A Masterclass from Smith

Raynes Park ll 13 – 56 Eagles

Seniors 2XV • League • Sat 3rd Apr 10, 12:00PM

Effingham 2nds travelled to a wet and windy Raynes Park for their penultimate game of what has been a somewhat interrupted season. The team sheet showed a number of student returnees: Flight at full back, Evans at 11, Cousins and Imbert in the back row, Jonathan Smith at 9, Rob Ellinson at prop, and Steve Jones at hooker. The Raynes Park pitch appeared in fairly good shape, relatively green, with no standing water despite the recent heavy rain, albeit the surface looked possibly prone to breaking up later in the game.  The referee, tastefully attired in an eye catching lime fizz shirt, initiated play with a flamboyant blast.

The Eagles kicked off with a highish kick and a decent kick-chase. Raynes Park knocked-on but advantage was played and the Eagles moved the ball wide, with Smith looping neatly around to create an extra man: a gap opened up the home defence: Imbert swiftly exploited the gap and made 30 yards or so upfield before offloading neatly to Cousins, following-up in close support, Cousins making another ten yards or so before being dragged into touch: lineout Park. However, the lineout was adjudged not straight, line out Park, who opted for their own lineout, which was also adjudged not straight: scrum Eagles. From the base of the scrum, Imbert at 8, picked up swiftly and again made good ground, putting wingman Evans away, who was tackled and knocked on: scrum Park.  Park heeled cleanly and sought to attack through the 8 but aggressive tackling from the Eagles earned a penalty for holding on, taken quickly by the quick-thinking Smith, who made a sharp break before feeding Manning at 10, who drew the centre, putting the fast following Imbert away to cross the whitewash, Manning adding the extras for 7-0.

Park kicked high, the ball being taken by the tall Park 6, who made ground upfield before being stripped of the ball in the tackle by Imbert. The ball was again swiftly moved through the hands before Imbert, again joining the attack with a sharp injection of pace, moved the ball on perhaps 30 yards before being tackled, with a penalty being conceded for holding-on. Raynes Park attacked well, taking play up to the visitor’s 22, before the ball was turned over by the Eagles. The Eagles moved the ball swiftly through the centres, with full back Flight coming into the line at pace and taking a sharp line to open up the Park defence, offloading to Imbert, who put Reynolds away clear to touch down, Manning again supplying the extras for 14-0: the Eagles, dominating the early play and possession, had made a flying start.

Park again kicked high but this time the Eagles conceded a penalty for blocking. The Park kicker elected for a shy at the posts from 30 yards or so out on a relatively acute angle, possibly ambitious given the awkward wind, and the kick duly drifted to the left of the uprights. The Eagles elected to seek to run out of the 22 rather than kick, and were swiftly tackled; penalty Park for holding-on. This time Park elected to kick for the corner, possibly an astute tactic, with a height advantage in the lineout. However, the Park hooker was pinged for not straight and the Eagles elected for a scrum 15 and a relieving kick to touch. A Park jumper knocked-on from the resulting lineout and from this scrum 15 the Eagles elected to run, with Tom Imbert again breaking the cover defence and taking play up to the Park 22, before a sharp pass put Reynolds away to dot down, Manning again adding the conversion, for 21-0.

This time Park restarted deep. The Eagles had not fielded the ball efficiently and then conceded a penalty for in-from-the-side. This time the Park’s kicker’s radar was on track and Park were on the scoreboard at 21-3.

