Controversial conversion denies P&G’s in top of the table clash

Pinner & Grammarians RFC match report for Sat 27^th March 2010

Controversial conversion denies P&G’s in top of the table clash

In a tough away match with league leaders Ickenham Pinner just lost 17 – 16 with the attempted conversion to their first half try being signalled as successful by one touch-judge but denied by the home official. The referee was obliged to turn down the extra two points which would have ensured P&G’s second successive promotion and ruined Ickenham’s undefeated league record.  The start was delayed as there were no visible line markings and the large band of Pinner supporters were amused to watch Ickenham players filling in the lines with spray aerosols.

Ickenham, starting down the slope, soon had P&G’s on the back foot conceding a penalty on their own 22 which was successfully converted by home fly-half Hall.  Pinner now fought back and made ground into the opponent’s half where they were awarded a penalty when Ickenham were guilty of obstruction.  Fly-half Paul James equalised the score from the 10 metre line.  On 10 minutes Pinner lost the ball in a maul on their own 22.  Home fly-half Hall landed a drop-goal from 30 metres to restore the lead. A few minutes later P&G’s won a ruck on their 22 but the resulting kick-out only found the home full-back who landed a second drop-goal from 40 metres. At the end of the first quarter Pinner were adjudged guilty of handling the ball on the ground in a ruck to give Hall the chance to add a further 3 points to bring the score to 12 -3 to the home team.  P&G’s suffered a further blow when fly-half James was knocked out in a non too subtle tackle and hand to leave the field, his place being taken by Chris Hull.  Pinner then made their own attempt at a drop-goal but this just missed as did a long range penalty by Domenic Coyle, who had taken over the kicking duties.  Pinner, although under severe pressure, refused to be intimidated putting in powerful tackles and contesting every ball.  Turning the ball over on their own 22 winger Jon Kirby collected a kick-on still in the P&G half. He sprinted 60 metres out pacing and side-stepping the defence to score the first try. Now came the controversial conversion when Coyle’s kick left the touch judges divided.  However in the next encounter left the try scorer limping off the field to be replaced by Tim Tabua. At least P&G’s went into half-time within reach of their opponents with the score at 12 – 8.

With the weather deteriorating and the ball and foothold becoming difficult Ickenham were forced to concede a penalty for lying on the ball. Coyle landed the kick to bring the visitors within a point of the home side. Ickenham then missed a penalty for a similar offence but immediately elected to run another penalty. They moved the ball quickly to the right for their winger to score in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful bring the score to 17 – 12 to the home side.  Pinner now upped their game increasing the pressure on the home side. The whole team gave a totally committed performance led as usual by captain Reza Sibilant forcing the home team to defend desperately. Breaks from the scrum and hard running and tackling by the centres caused errors by the league leaders. Pinner mounted a series of attacks and Ickenham were forced into a failed long range drop goal attempt.  With 10 minutes remaining Sibilant took a quick penalty just inside the home half and, shaking off several tackles, moved to the right where he found hooker Aaron Nicholas in support to cover the remaining 20 metres to the line to score P&G’s second try. The score now stood at 17 – 16 but unfortunately Coyle’s attempt at the conversion from the touch-line was just wide. This was to prove to bee the final score with the home team’s undefeated record in tacked and the league title secure. 

On this showing P&G’s deserve promotion that victory would have ensured. They now have to wait for decisions on league restructuring and the final league match of the season at home to Cuffley on 10^th April.  On that occasion over 30 former players from the 1970’s will be entertained to a pre-match lunch at the Clubhouse.  Anyone wishing to join them to celebrate another successful season should contact Club President Dave Hiles on 020 8864 0787 or visit the club web-site www.pinnerrugby.com

1st XV versus Ickenham photographs

Pinner find going tough at Harrow

Sunday 21st March

Harrow U13s – 49 v Pinner U13s – 10

Up against it from the start Pinner found the pace of the Harrow back three simply too hot to handle for much of this match playing on a cloying pitch that sapped the energy from a young team.  Continuing to suffer from a list of injuries and absentees Pinner drafted in three players from the U12 squad Adam Stone, Jack Garraway and Lewis.  To their credit they soon found their feet didn’t looked out of place.

