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Match Report: Tunbridge Wells v CS Stags 1863 – 17.09.22
Peter Kasic18 Sep 2022 - 17:35
Result: 0–44 six try bonus points win
A beautiful bright sunny autumn Saturday saw CS Stags 1863 travel down to the south east by train to play Tunbridge Wells RFC, amidst their excellent grounds and facilities, with half their first team pitch in Kent, and half in Sussex.
Stags started very positively from the off, a good initial break through by Pat Regan ending spilled just on the Wells 22. Indiscipline for a spike tackle cost Wells a yellow card in the first ten minutes. A decent kick to touch by John Hargreaves, followed by possession from the line out and a good drive forward, saw Stags awarded a penalty on the 22 which John converted. 0-3. A period of sustained pressure by Stags followed, with some excellent runs by Luke Trigg and Parimal Shrestha, which then saw the forwards drive through for a try scored by Angus Low. John Hargreaves converted from touch with a beautiful kick, to make the score 0-10. Another penalty followed to Stags which John also converted. At half time CS Stags were 0-13 up.
Stags kept the pressure on from the start of the second half, now playing slightly up slope. 15 minutes in, a great line out steal by Stags on the Wells 22 saw the ball go through the line to the right, a breakthrough by scrum half Alex Jones, which the forwards then continued and Razvan Dranca scored virtually under the posts. Conversion by John Hargreaves saw Stags 0-20 up. A minute later Wells were yellow carded for yet another spike tackle, and the indiscipline and subsequent penalties against them became a theme throughout the match, which Stags capitalised on and took advantage of with great effect. 25 minutes into the half some great runs and drives forward by Alex Jones and Tom Johnson saw Ricky Hollamby score in the right corner. Unconverted by John, score was now 0-25. Yet more continued pressure by Stags, John Hargreaves kicking excellently to the corners to keep Wells pinned down, saw a Stags line out on the Wells goal line. Further penalties to Stags, saw the ball rapidly swung out to the left after 30 minutes for a score in the corner, touched down by Cam Thomas. Unconverted, score now 0-30 to CS Stags. 35 minutes into the second half, Wells were red carded for what the referee saw as leading with a high shoulder by a player off his feet. Further indiscipline and backchat saw Wells penalised with ten metres added, which John Hargreaves continued to punish with kicks to their corner. Through the Stags line the ball travelled again, right to left, and back out to the right for Parimal Shrestha to score in the corner after a great run in. John Hargreaves converted once again from the corner – score now 0-37 to CS Stags. Wells tried to kick through at the end, but our defence was lined up and waiting. Parimal Shrestha caught, driven forward and worked through the line, for Angus Low to score his second try of the match. John Hargreaves converted, the final whistle was blown, and CS Stags 1863 ran out 0-44 bonus point winners.
To summarise: Another excellent performance and win by CS Stags 1863, with great teamwork, commitment, and no let up at all. I honestly cannot remember seeing a single Wells kick not being fielded cleanly by Stags, and the tackling, driving, handling, control, and teamwork support play were all exemplary. And don’t just take this from me – several of the Wells committee and supporters made a point of saying this to me after the match. Great stuff boys – keep it going please – onwards and upwards!
Stats: Man of the Match (as awarded by Chris Swann DoR): Angus Low. Special mentions (also by Chris Swann): Will Clark, Parimal Shrestha, Sam Miller, and Ricky Hollamby.
6 Tries: Angus Low (X2), Razvan Dranca, Ricky Hollamby, Cam Thomas, Parimal Shrestha. (30 points)
4 Conversions: John Hargreaves, (8 points)
2 Penalties: John Hargreaves. (6 points)
Stags started very positively from the off, a good initial break through by Pat Regan ending spilled just on the Wells 22. Indiscipline for a spike tackle cost Wells a yellow card in the first ten minutes. A decent kick to touch by John Hargreaves, followed by possession from the line out and a good drive forward, saw Stags awarded a penalty on the 22 which John converted. 0-3. A period of sustained pressure by Stags followed, with some excellent runs by Luke Trigg and Parimal Shrestha, which then saw the forwards drive through for a try scored by Angus Low. John Hargreaves converted from touch with a beautiful kick, to make the score 0-10. Another penalty followed to Stags which John also converted. At half time CS Stags were 0-13 up.
Stags kept the pressure on from the start of the second half, now playing slightly up slope. 15 minutes in, a great line out steal by Stags on the Wells 22 saw the ball go through the line to the right, a breakthrough by scrum half Alex Jones, which the forwards then continued and Razvan Dranca scored virtually under the posts. Conversion by John Hargreaves saw Stags 0-20 up. A minute later Wells were yellow carded for yet another spike tackle, and the indiscipline and subsequent penalties against them became a theme throughout the match, which Stags capitalised on and took advantage of with great effect. 25 minutes into the half some great runs and drives forward by Alex Jones and Tom Johnson saw Ricky Hollamby score in the right corner. Unconverted by John, score was now 0-25. Yet more continued pressure by Stags, John Hargreaves kicking excellently to the corners to keep Wells pinned down, saw a Stags line out on the Wells goal line. Further penalties to Stags, saw the ball rapidly swung out to the left after 30 minutes for a score in the corner, touched down by Cam Thomas. Unconverted, score now 0-30 to CS Stags. 35 minutes into the second half, Wells were red carded for what the referee saw as leading with a high shoulder by a player off his feet. Further indiscipline and backchat saw Wells penalised with ten metres added, which John Hargreaves continued to punish with kicks to their corner. Through the Stags line the ball travelled again, right to left, and back out to the right for Parimal Shrestha to score in the corner after a great run in. John Hargreaves converted once again from the corner – score now 0-37 to CS Stags. Wells tried to kick through at the end, but our defence was lined up and waiting. Parimal Shrestha caught, driven forward and worked through the line, for Angus Low to score his second try of the match. John Hargreaves converted, the final whistle was blown, and CS Stags 1863 ran out 0-44 bonus point winners.
To summarise: Another excellent performance and win by CS Stags 1863, with great teamwork, commitment, and no let up at all. I honestly cannot remember seeing a single Wells kick not being fielded cleanly by Stags, and the tackling, driving, handling, control, and teamwork support play were all exemplary. And don’t just take this from me – several of the Wells committee and supporters made a point of saying this to me after the match. Great stuff boys – keep it going please – onwards and upwards!
Stats: Man of the Match (as awarded by Chris Swann DoR): Angus Low. Special mentions (also by Chris Swann): Will Clark, Parimal Shrestha, Sam Miller, and Ricky Hollamby.
6 Tries: Angus Low (X2), Razvan Dranca, Ricky Hollamby, Cam Thomas, Parimal Shrestha. (30 points)
4 Conversions: John Hargreaves, (8 points)
2 Penalties: John Hargreaves. (6 points)
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