Match Report: 23.3.24: Belsize Park RFC 1XV - 27 v A&C RFC 1XV - 21

Belsize Park RFC 1XV - 27
Tries – 4
Conversions- 2
Penalties -1

Amersham and Chiltern RFC 1XV - 21
Tries – 3
Conversion – 3
Penalties – 0

Half Time: 15-7

Following our previous match against Marlow and a convincing home win (68-3), it had been a relatively dry week amongst some of the dampest in recent history.

Belsize were going for the double of wins over Chiltern and were focussed on maintaining their 15 match winning run.

With every drop of rain that falls, apart from a peanut growing (US President Carter – a once peanut farmer from Georgia) there does create a chance of their usual Royal Regents Park pitch becoming unplayable. And with such a successful run without an effective scrummage it was a shrewd move to book the ‘plastic fantastic’ at the spiritual home of our beloved Wasps FC.

The scene was set for the top of the table battle between the 2 best sides in Thames 2.

Both sides were well-supported and stood on opposing sides of the pitch. A scene befitting of Culloden 1746.

As predicted Belsize offered little resistance in the scrum although seemed to store their energy for effort within the maul. Both sides offered solid defence with A&C having the lions share of the possession, although Belsize offered slightly more in defence alongside their sparky back line.

With parity in line-outs and a referee (who I suspect had been a back) eventually recognising scrum superiority, it was a case of Belsize taking their chances and managing to keep the Chiltern attacks out.

An extra 5 mins and with a little more calmness this should have been a day that the league was won. Instead I was wondering why rugby bothers with scrummaging when the spirit of running into space and pop-passes can be so effective.

No lasting disappointment though as Amersham and Chiltern remain in possession of the remote control.

With the correct buttons pushed on Saturday against Mid-table Grasshoppers, Amersham and Chiltern can secure our final win of the season and be crowned well deserved Champions 2023/2024.

And so to the action …

A&C kickoff and an opening 50/20 kick from stand-off Monty Weatherall. Opening pressure sadly ineffective, created an opening try from Belsize (goal line maul) 5-0. Missed conversion. Penalty to Belsize secured (8-0).

On 30 minutes a 2nd try Belsize again from maul duly converted (15-0).

10 minutes later and good A&C pressure results in a Monty Weatherall try under the posts (15-7), converted.

Half time.

A&C have a decent wind on their backs second half. Opening pressure from A&C and multiple infringements from Belsize re their crumbling scrum. Penalty try (15-14).

Belsize respond with a further converted try (22-14) and then secure the bonus point 4th try (27-14) missed conversion.

Jordan Scott then responds as Number 8 with a well executed converted try (27-21).

Continuing A&C pressure and breakaway run from wee Tim Hayes down the wing. A claim of foot in touch and it was all over yards from the try line. Well-deserved Belsize win and a proper sting in the tail.

And so Belsize Park did to us what we did to Hammersmith and Fulham last season. A league double over the league leaders yet no cigar.

It’s all in our hands now for Saturday and hopefully we know what buttons to press.
This week it’s Top versus 6th. We haven’t faced Grasshoppers since the opening game of the season. We opened with a 26-41 away win. We are home and on grass. Conditions will be damp and we have a scrum very well suited for the conditions. See you there.

Team:
1. Doug McGregor-Smith
2. Joe Batt
3. Pat Nash
4. Jacques O’Driscoll
5. Harry Bradshaw
6. Mattia Mengotti
7. Dave Francis
8. Jordan Scott (Capt)
9. Alex Bower
10. Monty Weatherall
11. Bojan Ceracic
12. Noah Jarvis
13. Dan Kingsley
14. MacKenzie South
15. Ben Pothecary
16. Chris Joyce
17. Jack Gurney
18. Tim Hayes