Kingsclere 6 - Verwood 8
Apr
Tackles win matches.
The very last league match of the season showed Verwood continuing their excellent form with an away win against second placed Kingsclere. They battled against the much bigger pack for the entire match and produced a tackle count of 3-1.
With over 70% of the ball Kingsclere first tried the most direct route through the forwards and were rebuffed at every attempt. After 30 minutes of this they changed to moving the ball wide which enabled Verwood’s more mobile forwards to start winning some ball for their backs. On the 38th minute Kingsclere moved the ball wide and Verwood managed to turn the ball over in there own half and counter attacked down the right wing. Dan Moore, spotting the Kingsclere three quarter line was up too flat, cross kicked over them to the left wing for Charlie Cockram to gather the kick, outpacing the remaining defence, and score. This try confirmed the young fly-half as Verwood’s leading try scorer for the season. 0-5 Verwood at half time.
The second half was a duplicate of the first – simply a “war of attrition” - with Verwood’s tackling becoming fast and furious and leading to two penalties being given away enabling Kingsclere to take the lead at 5-6.
Verwood’s three quarter line continued to show their superiority as they began to come into play more often now after a repelling attack after attack from Kingsclere. With 15 minutes to go they were adjudged to have been unfairly obstructed and Paul McGuffie, Verwood’s hard hitting centre, put the ball directly between the posts from 22 metres thus returning their rightful lead to 6-8 .
With the last 10 minutes approaching Kingsclere picked up the pace as defeat would deny them promotion to the second division. At every attack Verwood drove them backwards in the tackle. Dan Moore, who had been inspirational at scrum half for all of the match, was sent to the sin bin for an over zealous tackle and the spectators began to wonder if they could hold out for the last 10 minutes. Then, on the stroke of full time, Kingsclere were awarded a penalty 10 metres into Verwood’s half. Having been repulsed for the entire game they opted to kick, hopeful of a one point win.
The game which, despite the low score had been a very exciting match, had one final and dramatic twist at the last as the ball landed atop the crossbar and seemed briefly to hesitate as everyone held their breath. Frustratingly for Kingsclere, it dropped back on their side of the posts. Charlie Cockram collected the ball and kicked for touch and the referee blew for full time. Final score - Kingsclere 6 Verwood 8 (with the game’s only try).
“Men” of the match: Verwood’s front row.
