Latest Match Reports
LONDON EXILES 26-19 CROYDON (2010-03-06)
London Exiles are pretty disorganised off the pitch - they could not provide a ball or touch judge for this home fixture, but they have Indian sign on Croydon on it and, once again edged a closely contested match.
Croydon had to make 2, key, late changes to the side so, understandably, started slowly and Exiles had all the early play, building up an, apparently, comfortable 15 point lead after 27 minutes.
Replacement fly half, Tim Gleig, with very little rugby under his belt this season, took time to settle but, once he did, he displayed his considerable range of skills to get Croydon back into the match.First a break which led to a penalty, which he converted, then a deft chip, catch and scoring pass to Chris Friend after Craig Bond had made a seering break through the centre.
Croydon were now on top, Sam Gleig back to his marauding best at 7 and Gareth Moss enjoying his best game so far in the front row. Benson Mburu was also at his best, converting an easy penalty just after the interval, then gathering and touching down after another clever Gleig chip.
The sides exchanged penalties and with 15 minutes to go Croydon led by a point but Tim Gleig was sin-binned for careless use of the boot and Exiles responded with 2 late scores to regain the lead. Croydon surged back with a series of penalties on the Exiles line but they could not make the crucial breakthrough.
Croydon’s next League fixture at home to Bec in 2 weeks time now assumes massive importance for both clubs.
Scores: Croydon: Tries: Chris Friend 40, Benson Mburu 45. Penalties: Tim Gleig 33, Benson Mburu 41,69
Exiles: Tries:13,27,72, Pens:10,47,76. Conv 27.
Croydon Team:
1. Gareth Moss
2. Anthony Abou - Zeid
3. Dom Plumb
4. Toby Boatwright
5. Bill Simons ( Gareth Phillips 49 )
6. Sam Gleig
7. Rob Beard ( John Wilds 65 )
8. Dave Thornton
9. Will Curtis
10.Tim Gleig ( Ronnie Kettle 65 )
11.Chris Friend
12.Craig Bond
13.Richard Woodhams
14.Benson Mburu
15.Toru Higuchi
Surrey U 20s 17 - 3 Kent U20s (2010-03-07)
Dave Thornton played his third game for Surrey on Sunday when they beat Kent to progress to the knock out stages of the County Championships by winning their group with a 100% record.
Dave played at No 8 and touched down for his first try in a County shirt with a pick up and drive from a 5 metre scrum after 25 minutes ( he admitted afterwards that he was supposed to pop it to the scrum half but you don’t do that when you are 5 metres out and the biggest bloke on the pitch!)
Surrey are now 3 matches away from a potential final at Twickenham. Let’s hope they make it so we can have a big Croydon trip to HQ to support him.
CROYDON 10-12 BATTERSEA IRONSIDES (2010-02-20)
After 3 successive good performances, it is a pity that Croydon chose such an important match to put on their worst display of the season. Victory here would have put them safe in mid-table, but now they face a nervous last few games to ensure their continued place in the League.
This was an error-strewn game littered with mistakes by both teams. Croydon had the edge in the set scrum but were counter-rucked off the loose ball on several occasions. Their driving mauls worked well until they got to the try line when a modicum of composure should have led to tries.
The threequarter line never really got going, the handling was poor and the kicking worse. In Will Salvidge they have a potent attacking force but he only got into space twice in the whole match.
The key passage of play came after half an hour when Salvidge broke away and chipped over the full back. The Ironsides wing got back to relieve the situation and when he chased his relieving kick, Chris Palmer was penalised for a late tackle. A 10 minute sin-bin followed and during that time, Ironsides scored a pushover try at the posts.
Ten minutes into the second half, a break by Palmer & Craig Bond set up a penalty to reduce the deficit, but Croydon relaxed at the restart and poor tackling led to a second BI try in the corner.
Croydon were now the dominant side but could make little headway against a sound defence. Salvidge broke clear on the hour and ran 60 yards for a fine solo score converted by Alex Warsop, but Croydon never really looked like scoring again and slumped to a disappointing defeat.
Scores: CROYDON:Try WILL SALVIDGE 60,conv ALEX WARSOP, pen Warsop 50
BI : Tries 40,54, 1 conv
CROYDON:
1. Dom Plumb
2. Anthony Abou-Zeid
3. Gareth Moss ( Steve Griffiths 60)
4. Toby Boatwright
5. Rory Stewart ( Billy Simons 40 )
6. Dave Thornton
7. Sam Gleig
8. Chris Palmer
9. Will Curtis
10.Alex Warsop
11.Benson Mburu
12.Craig Bond
13.Toru Higuchi
14.Will Salvidge
15.Sam Curtis ( Ed Skinner 25 )
Army U20s 6 - 50 Surrey (2010-02-14)
Croydon’s star 18 year old forward, Dave Thornton was on duty again on Sunday when Surrey recorded a comfortable victory over The Army at the Forces excellent ground in Aldershot.
