Latest Match Reports
Croydon get stuck in the mud
The under 17’s took to the field for their away league match at Cranleigh,
slightly under strength but in good fettle to notch the win that would have
guaranteed them second place in the league. They arrived in good time and
began the warm up in fine spring sunshine. Wthin minutes the whole
complexion of the match was to change when a heavy hail storm began to
batter down assisted by thunder and lightning. After enduring it for a few
minutes both teams were forced to abandon their warm ups and flee for the
safety of the changing room. This caused the KO to be delayed by 20 minutes
and crucially for the match to be moved from their 1st team pitch to the
boggy swampland over the road.
The match eventually kicked off and the early exchanges were fairly even
with handling mistakes from both sides a plenty, understandable in the
conditions, Croydon centre Blake was forced off after 5 minutes with a rib
injury which forced a back line reshuffle with Sam Curtis moving from full
back to centre and James Lyell replacing him. Croydon began to take some
control, managing to get their handling game going despite the conditions
with only determined tackling keeping them out. After some great bursts by
2nd rows Simons and Thornton led to a scrum 10 metres out from the Cranleigh
line, hooker Bayford nicked one against the head, number 8 Salvidge was able
to beat his opposite man and slide in from 3 metres out to score an
unconverted try. Croydon were now enjoying their best spell with great
passing and movement all over the pitch, another great thrust saw great work
from the backs, flanker Golding popped up in the centres to send a seemingly
try scoring pass to winger Shrimpton only for it to be dropped with the line
beckoning. Croydon stepped up the pressure, Cranleigh defence was creaking,
from another fine burst by 2nd row Simons, the backs got the 2nd phase ball,
got spun to centre Ben Smith, as he darted to the line, that winger
Shrimpton lost his footing and managed to bring Smith down yards short. Half
time came with the visitors 5-0 up.
Second half was a far different story, the larger home pack came out
revitalised and took control pinning Croydon in their own half with maul
after maul, Croydon were having trouble getting the ball and started
conceding penalties. From one Cranleigh moved the ball left, the Croydon
defence was slow to react, there was a maul some 5 yards out from which the
home 8 was able to burst over in the corner for an unconverted try to level.
This woke Croydon up. They managed to force a scrum on half way.
Salvidge, despite being hampered with a dead leg was able to pick up round
the back row and make it into the 22 before being tackled by the full back.
Winger Holmes was on hand to take the pop and just ground the ball in the
corner for his third try in as many games, the conversion was missed. This
spurred the home side to fling all they had at Croydon, thrust after thrust
and maul after maul took them into the 22, eventually the prop was able to
plop over from yards out under the posts, the conversion was good. Croydon
knew time was against them but could not get good enough position to launch
any further meaningful attacks, Cranleigh with their noses in front were
able to kick themselves down field and held for a 2 point victory 12-10.
Coach Golding said afterwards...A strange game of two half’s, we seemed to
be in control at half time and those two missed opportunities came back to
haunt us, fair play to Cranleigh, they probably deserved it for their 2nd
half performance, a limited game plan but effective in those conditions. Too
many errors, wrong decision making at half back cost us, just do not know
how to grind out results. Cannot fault anyone, the effort was there just
conditions did not suit and were unable to change our game to suit. On the
plus side was encouraged by the performances of prop Goodyear, only his
third game for us but did well in the scrum despite leaving his boots at
home and having to prop in mud in trainers, his replacement Benson did well,
stole 2 or 3 balls in the loose and put in some big tackles. Especially
pleased for flankers Wilds and Golding who came in for some criticism after
the last game but both responded maturely by doing as I asked and having
their best games of the season
Croydon finish with a loss
Croydon finished their League campaign in a creditable fourth place in Surrey 1 despite this narrow defeat by Cranleigh, who were fighting like mad to maintain their status in the Division.
With a full squad to choose from, Croydon set off at a blistering pace, forwards and backs combining well in a number of promising moves. But the visitors gave as good as they got, strong in the tackle and committed in the forward battle.
The teams exchanged early penalties, Andrew Cook on the mark for Croydon, before the visitors scored the first try, catching and driving from a lineout - a move Croydon have perfected themselves over the past few seasons.
