams in Surrey One met on Saturday in the league and quarter final of the Surrey Shield with the league honours ending even, while twenty minutes of extra time could still not separate the sides leaving the Cup result tied. Neither team wants to win or lose on the ‘away’ side rule and it will be left to the Surrey Committee to adjudicate the eventual winner, given Kingston were technically the home side in the draw, but agreed to switch venues to make the game a ‘double header’ and were the team playing away.
Old Alleynians lost the toss and despite a couple of positional changes the home side were at full strength for this eagerly anticipated clash and kicked off. The first half was a typically tight affair with Old Alleynians having the edge in possession and territory, with the line out functioning well and scrum generally steady. Kingston benefited with a couple of early decisions in what was a well refereed match. Old Alleynians drew first blood when a penalty kick to the corner was just in play, although a bit too close for comfort. From the line out drive, Mead burrowed over out wide to open the scoring with Kingston’s Number 8 sin binned for a petulant punch off the ball after the try had been awarded.
Fortunate not to concede a penalty from the restart, Kingston continued to use their forwards to batter away up front but Old Alleynians defence was strong and thwarted a number of close range drives. Old Alleynians created the better chances in the backs and one move down the left touchline should of been rewarded but the covering defence foiled the overlap.
Kingston dominated much of the second half as the Old Alleynians line out struggled to maintain the flow of possession. The Old Alleynian backs were up quick in defence with Kingston resorting to kicking the ball away aimlessly or turning it over in contact. Kingston increasingly looked to move the ball wide and were finally rewarded when a flat miss pass opened the defence for a levelling try in the corner.
The game continued to ebb and flow while two Old Alleynian drop goal attempts short. The league game ended in draw, which was probably a fair result. Twenty minutes of extra time loomed for a place in the semi finals of the Surrey Shield and neither side could break the stalemate. The Surrey Committee will decide the outcome but for now Old Alleynians can reflect on what might have been before their next league outing on the 1st March with a tricky match away at London Exiles.
Team: Wisson, Franklin, Van der Westhuizen, Martin, Thomas, Mahoney, Hood, Wright, Docherty, Mead, Rutteman, Boyle, Sandars, Foster, Ayres.
Subs: Hill, Juuko, Woodford.