Having played at No 8 against Hampshire the previous week, Dave moved to Second row and was again prominent in a dominant pack.
Dave came off in the second half with a minor shoulder injury but hopefully will be fit for the next crucial match against Kent on Sunday week at The Met. Police ground at Imber Court.
Teddington 28-0 Croydon (2010-02-13)
It will take an outstanding team to stop Teddington’s juggernaut this season. They are now unbeaten in 18 competitive matches.
Croydon played well enough to have beaten most other sides in the League. Their scrum and line out were solid, they were competitive in the loose, moved the ball well in attack and tackled all day, but it was just not enough.
Teddington played with pace, aggression and, above all, confidence and ran the ball continuously, until Croydon’s defences eventually cracked.
Croydon started well and were the better team for the first 15 minutes but Teddington still ran in 4 tries in the first half, mainly taking advantage of some poor kicking by the visitors which set up a number of counter attacks by a fast, hard running back line. Croydon also tended to get bottled up in the mid-field instead of getting the ball wide to the pace on their wing.
20 points down at the break, Croydon competed well in the second half, engineering space for Will Salvidge who twice broke away, once down the left and then through the middle. Then Chris Palmer made a thrilling break from the base of the scrum but again the Teddington defence held firm. When they got their chances, Teddington took them, adding a penalty and try in the second period.
Croydon should take heart from this performance, Dom Plumb was a constant driving force in the front row, Chris Palmer a giant in a hard working back row and the side showed great spirit which should ensure survival in a very competitive League. Next week’s visit of Battersea Ironsides is a crucial fixture.
Croydon:
1. Dom Plumb
2. Anthony Abou-Zeid
3. Gareth Moss ( Steve Griffiths 50 )
4. Toby Boatwright
5. Bill Simons ( Rory Stewart 40 )
6. Dave Thornton
7. Sam Gleig
8. Chris Palmer
9. Will Curtis
10.Alex Warsop
11.Chris Friend
12.Sam Clarkson
13.Craig Bond
14.Will Salvidge
15.Sam Curtis
Surrey Under 20s against Hampshire (2010-02-07)
18 Year old Dave Thornton made his County debut on Sunday when he played No 8 for Surrey Under 20s against Hampshire at Havant. Dave was prominent in a pack which dominated the opposition leading to a convincing. 22-10 victory in an entertaining game.
There are further match against The Army and Kent in the coming weeks and success in these could lead to Surrey progressing to the National Finals at Twickenham later in the year.
Dave has played in every First XV match for Croydon this season and improved with every game.
Congratulation Dave, let’s hope this is the first of many caps.
Farnham 15-18 Croydon (2010-02-06)
Steve shuffles the pack
When the season’s fixture list was published, this was a free Saturday so skipper Craig Bond plus 4 first choice forwards agreed to attend a stag weekend away. Then the January snow led to this rearranged match so Croydon travelled to Farnham with a threadbare squad of merely 17, with only 8 forwards including 4 props.
Farnham’s pitch was a quagmire and the early signs were ominous. Croydon failed to deal with the kick off, were wheeled off their first 6 set scrums and their first line out was badly controlled leading to a soft try for Farnham. A penalty quickly followed and after 15 minutes Croydon were looking down the barrel.
At this point, veteran forward, Steve Griffiths literally shuffled the pack and the rearranged formation began to establish an element of stability enabling the visitors to get into the match.
After 25 minutes Croydon reduced the arrears. A tap penalty by Sam Gleig and a series of forward drives led to a 5 metre scrum from which Benson Mburu broke blind to put Mike Pedersen in at the corner.
Alex Warsop leveled things with a penalty on 42 minutes and 12 minutes later Croydon took the lead. Sam Clarkson initiated a long break down the right, the forwards took it on and quick ball from the loose enabled Warsop to slip in under the posts.
Farnham responded and Pedersen and Sam Curtis pulled heroic last ditch tackles before the pressure told with a converted try in the corner.
Croydon responded immediately with another Warsop penalty and then withstood a late barrage to secure victory which was testament to a huge effort from all 17 members of the squad.
Scores:
CROYDON: Tries: Pedersen 25, Warsop 54, Pens Warsop 42,67 Conv Warsop 54
FARNHAM: Tries:13,61 Pen 16, Conv 61
CROYDON:
1. Dom Plumb
2. Anthony Abou-Zeid
3. Gareth Moss
4. Bill Simons
5. Steve Griffiths
6. John Wilds
7. Sam Gleig
8. Dave Thornton
9. Benson mburu ( Will Curtis )
10.Alex warsop
11.Toru Higuchi
12.Sam Clarkson
13.Chris Friend ( Richard Woodhams)
14.Mike Pedersen
15.Sam Curtis