Cranleigh appeared to have made the game safe 12 minutes into the second half. Lovely quick hands in the centre manufactured a try in the right corner and a penalty in front of the posts gave them a 13 point lead.
But Croydon responded well, urged on by a large contingent of vice presidents who had attended a pre match lunch.
Good driving by the forwards and sensible kicking for field position set up a series of attacking set pieces and eventually scrum half Ben Maynard nipped round the blind side of a scrum 5 to touch down.
10 minutes later Croydon were back in the same attacking position. This time the scrum appeared to be lost but somehow the ball squirted out for fly half Alex Warsop to pounce and squeeze over in the corner.
Now only 1 point adrift Croydon looked the more likely winners but, to their credit, Cranleigh responded driving up field to force a number of penalties one of which secured them a deserved victory.
Coach Bill Maynard and skipper Craig Bond can feel satisfied with their team’s performance over the season, particularly in view of the plethora of injuries before Christmas. A number of young players have been blooded and done well and there are more developing in the club’s thriving junior section.
After a season of consolidation, Croydon can look forward to a strong push for promotion and a good run in the Cup competitions next year.
Croydon Under 21s win Bowl Final
CROYDON U 21s shone in Surrey Bowl Final by beating Cobham by three tries to one on a cold blustery day. Croydon fielded a strong squad welcoming back both James Griffiths and Nick Ray who have been side-lined by injury throughout most of the season. It was a good all round performance by Croydon with a strong disciplined pack creating attacking opportunities launched by the half back combination of Bradley Warboys and Tim Gleig who released centres Ben Maynard and James Griffiths on numerous attacks which created second phase ball leading to two tries.
Croydon started the first half with the benefit of the slope and a strong cross wind at their backs and soon settled in the Cobham half. Cobham conceded a penalty under pressure which Tim Gleig kicked to the right hand corner. Captain Jamie Pecorella called a front of the line-out set piece which led to Chris Elmes scoring wide out which was not converted. There then followed a closely fought period in the game when the Croydon front row, spiritedly led by hooker Jamie Pecorella, got the better of Cobham but the latter’s line-out threatened to undo this advantage and some early missed tackles by Croydon could have proved crucial. Fortunately centres Ben Maynard and Jamie Griffiths and the back row defended well against the strong running Cobham backs .The difficult wind led to several “not straight” line-out throw-ins from Cobham which gave turnover ball to Croydon in the set scrums and on the half hour, after two phases of open play, the Croydon pack secured the ball and drove over the Cobham line allowing Anthony Abou-Zeid to score. Tim Gleig converted.
With half time approaching a twelve point lead did not look enough to compensate for playing up the slope and against the wind in the second half. Fortunately the Croydon forwards and backs combined well to drive deep into Cobham territory and loose ball was picked up and driven over the line by the Croydon forwards for Nick Ray to touch down. Tim Gleig converted to increase the lead to 19 points.
In the second half Cobham staged a spirited recovery and soon scored a fine try in the left hand corner after a period of sustained possession. There followed a long period of play with Cobham applying pressure from an improving forward performance supported by some good running by their backs but Croydon’s defence held firm and gradually the Croydon pack secured more possession and good touch kicking by Tim Gleig gradually moved the game into Cobham territory. With five minutes remaining Croydon were awarded a kickable penalty on the defenders 22 but the swirling wind saw Tim Gleig’s well struck kick drift wide of the left hand post.
The final whistle went with Croydon running out winners by 19 points to 5 following a good competitive game which was a credit to both clubs’ coaches and players. Next season Croydon will be establishing an Under 21 Academy squad formed of most of this teams players, who have progressed through the younger age group teams, and the Under 17s squad which capped a fine season with good wins in a junior tournament in Rotterdam, Holland held over the Easter holidays.
The Club’s policy of running junior squads playing competitive rugby for each age group over 11 years old and tag rugby followed by coaching in basic rugby skills for the 8 to 11 age groups should pay good dividends at senior level in the future.
Croydon Girls level the field after half time
Sunday 30th March
Croydon Girls vs. Beckenham RFC- Beckenham Ground
After a late start a referee was eventually found and Croydon went to the field ready to show Beckenham all their worth.
