Fixture

Whiteheads RFC | 1st Team 32 - 14 Crumlin RFC | 1st Team
Matthew Doddridge
Conversion 2
Penalty 1
Try 1
Craig Lloyd
Try 1
Thomas Blacker
Try 1
Zac Westacott
Try 1
Rhys Watkins
Try 1

Match Report
19 February 2018 / Team News

Whitehead win a game of two halves.

With a four try bonus point secured in the first half, Whitehead underestimated a strong Crumlin side in their first encounter of the season. Whitehead started strongly with a break by the backs which saw a three man overlap in Crumlin 22 wasted. Crumlin then secured possession in Whitehead half and were camped in their 22, being controlled well by their number 9. Their pressure was turned into points by their number 10 after eleven minutes when he converted a penalty to take the lead 3-0. Whitehead struck back from the kick off by securing the ball and after a trademark trundle by Dai Evans the forwards made the first try with hooker Rhys Watkins going over in the right hand corner. The conversion was missed, to make it 5-3 to Whitehead. Three minutes later Tom Blacker went over for the Whitehead second try after more forwards work to make it 10-3 after another missed conversion. Crumlin got back into the game with possession being exchanged several times before Mathew Dodderidge used his speed to get past their defence to secure Whitehead third try under the posts after twenty five minutes which he converted to make it 17-3. With possession flowing to and fro it took a thundering run from centre Zac Westacott to go over for Whitehead fourth and bonus point try after thirty five minutes. With a failed conversion it made the score 22-3 and Whitehead went into half time thinking it was job done.

Crumlin obviously had not read the script and started the second half in a combative move applying pressure to Whitehead twenty two, where they were awarded a penalty. The decision to successfully kick for goal baffled those on the side line, but when they were awarded another penalty a few minutes later which was successful from further out, they had drawn back into contention to make the score 22-9. Crumlin continued to pile on the pressure and crossed the line for a try in the corner with twenty five minutes of the half gone. The conversion was missed, but Crumlin were within reach to make the score 22-14. It was time for the Whitehead coaches to ring the changes with multiple substitutions which saw the Edds finally gain some decent possession, with two try scoring opportunities wasted by not using the overlapping players. When the Edds earned a penalty in front of the posts with ten minutes left it was time to take the points, so Matt Dodderidge kicked the penalty to make it 25-14. With only minutes left, it took another trademark individual effort by centre Craig Lloyd to break through multiple tackles and go through under the posts to finally seal the game, and with a successful conversion made the score 32-14, which proved to be the final score. The coaches are hoping that the players will have learned their lesson from this victory and will be better prepared when they face Crumlin up the valley on the return fixture.
 
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