Safe as houses...victorious All Blacks stay up (From Andover Advertiser)

Safe as houses...victorious All Blacks stay up

3:02pm Wednesday 22nd April 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

Andover 28 Old Wimbledonians 14.

Oakwood sponsored Andover faced Old Wimbledonians at the Goodship Ground in the final league game of the season knowing the victor would stay up and the loser relegated.

New head coach John Crozier took charge following a well-attended squad session on Thursday and the mood was vibrant and determined. Andover were boosted by the return of several key players and elected to play away from the clubhouse in the first half.

Andover started the game well and dominated before a penalty was narrowly missed by Will Kane. However the home pack, led by the experienced prop pairing of Ewen Cameron and Matt Nolan coupled with young hooker Tom Waite, were solid all afternoon. Alec McNair picked up from the base and the ball was recycled quickly and Stuart McRae broke through to squeeze over. The conversion gave Andover an early 7-0 lead.

For the next 20 minutes Andover switched off and heads began to drop as silly mistakes and handling errors were made. This gave the away side the momentum and a couple of penalties were converted to reduce the lead to 7-6. As the visitors’ confidence grew, the Andover defence did eventually crack, as a another missed lineout throw fell into OWs hands and gave them a 13-7 lead.

Andover started the second half like a different team. Using the powerful running of McNair, Cowley, Nolan and Cameron, they drove OWs back into their half, allowing clean ball and using the pace and power they have in their backs. The pressure paid off for the All Blacks, as from a scrum McNair again picked up and released the backs. The ball came to centre Nick Rowe who rounded his opposite number and then powered over. The conversion restored Andover’s lead to 14-13.

A resurgent Andover were looking in great form and were being roared on by the vociferous and abundant touchline support. Wilkinson and Kane were looking sharp with the ball in their hands and the forwards were dominating the contact areas.

Flanker Matt Ball came into the pack and winger Sam Froggett returned for his first game after an 18 month injury lay off. The unrelenting pressure from Andover started to frustrate the opposition who had a man sent to the bin for ten minutes.

This advantage, and continued hard work, provided Andover with three penalties in quick succession, all of which Kane slotted over to increase the lead to 23-14.

An injury to the OW’s prop meant scrums went uncontested, this took away the advantage Andover had as they had been dominating the set piece all game. As the opposition started tire and Andover’s aggressive defensive was unrelenting a spilt ball was kicked ahead with Will Kane giving chase. The last OW defender tried to ground the ball but missed and young winger Callum Staff pounced for his maiden first team try.

With Andover now safe in London South West 4 for next season, they look to a much needed two months off before pre-season in July under the new regime of coach Crozier.

Scorers Tries: McRae, Rowe, Staff Con: Kane (2) Pen: Kane (3) New senior head coach John Crozier took charge with a training session on Thursday 1before assuming his first match in charge for the final game of the season.

John, a former player with Andover in the '80s when they were at the Walworth, then went onto play for London Irish before moving into coaching. Having had a recent spell with Calne RFC and successfully coaching them to promotion, John has returned to living in the area and is a welcome breath of fresh air into the senior set up.

End of season awards 1st XV Players Player: Martin Klee Coach’s Player: Nick Rowe Vice-Presidents’ Player of the Year: Stu McRae Hinds Player’s Player: Leon Taylor 4th XV Players Player: Nathan Salkeld Most Improved Player: Leon Taylor Clubman of the Year: Ricky Ross Baverstock Award: Dan Pearson.

This weekend’s fixture: Hinds XV v Basingstoke Vets League (A)

• Print
• Email
• Share