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Sat 10 Oct 2009 · Midlands 2 West (South)
1st XVKidderminster
Tries: L Jones
22
20
Never Say Die
Nick Savage12 Oct 2009 - 08:41
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Match report by Si Doherty
The Sils continued their impressive start to the season with a well-earned victory at home to Kidderminster.
Two draws in succession had left the Sils feeling that they had a point to prove, and it was clear before kick-off that there was a must-win feel to the game for many of the team. Playing on home turf for only the second time this campaign, against a side well-known for their aggressive forward play, only added to the pre-match build-up.
It was no surprise, therefore, when Sils started brightly from the kick-off, running their patterns with confidence and sniping at the Kidderminster fringes. Strong running from full-back Harry Law provided good field-position early on for the home team, with the visitors in turn seeking to make use of their size advantage in the loose to test the Sils defence.
The first points fell to the home team, however, following a superbly-executed phase of play. Incisive running from the Sils pack left Kidderminster stretched out wide, enabling skipper Lee Jones to scythe through and add to his tally of league tries this year. Dave Grey added the extras to make it 7-0 after fifteen minutes.
Kidderminster answered in typically direct fashion, hammering away at the edges of the breakdown with wave after wave of pick-and-drive attack. This was more than aided by the field-position provided by their full-back who had an excellent game with the boot, peppering the Sils back three with often unanswerable cross-field kicks. A push-over try from a line-out close to the line levelled the scores at seven apiece.
Shortly after, Kidderminster took the lead, a rare break-down at the Sils scrum quickly capitalised on by the opposing back-row, who drove over from ten metres out to score. 12-7 to the visitors.
The next ten saw a noticeable upping in intensity from the Sils side, determined to go into the break with their noses in front. Quick phase ball gave the home backs the chance to get in behind the opposition, only to be hauled down close to the Kidderminster line. With advantage still being played, the ball was swept out to Harry Law, whose speculative drop-goal attempt went wide of the right-hand post. The referee allowed play to continue, however, and centre Si Clarke took full advantage of the lethargic defence to chase down what had appeared to be a lost cause. A cool finish under the posts, following a shambolic Kidderminster attempt to touch the ball down, ensured a 14-12 lead to the home side at the turn.
The second-half was to prove as finely-balanced as the first, both sides playing with the determination always apparent in this keenly-contested fixture. A defensive error by the Sils in front of their own posts allowed Kidderminster to nudge ahead, 15-14, after fifty minutes. The home team, meanwhile, had lost open-side Alex Roper to injury, replaced by Cameron Law, and when winger Nic Powell had to leave the field with another cut to the head, it allowed the return of full-back Jim Roper, fresh from two weeks R&R.
Roper was to have an almost instant impact, slotting home a sweetly-struck drop-goal after some concerted Sils pressure to regain the lead for the home side. Kidderminster were determined not to go out without a fight, and soon seized the lead for themselves once more. Another pushover try from a line-out took the lead to 20-17, though the conversion was, crucially, missed. The Sils had twelve minutes to make this game theirs.
It was testimony to the ‘never-say-die’ attitude of this Sils side that they proceeded to force their way up into Kidderminster territory, with No.8 Peter ‘Shelf’ Nicholls, excellent throughout the match, particularly visible with some ferocious carries. The breakthrough, however, came once again from Roper, whose darting run through covering Kidderminster defence put the Sils full-back in space. One-on-one with his opposite man, Roper calmly drew his man before putting winger Paul ‘Pablo’ Hollier in space to finish clinically in the corner. 22-20 to the Sils with three left on the clock, and despite Kidderminster’s best efforts, the home defence stayed firm to secure the win and two league points.
Two draws in succession had left the Sils feeling that they had a point to prove, and it was clear before kick-off that there was a must-win feel to the game for many of the team. Playing on home turf for only the second time this campaign, against a side well-known for their aggressive forward play, only added to the pre-match build-up.
It was no surprise, therefore, when Sils started brightly from the kick-off, running their patterns with confidence and sniping at the Kidderminster fringes. Strong running from full-back Harry Law provided good field-position early on for the home team, with the visitors in turn seeking to make use of their size advantage in the loose to test the Sils defence.
The first points fell to the home team, however, following a superbly-executed phase of play. Incisive running from the Sils pack left Kidderminster stretched out wide, enabling skipper Lee Jones to scythe through and add to his tally of league tries this year. Dave Grey added the extras to make it 7-0 after fifteen minutes.
Kidderminster answered in typically direct fashion, hammering away at the edges of the breakdown with wave after wave of pick-and-drive attack. This was more than aided by the field-position provided by their full-back who had an excellent game with the boot, peppering the Sils back three with often unanswerable cross-field kicks. A push-over try from a line-out close to the line levelled the scores at seven apiece.
Shortly after, Kidderminster took the lead, a rare break-down at the Sils scrum quickly capitalised on by the opposing back-row, who drove over from ten metres out to score. 12-7 to the visitors.
The next ten saw a noticeable upping in intensity from the Sils side, determined to go into the break with their noses in front. Quick phase ball gave the home backs the chance to get in behind the opposition, only to be hauled down close to the Kidderminster line. With advantage still being played, the ball was swept out to Harry Law, whose speculative drop-goal attempt went wide of the right-hand post. The referee allowed play to continue, however, and centre Si Clarke took full advantage of the lethargic defence to chase down what had appeared to be a lost cause. A cool finish under the posts, following a shambolic Kidderminster attempt to touch the ball down, ensured a 14-12 lead to the home side at the turn.
The second-half was to prove as finely-balanced as the first, both sides playing with the determination always apparent in this keenly-contested fixture. A defensive error by the Sils in front of their own posts allowed Kidderminster to nudge ahead, 15-14, after fifty minutes. The home team, meanwhile, had lost open-side Alex Roper to injury, replaced by Cameron Law, and when winger Nic Powell had to leave the field with another cut to the head, it allowed the return of full-back Jim Roper, fresh from two weeks R&R.
Roper was to have an almost instant impact, slotting home a sweetly-struck drop-goal after some concerted Sils pressure to regain the lead for the home side. Kidderminster were determined not to go out without a fight, and soon seized the lead for themselves once more. Another pushover try from a line-out took the lead to 20-17, though the conversion was, crucially, missed. The Sils had twelve minutes to make this game theirs.
It was testimony to the ‘never-say-die’ attitude of this Sils side that they proceeded to force their way up into Kidderminster territory, with No.8 Peter ‘Shelf’ Nicholls, excellent throughout the match, particularly visible with some ferocious carries. The breakthrough, however, came once again from Roper, whose darting run through covering Kidderminster defence put the Sils full-back in space. One-on-one with his opposite man, Roper calmly drew his man before putting winger Paul ‘Pablo’ Hollier in space to finish clinically in the corner. 22-20 to the Sils with three left on the clock, and despite Kidderminster’s best efforts, the home defence stayed firm to secure the win and two league points.
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