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The 1st XV
Tom Fowlie (Capt.), George Williams, Tom Inglis, Kevin Akunwa, Mathew Fitz-James, Alex Manton-Jones, Richard Bishop, Sam Auger, Saxon Coop.
Haider Rubbani, Robert Hwang, Wiliam Rasmussen, Joab Phillips, JJ Dewes, William Fletcher
1st XV v Moulsford
Saturday 10 November
Our last match of the season.......
Moulsford looked big and were, but it was not the size that caught us out, but the organisation of their forwards. Despite having a number of forwards ourselves who are excellent at ripping and driving, we could not cope with the speed of their rucks and off loads. This was our undoing.
Our backs had the best match of their season today, upsetting the opposition backline on numerous occasions, whether attacking or defending and our forwards held their own easily at line-outs and scrums. Every player gave their all for the cause and after going 12 - 0 down in the first 10 minutes, gave even more. Step forward Tom Fowlie who scored an excellent try, set up by the forwards, through the swift hands of the backs and after a number of thumping hand offs!! So with the score 12 - 5 to Moulsford, we sought more points. We were constantly on the front foot, attacking well and defending vigorously.
As usual Will Rasmussen saved a try by lying under the ball, to bewildered looks from the Moulsford players, Richard Bishop, drove forwards and supported everything, Saxon Coop and Will Fletcher tackled everything, Tom Inglis ran everything at, over and through the opposition, George Williams and Matthew Fitz-James rucked everything, Robert Hwang and Alex Manton-Jones tried to get their hands on everything, JJ Dewes gave good early ball, time and time again and Haider Rubbani, Tom Fowlie, Kevin Akunwa, Nikolai Malyguine, Daniel Hong and Joab Phillips passed and tackled everything.
So the score was still 12 - 5 with 12 minutes to go and the match was very even. We could have scored a few tries and but for a number of handling errors, so could Moulsford. Then, Moulsford got their forwards fired up and they put together a string of excellent rucks, mauls and drives which we could not handle. Their speed to the ball at the tackle, in numbers, was phenomenal and their vision for the offload was very good too. So Moulsford's forwards ground us down and ripped through us, an iceberg of foward demolition against the hull of our defence. Eventually we sprung leaks and Moulsford powered through two more tries before the end of the game.
Final Score: Eagle House 5 Moulsford 24
'Don't Look Back in Anger'
To take Oasis at their word, looking back over the season, despite the statistics, I am proud of how the 1st XV have played and especially the efforts they have put into their matches. Their attitude and enthusiasm has carried them through this season on a wave of improvement and great team spirit. Disapointment, yes. Angry, NO!
We played a lot of big teams, a lot of fast teams and a few teams who were superior to us in skill. For much of the season, we were not beaten but bullied to defeat by bigger and faster teams. When analysing the season, the boys should see that size, strength and speed has a great deal to do with Rugby. Team work is very important too and at times we played as individuals, without looking for support or thought of setting up a try for someone else. At times we were slow to the ball, At times we didn't tackle the big men or run up to the opposition when we should.
But most of the time we did!
Well done boys, for the tremendous efforts you put into this season. Now we have the 7's season to look forward to and before that the Wellington tournament where we will again meet Moulsford and The Oratory when we play them in our league. We know that we have to get it right and we need to keep thinking and working for each other...... Wellington Tournament details to come.
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