Pinner win in style

Match report for Saturday 12^th January

Pinner’s first home match of 2013 brought a convincing 26 – 5 win over local rivals Uxbridge and was sweet revenge for the defeat suffered in September.  The team showed intend from the kick-off and were 14 – 0 up inside ten minutes with tries by centre Alex Goring and a break-away one by scrum-half Chris Jepsen.  Both were converted by full-back and acting captain Mark Razzell.  The pack led by Phillip Skelton dominated the set pieces with prop Simon Whitcombe prominent in many drives forward.   This enable the backs to move the ball freely and P&G’s came close to scoring on several occasions.  Much of the game was played in the Uxbridge half but from a lapse on the half –hour the ball was gathered by an Uxbridge centre who made good ground into the P&G 22.  Pinner’s defence got back to stop this initial charge but from the resulting ruck Uxbridge moved the ball wide to find their second row loitering on the right wing who scored in the corner. The conversion failed putting the score to 14 – 5.  Pinner then camped in the Uxbridge 22. To the vocal crowd of supporters, that had emerged from the clubhouse having enjoyed a good lunch hosted by President David Hiles, it appeared that prop Simon Whitcombe had driven through in the left corner but the referee adjudged that his dive was short of the line. The score remained 14 -5 at half time.

The second half started much as the first. Within five minutes centre Alex Goring had stormed out of his own 22. With the Uxbridge defence too far up-field he kicked ahead and beat the chasing visitors to touch down for his second try.  Razzell added a further two points.  From the kick-off P&G’s kept Uxbridge pinned deep in their own half and with only ten minutes of the half gone they forced Uxbridge back in a 5-metre scrum for No. 8 Andrew Alexander, who was named ‘man of the match’, to pick up and score the home side’s forth and much need bonus point try. This time the kick was too far out and it proved to be the last score of the match .  Pinner continued to press for further scores. Uxbridge tried a few counter attacks but the Pinner defence was very secure. This was one of the best performances of the season and the 26 – 5 win should give the team confidence for the rest of the year.

Earlier P&G President David Hiles had hosted his annual lunch when approximately 40, mainly former players, had enjoyed an excellent meal.  His guests were Anne and Michael Barnes, a former Pinner Captain and Chairman and current President of the Middlesex County RFU, together with Simon Wade, Chairman, and John French, Vice-president and former captain, of Uxbridge.  The victory and the recounting of tall tales of long forgotten tours and matches meant that the celebrations went on well into the evening.