Pinner pipped in the 11th minute of injury time

Two strange decisions by the referee cost P&G’s 14 point and a much needed win away to Old Grammarians of Tottenham.  The first was after 25 minutes of the first half when he gave a penalty for an offence in a ruck 5m from the visitor’s line.  He converted this to a penalty try under the posts.  The law requires that there would have been a high probability of a try had the offence not been committed. Not even the home supporters were convinced that this would have been the case.  The second decision was to allow the second half to run on for over 50 minutes, normally 40 minutes per half, and again those on the touch line could not remember ten minutes of stoppages or injuries.  Old Grammarians scored their second and decisive try which they converted to sneak the game 17 – 13.

The first half started with the home side kicking with the wind but against the slope. They were soon awarded a penalty, the first of a multitude given against both sides, to take a 3 – 0 lead.  Pinner were having difficulties in adjusting to the slope of the pitch and the rather heavy and ponderous O G’s pack. Yet another penalty on the P&G 22 for off-side was missed in front of the posts. Pinner now began to get their act together and mounted a series of pick and drive attacks which brought them into the home 22. Winning another ruck scrum-half Sam Heath found centre Ollie Blazey to fee is co-centre Richard Southam who shrugged of a few tackles to score in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful but P&G’s had a 5 – 3 lead.  Then came the penalty try to put the home side 10 – 5 up.  Pinner continued to threaten for the rest of the half with strong attacks through the centre but did not take advantage of getting the ball wide where their wingers would have out-paced the defence. O G’s were forced to defend and it was Pinner’s turn to be awarded penalties which took them in range of the goal line. With half-time over due they opted to kick at goal and Fred Riley stepped up to take the 3 points to bring the interval score to 10 – 8 to O G’s.

Pinner kicked off up the slope but with the wind. The kick went deep into the home 22 where the defenders made a mess of things. P&G’s won a turn-over at the resulting ruck. The ball was quickly fed along the backs and centre Ollie Blazey scored out on the right. The conversion was unsuccessful but the visitors had a 13 – 10 lead. Pinner continued to look threatening but didn’t use the wind enough to get often into the home 22. An injury to no. 8 Andy Alexander reduce the power of the pick and drives and the heavier O G’s pack was gaining momentum in the set scrums and mauls.  Pinner had a possible third try disallowed but the game never really flowed due to the constant awarding of penalties and free kicks.  With full-time past, there was little injury time to add on according to touch-line watches,    O G’s mounted a series of drives with the referee giving yet more penalties. From the last one with Pinner retreating O G’s dived over for the final conclusive converted try to snatch victory 17 – 13. The eight club Herts- Middx Div 3 now goes into an enforced period without competitive matched until 11^th January.

Santa & Saracens @ Pinner Christmas Party

On Sunday the 15^th December Pinner RFC mini and youth section, carried out a fun training session at their club on Shaftsbury playing fields, Hatch End. After a short contact training session two teams were formed and a well committed game took place with plenty of great tackles and some superb running play, all cheered on by the parents from across the age groups who had come outside to cheer on the teams, all agreed that they played with great confidence and skill.

After the final whistle blew the players had a great surprise when they we joined at the club for photographs and signatures by Saracens prop NICK AUTERAC, the players all enjoyed being up close to a Saracens player. Everyone moved to the changing rooms and after a wash and a quick change into clean clothes they entered the clubhouse to see it had been transformed by the parents into a Christmas party room, with decorations, crackers, music and party food all the children sat down to a fun noisy lunch. But then another special visitor arrived this time it was Father Christmas. At Pinner RFC we have a tradition at Christmas the players donate a Christmas present for a boy or girl who is less fortunate than themselves so Father Christmas collected the presents to be delivered to the children’s wards at local hospitals.

So that was the first half of a great season finished, we have seen our team numbers increasing and a great family club developing, we are always after recruiting new players to join all our teams from u6 through u15, we are also looking for people to volunteer who may be able to help with coaching or sponsorship interested please call Paul on 07917088802.

Pinner Under14s back to winning ways and top of the League

Pinner and Grammarians RFC U14s travelled to Tring on Sunday, knowing only a win with a try bonus point would get their season back on track after losing in the league game 2 weeks ago at Bishop Stortford.

The game was played in ideal conditions for running rugby. Pinner kicked off and a good follow up contained Tring in their own half. Both sides fought hard for the ball and the first try came from Kai Gordon for Pinner using his strength and pace to beat a number of Tring defenders down the right wing to touch down under the posts to give Freddie Hart and easy conversion and Pinner a nil-7 lead.

The lead was held for long as Tring put pressure on Pinner and after a couple of scrappy break downs and some weak tackling Ting scored a try close to Pinner’s right touchline. Trings kicker made a brave effort but the ball fell short leaving the score 5-7 in Pinner’s favour.