The Eagles restarted deep and an excellent chase by Ellinson pressurized the catcher into a knock-on; scrum Eagles. The Eagles scrimmage had been solid so far, giving an excellent platform for Smith at 9: this was no exception; another excellent pass away from the base by Smith put the Eagles backline away, taking play up to the home 5 metre before a maul developed and the Eagles drove over the whitewash, although the ball was adjudged held-up: 5 metre attacking scrum. Another solid scrum saw Smith again distributing cleanly but this time the home defence was up quickly and was able to scramble well and fly-hack the ball clear.  The ball was retrieved by Flight at fullback who ran it back aggressively before offloading to Cousins, having drawn the defence: Cousins straightened up the running line and made ground up the tryline before being tackled, appearing to place the ball backwards, with the Park tackler knocking on as Effingham were awarded a 5 metre scrum. However, a promising position was lost as the home defence again scrambled well and turned the ball over after three phases of attacks by the Eagles forwards, again kicking clear. The ball was fielded by the omnipresent Smith, who beat the first two defenders with searing pace and then kicked ahead, chasing his kick down and decking the catcher. However, the Eagles conceded a penalty for killing the ball, Park kicking to touch. The Eagles lineout jumpers continued their good work, as the throw was snaffled albeit an untidy maul developed. Smith managed to work the ball clear with some deft work and released the Eagles backline who, by dint of running straight and fast, made ground upfield, putting Reynolds away past the last defender to touch down under the posts, Manning again converting for 28-3, and that was half-time.    

    
Park restarted with a high kick, with further good work by the Park 6, who outjumped the Eagles would-be catchers. However, the Eagles recovered well to turn the ball over at the resulting ruck and kicked to touch. Park won the lineout cleanly and spread the ball wide to the Park backs, who attacked strongly, the centre endeavouring to chip the Eagles defensive line. Flight at full back was obliged to kick the ball to touch from a relatively narrow angle. However, the Park lineout was not straight; scrum Eagles. The Eagles front-row were by this time warming to their task and Jones at hooker heeled cleanly.  Flight came into the line sharply and made ground up the home 10 metre line before putting Cornwall away, who dotted down the right of the posts, Manning maintaining his conversion record, for 35-3.

Park this time restarted with a deep kick. The Eagles failed to deal with the ball cleanly and Park were able to close the receiver down and the Eagles promptly conceded a penalty for not releasing, kicked to the 5. However, the wind continued to play havoc with the thrower’s aim and the lineout was not straight : scrum Eagles, who again cleared to touch, lineout Park. Park caught the lineout cleanly and sought to make ground through a maul but knocked on, scrum Eagles.  A Park defender then sought to stem the next Eagles attack with some over-vigourous defence which incurred the whistler’s wrath and a yellow card. The Eagles now sought to make ground through the forwards for several phases but play became scrappy. The Eagles had managed to retain possession and a gap appeared in the home defence, which Manning exploited to put Flight away cleanly, who dotted down under the posts, Manning keeping up the fine conversion work for 42-3.

Park were not inclined to stay on the back foot and attacked their restart aggressively, forcing the Eagles to attempt to kick clear. However, good work by the Park forwards resulted in two chargedowns of box-kicks: whilst the Eagles managed to retrieve the position twice, a third lapse saw a pass intercepted on the 5, and Park hit back with a 5 pointer, though the conversion was wide, for 42-8.

This time the Eagles fielded the restart cleanly and more sharp work by Smith put Reynolds away, who fed Cornwall, cutting in from his wing. Cornwall showed their is still a team in Surrey who will buy the trademark Cornwall dummy – in evidence twice in the run-in to the tryline - as he dotted down near the corner flag, Manning this time converting impressively for 49-8.

The final five minutes saw an exchange of scores, as Reynolds again opened up the home midfield defence, handing-off some perhaps less than robust tackling to dot down under the posts, Manning completing the Eagles scoring with a 100% conversion record, for 56-8. Park replied as the Eagles were reduced to 14 for some “afters” and a Park flanker took advantage of inattention in the Eagles defence to close the scoreboard on 56-13.

Park had never given up and the Eagles had had to work for each of the eight tries. However, the Eagles team containing 13 ex or current juniors could be very pleased with their endeavours – there is clearly talent to come through to grace the 1st XV.

The Eagles: Ellinson (R), Jones, Lunch, Owen, Rees (B), Cousins, Manning, Imbert, Lazarevic, Smith (J), Manning, Ralph, McKenzie-Mockridge, Reynolds, Evans, Cornwall, and Flight.

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