16/4/2008

Sport

Rugby - Weybridge Vandals end campaign on a high

Petersfield                           0      
Weybridge Vandals          22

WEYBRIDGE Vandals completed their league programme with this comfortable victory over their Hampshire rivals and in so doing demonstrated a vast improvement in their standard of rugby.

Last year they lost twice to Petersfield, but this season saw a complete reversal of results.

Vandals were never in danger of losing this game and having opened up a 10-point lead in the first half they doubled this in the second period with a further two tries the second of which was superbly converted by fly half Will Twydell.

With the elements in their favour in the final 40 minutes Petersfield pressed hard to get back on terms but once Vandals had soaked up this early pressure and come back to score their third try, there was only one team in it and had they shown a little more composure in attacking situations they would have won by a larger margin.

All the early possession went to the home side, but having failed to consolidate this pressure into points, Vandals struck immediately once they got their hand on the ball.

From a penalty they won an attacking lineout, and hooker Toby Anderson, playing his last game before returning to his native Australia, peeled round the front and drove over for the first try.

Almost immediately Petersfield had a chance to open their account, but the kick from a penalty sailed wide.

The next period of play was littered with errors and penalties conceded by both sides but it was Vandals who always looked likely to go further ahead.

A forward pass prevented a possible score but when the forwards won a strike against the head the backs took full advantage to put winger Ollie Sines over in the corner.

Petersfield responded through their pack, particularly their No 8 who repeatedly drove forward from the base of the scrum but penalties for not releasing frustrated their efforts to score.

Vandals ended the half with a flowing movement only for another forward pass preventing them turning round with a lead of three tries rather than two.

With the wind and slight slope now in their favour, Petersfield strove hard to get back into the game but they lost possession and conceded penalties at crucial times.

They had one ideal opportunity to stretch Vandals' defence following quick ball from a ruck, but their fly half chose to kick ahead which was a vital error as the ball went beyond the dead ball line giving Vandals a 22 drop out.

It would have been game on if Petersfield had served at this stage, but from this point on Vandals stamped their authority on proceedings.

Patrick Kelly, making a welcome return, gained ground for his side with a fine run, and Vandals continued to press eventually forcing a five metre scrum from which flanker Fred Hedger plunged over for the try.

This score virtually tied up the game from Vandals but they continued to press for a fourth try, and after being denied through poor hands, they eventually maintained possession long enough for Anderson to round off a fine farewell performance with his second five-pointer.

After a poor start to the season Vandals can be well satisfied with a mid-table finish.

Enormous credit must go to the players who stuck by their coach Ian Bargett.

He, in turn, has produced a side capable of taking on the best teams in their league as shown by Vandals’ magnificent win against then league leaders Old Wellingtonians.

First printed in: News & Mail Series