Following some further close rugby with both sides threatening each others try line, some great rucking by the Pinner forwards allowed the backs to ship the ball to outside centre Ryan Healy who burst a couple of tackles to score under the post giving Freddie another easy conversion, 5-14 to Pinner which remained the score at half time.

Tring kicked off the second half and were immediately put under pressure by an ever dominant Pinner team who were beginning to control the game in all areas and it wasn’t long before Kai burst a number of tackles down the right wing to score his second and Pinners third try of the game under the post. Freddie Hart, now minus his favourite kicking tee, duly converted putting Pinner in to a commanding 5-21 lead.

It wasn’t long until the Pinner got the fourth and bonus point try when Ryan again used his strength to burst past the Tring defence and score a try under the posts, which Freddie, still minus his favourite kicking tee, duly converted, 5-28 to Pinner.

Charlie Gascoine, playing back in his favoured position of number 8, added a fifth try for Pinner when he ripped the ball from a Tring attacker during a maul between the half way and their 10 metre line and burst down the left wing beating the winger and full back to crash over near the corner flag. Freddie, now no longer caring about what he kicked the ball off, slotted the long range conversion to make it 5-35 to Pinner.

Pinner taking more confidence took the game to Tring who were now visibly losing their confidence and discipline. Pinner looked to have scored their sixth try when Taylor Goodman powered over the Tring try line driving two Tring defenders with him only for the referee to rule the ball held up, no try, but as Taylor had driven over the Tring line, so Pinner had the put in to a 22 scrum.

With the game being completely dominated by Pinner at this stage and with about 5 minutes left on the clock Pinner held the a scrum and then drove Trings back the Pinner pack quickly worked the ball to the back of the scrum where Charlie picked up at the back and ran uncontested over the Tring try line to give Freddie another difficult conversion attempt which fell just short [maybe he was still missing that kicking tee] leaving the final score at 5-40 to Pinner.

The boys have given themselves a massive boost with only two league games, both at home, left of the season to get promoted two seasons in a row.

		HOME					AWAY					OVERALL
POS		P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	DIFF	BP	PTS
1	Pinner and Grammarians	4	2	0	0	69	5	1	0	1	50	32	3	0	1	119	37	82	3	15
2	Bishop’s Stortford B	4	2	0	0	49	22	1	0	1	62	31	3	0	1	111	53	58	3	15
3	Twickenham	3	2	0	0	81	22	1	0	0	24	10	3	0	0	105	32	73	2	14
4	Teddington B	3	1	0	0	49	10	0	0	2	17	46	1	0	2	66	56	10	1	5
5	Tring B	3	1	0	1	43	52	0	0	1	5	50	1	0	2	48	102	-54	1	5
6	Saracens B	2	0	0	1	10	24	0	0	1	12	38	0	0	2	22	62	-40	0	0
7	Hackney Bulls	3	0	0	1	0	45	0	0	2	10	94	0	0	3	10	139	-129	0	0

Pinner disappointing first half.

Expectations were high for P&G’s encounter with local rivals Watford. A bonus point win would see Pinner go to the top of Herts / Middlesex Division 3.  The home side started well enough but with many changes caused by injuries in the previous match early team coordination left much to be desired.  Three penalties in the first quarter of an hour inside the P&G 10 meter area were all kicked by the Watford fly-half posting an early   9- 0 lead.  The visitors were now full of confidence and running the ball with some purpose.  Another penalty in front of the posts was quickly taken whilst P&G’s were not alert. A try resulted on the left and the extra points added.  Pinner’s cause was not helped when their powerful no 8 Andy Alexander was yellow carded for holding back an opponent.  A Pinner attack broke down and Watford fly-hacked ahead getting the luck of the bounce to score their second converted try. On the half hour Pinner were awarded only their second penalty which was slotted over by Fred Riley.  With half-time approaching the powerful Watford forwards set up a driving maul to score the third try and make the score 30 – 3 at the break.

Pinner started the second half with much more purpose and greater coordination. The teams appeared evenly match with the home side dominating much of the play.  However injuries to key players again caused disruption.  There was no score for nearly half an hour when Fred Riley kicked his second penalty.  This gave the home side more confidence and several promising attacks developed. In one of these P&G lost the ball in the Watford 22 and the visitors broke away at speed with support to get their fourth and bonus point try.  The coordination of their backs and drills of their forwards showed the benefit of being able to train under lights the opportunity for which the home side is denied.  Pinner had their best chance to add points when winger Fred Riley intercept a Watford pass in his own 22 and sprinted deep into visitors half before being caught by an even faster defender.  With this chance gone the visitors great fluency resulted in a further final try to bring a the score to 44 – 6 to the great disappointment of the home crowd.