Conceding the now customary early score Pinner were soon ringing the changes using frequent rolling substitutions in an attempt to stem the flow.  The second Harrow try, however, was not long coming and Pinner looked in trouble.  Picking up the missed conversion quickly, Pinner ran back for the restart catching Harrow cold, Harrison Davies’s cleverly placed kick into space gave Adam Rees the opportunity he relishes, in the blink of an eye he out-sprinted the cover to gather the ball on the 22 and score for the second week running.  A rattled Harrow did regroup, however, to make the half time score 24 – 5. 

The second half began in much the same vein with Harrow dominant and the wide players a constant menace running in four more tries before Pinner managed one of their own.  With Pinner backs using what little ball they had quite effectively they made several forages into the Harrow 22, and when Rees again spotted some space wide left he set off for what looked a certain score.  The Harrow full back had other ideas, and whilst he may not have had his kicking boots on, there is no doubting his pace and he hauled Rees down just short of the line.  Callum George, running a great supporting line, was able to gather the ball at the breakdown and burst over for his second in two weeks.

This was the catalyst for Pinner’s best spell when they re-established their self belief and tore into Harrow, tackling all who moved.  Jamie Benavides was outstanding playing at flanker with a tackle count second to none on the day, and Dominic Seiler rucked and mauled powerfully all game always looking for work, a fine example he set as Captain on the day.  The final Harrow try seemed a little unfair adding salt to the wounds of a defeated but determined Pinner.

Team: Bhogul; Marx-Carr, Rees, George C, Mahoney; Davies, Garraway: Beaumont, Perrilo, Seiler, Stevenson (George B), Williams, Andreon, Benavides, Stone (Lewis).

6 Nations Pinner league results

Well, with the final game of the 2010 6 Nations competition late on Saturday evening with France winning everything we have the final table of the Pinner RFC 6 Nations league table. As we see, Steven Griffiths did a lot better than his national team, well done for proving that if you select non Welsh players in your team then you are onto a winner!  The wooden spoon obviously goes to Dave Turner, nice try, more than could be said for those players in your selected teams!

	Manager	Team Name	Tries	Assists	Pts
1		Steven Griffiths	Badgers	13	10	316
2		Richard Ward	PSPG RFC	8	8	285
3		paul talbot	pinnerspud	12	7	260
4		Richard Matthews	Fred West Ham	7	10	251
5		Danny Allen	Allen RFC	3	6	220
6		steve devine	Devine Comedy	7	5	214
7		dave turner	tpots tbaggers	3	5	170

A small trophy will be presented during the end of season awards and of course if we could find a suitable wooden implement to hand to the loser.

Thanks to all who took part, hopefully this is the first of many leagues that will take place via the website.

Away @ Harrow RFC with Kilburn – Sunday 21st March: photographs

Youth Section: Under 13’s versus Teddington RFC – photographs

Under 10’s Middlesex Festival – photographs

1st XV versus Old Streetonians RFC – photographs

Pinner Win at last ‘By George’

Teddington U13s – 22 v Pinner U13s – 26

It was a long time coming but it was surely worth the wait as Pinner stormed back to win this terrific contest in final seconds thanks to a blistering sprint for the line from fully 40 metres out by scrum half Callum George after good work by Sam Williams and Ben George created just enough space on the blind side for that vital winning score.

Still suffering through injury and illness Teddington were generous hosts offering Pinner two players, Max and Oscar, to don Pinner jerseys and even up the numbers; each put in fine performances and truly played their part in the win.  It was clear from the first whistle these were two evenly matched sides, prepared to spread the ball wide through the hands in excellent playing conditions at Bushy Park.

Teddington broke the deadlock when their nimble 15 stepped inside to cross near the posts for a converted try.  A second try, this time unconverted, pushed Teddington out to a 12 – 0 lead that might have been more but for two try saving tackles from Jonathon Hill who was outstanding throughout on his debut at full back.  With Ryan Beaumont featuring in several solid forward drives and Harrison Davies at fly half making full use of Bradley Stevenson slotting in at inside centre Pinner began to force their way back into contention; when Stevenson powered through the midfield and offloaded in the tackle Adam Rees gathered and despite still having much to do he danced his way through the defence to score under the posts.  The conversion from Davies closing the gap further.

