Cobham Festival - 5/11/2006

Squad: James Bentley-Fox, Thomas Bywater, Jonathan Carpenter, Oliver Cruddas, James Doyle, Alexander Field, Greiogair Hogg, Aaron Patel, Elliot Proudhon-Smith, Stephen Rac, Thomas Smith, Matthew Timms

Report from Nick Timms:

On a fine day for playing rugby the TRFC Commandos were so nearly victorious, but thwarted on two occasions by the superior ball stealing abilities of a committed and talented Old Reedonians team.

Game 1
Vs Cobham Score: 20-5 Win
Our first pool game against the host team started the day with a superlative display of long range try scoring, with some phases of play reaching double figures! Some committed tackling by Aaron Patel and Stephen Rac and the magical dummy pass of Greiogair Hogg led to all of the play going the way of the Commandos and a final score of 4 tries to 1.
Tries: Hogg (2), Bentley-Fox (1) and Proudham-Smith (1).

Game 2
Vs Old Reedonians Score: 5-10 Loss
Old Reeds proved to be stiffer competition in this, our first meeting of the day. Although both teams were very finely matched with players of equal ability, the first half remained try-less for the Commandos. The second half commenced with the same vigour as the first, both teams locked in a titanic struggle for ball retention until Thomas Bywater crossed the line for our only try of the game. The boys held up superbly to the Old Reeds pressure but succumbed to another try finishing the game 1-2. The game was marred by the strange accusation of “crossing” from the referee, one can only assume that he was on his way to Twickenham later that day and had failed to interpret the continuum correctly.
Try: Bywater (1).

Game 3, Semi-Final
Vs Rosslyn Park Score: 10-5 Win
Finishing second in pool A, our semi-final led to a game against another old rival in the form of Rosslyn Park. In another equally matched competition for control of the ball in the tackle, known by some as ball stealing, Matthew Timms acquitted himself admirably, presumably in an attempt to mimic his Father’s only talent on the pitch (a la Ackford). Again, Greiogair Hogg mystified all comers with his use of a convincing dummy pass and swift change of direction to score our only two tries, pretty much solo efforts, both almost from the half way line.
Tries: Hogg (2).

Game 4, U9 Final
Vs Old Reedonians Score 5-10 Loss
With the defeat of our second pool match still smarting, the Commandos started this game with renewed effort and some outstanding phases of play, but by now tiredness had entered the equation. With 90 minutes rest from the semi-final, in which a tree house had been built from scratch in an adjoining copse, the boys just couldn’t seem to convert the efforts into points and we conceded two tries. Having said that, both teams were so evenly matched that both this game and the pool game could have gone either way.
There was some excellent tackling in this game from all boys, particularly Stephen Rac again who reminds me of a young Brian Moore and James Doyle. Special mention to Jonty Carpenter who made some lovely darting runs from the base of the scrum and Oliver Cruddas for scoring our only try of this game, evading at least three tackles in the process!
Try: Cruddas (1).

All boys played with passion and in the spirit of the game.