The game ebbed and flowed either side of half time.  Pinner fell further behind 17 – 7 when Teddington broke to score in the corner from turnover ball.  Pinner roared back with Stevenson taking a floated pass from Davies to burst clear from near halfway and score at the posts, the easy conversion bagged by Davies made it 17 – 14 and all to play for.  Teddington once more took advantage of some sloppy defence to pull out to 22 – 14, but when man of the match Rees once more latched onto a pass, this time from Bradley Smith, he accelerated away before cutting back inside to make the conversion easier for Davies and a score of 22 – 21 meant the game was on a knife edge.

Staunch Pinner defence held Teddington at bay, with the front row of Oscar Perillo, Daniel Villamil and Dominic Seiler showing grit and guile to take a vital heal against the head and set up a final attacking opportunity from which George scored the excellent winning try, much to the joy and relief of all concerned.

Team: Hill, George B, Rees, Stevenson, Oscar; Davies, George C; Villamil, Perrilo, Seiler, Beaumont, Williams, Max, Smith.

Doj

Pinner streets better on their road to victory

Saturday 13^th March Match report

Pinner & Grammarians versus Old Streetonians RFC

With a late cancellation of the arranged friendly fixture with Chess Valley, Pinner welcomed a team from Old Streetonians RFC.

A keen Pinner side still fresh from their epic victory over London French and a weeks gap fired on all cylinders from the start of play. Owing to some unavailable players the team rotated into unaccustomed positions but with the spirit that has developed within the ranks this made little impact to the playing style that Pinner have pushed this season.

From the kick off Pinner battled deep in the Old Streetonians half and with an uncompromising display of forwards strength found themselves inches from try line. Push after push to place the ball onto the ground kept coming up short until through an error made by the defence, stand-in 1^st half referee S Devine awarded a penalty try, which was converted by present goal kicker Paul James.

A long kick down into the Pinner 22 was picked up by fullback for the match Reza Sibilant who made a winding run through the opponents defences and laying off a ball that was carried over the line by the stand in scrum half, again Paul James converted. Within the first 25 minutes the score was 14-0 and looking like Pinner were going to spend the rest of the game scoring tries. Alas, this air of confidence was knocked back when from a loose ball the visitors centres ran through air grabbing defence to make a neat pass to their winger who sprinted across the Pinner line, it was not converted leaving the score 14-5 at half time.

The half time ‘discussion’ provoked a more concentrated approach at the start of the second half, especially as some fresh legs were brought on to add more impact to the attack, this gave the chance to debutant Dillon Bosman the opportunity to show how he intends playing for the Pelicans in the future – determination, skill and a strong desire to win. This ethos quickly filed through the ranks and with quick hands a speedy passing allowed Alex to run under the posts for another Pinner try, not converted leaving score 19-5 after 14 mins of the second half. Again, from intense pressure by the forwards the ball was released to Bernie Richter, who despite having three defenders hanging onto him powered his way into the corner to notch up another unconverted try – 24-5

Three minutes later, with now a rampant back line, a driving run and a superb pass from man of the match James Byrne to Warren Woad could only leave the visitors as spectators, the try was converted bringing the score into the 30’s 31-5. At this stage of the game it should be mentioned that Old Streetonians did not let their heads drop and continued to work hard for every ball contested and a lucky interception and good hands from Sibilant and Nicholas allowed prop Simon Whitcombe to get his name on the score sheet, with a strong kick between the post from Paul James the score now moved to and impressive 38-5

The visitors still approached the game with a positive attitude and once inside the Pinner 22 after the re-start their tight head prop powered his way to the touchline with a cheer from his team mates, unfortunately this could not be extended as the ball past passed the outside of the post and failed to convert the try 38-10

From the restart and in the last play of the game, Aaron Nicholas weaved his way through the approaching defence to score Pinner’s final try of the game

Final Score: Pinner & Grammarians 43 Old Streetonians 10

With a friendly match against local rivals Harrow RFC next weekend, Pinner are building themselves up for their next league fixture against top team Ickenham RFC Saturday 27^th March

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