In the 1st quarter Croydon had a strong start pushing Beckenham into their own 22, until right at the end on a Beckenham scrum, their experienced flanker was able to pick up the ball and ran the length of the field to score the first try for Beckenham. Fortunately for Croydon they were unable to convert.
With second quarter under way and Croydon determined to score a try, with great forward work to keep the ball secure the back line was able to receive good ball and keeping pushing up field. With a break from the wing running the length of the field and just falling short of the try line, Croydon unfortunately lost the ball and Beckenham with good ball handling were able to run the length of the field and score another try, but were still unable to convert.
At half time with Croydon on the back foot they went back to the field with renewed determination to level the playing field. Croydon was now starting to apply great pressure causing Beckenham to give away penalties allowing Croydon to keep kicking to touch and winning easy line-outs. Croydon now having secured the ground moved the ball out into the back line showing good handling and skill work, the Fly-Half was then able to smash though Beckenham defence and score a try in the corner. Unfortunately for Croydon they were unable to convert the try but it filled them with a sense of new hope.
With the fourth quarter now underway and Croydon seeing that potential they were slowly starting to work up field again, yet again securing great forwards work. Unfortunately poor handling in the back line allowed Beckenham to collect the ball and run the length of the field where a try-saving tackle was made, yet again the forwards were quickly able to secure this ball allowing the Fly-Half to clear Croydon’s 22 with a kick to touch. Croydon then went and won this line-out and quickly passed it out to the back line with a chip over the defence from the outside centre who was then able to pick up the ball uncontested in Beckenham’s 22 and score between the posts. Unfortunately Croydon were unable to convert this try, the final whistle went with the game ending in a 10-10 draw.
Croydon pip the Park
Croydon under 17’s took on Raynes Park in the league almost recovered from their easter tour to Holland. once again there were key personnel missing with injury and work commitments but were confident after beating the opposition at their place a few weeks earlier. The early exchanges were even, RP seemed happier to keep the ball tight and drive up the middle with their larger forwards, Croydon happier to spin the ball wider when the opportunity arose. Croydon were able to take play down field when RP were penalised for divign over at a ruck then disputing the penalty for a further 10 yards. The home forwards drove into their 22, some nifty handling by forwards and backs, number 8 Salvidge popped to scrum half Ryan who fed Ben Smith in the centre who was able to beat his man and stretch for the line, the conversion by full back Henderson was good.
From the restart RP put Croydon under pressure in their half and prop Raynor tried to sneak in at the side of a ruck, was spotted and from the resulting penalty the RP flyhalf slotted the 3 points to reduce the defecit. The next 10 minutes were quiet tight with Croydon allowing too many easy yards around the base by missing first up tackles but looking more dangerous when running their own ball. One of these phases took the home side to the 22 metre where great handling by fly half Warsop, centres Smith and Blake gave winger Carl (Shrimp) Shrimpton the space to touch down for his first ever try, the conversion attempt narrowly missed. Half time score Croydon 12-3 RP.
The second half saw RP come out with more determination and kept Croydon in their own half for long periods, strangely it was from a break out that Croydon conceded, 2nd row Simons came out of a ruck with the ball just over half way, crabbed accross field, ignoring the overlap only to knock on in the tackle, RP collected and span left, home winger Holmes was left with 2 on 1, took his time to decide who to tackle, the RP centre dummied and went fed his winger, full back Will Curtis (on at half time so Henderson could move to fly half) looked set to make the cover tackle but collided with his own man to allow the winger a free run to the posts for a converted try, an almost comical 60 seconds of play.
With the advantage now only 2 points Croydon at last began to dominate territory and keep the ball better, after a few minutes of probing again the backs found enough space to confidently move the ball through all hands, unselfish play by Blake who may have made it himself but fed to winger Holmes to make amends for his earlier indeciveness, the conversion was missed.
RP came back but were now tiring as Croydon;s superior fitness began to tell, after 10 minutes of stalemate, number 8 Salvidge picked up at the base of a scrum on half way. spotted the gap and as has been the case so many times this season, the rest is history with a trail of failed tacklers in his wake touched down under the posts, Henderson made the conversion. With breathing space Croydon now enjoyed their best spell of the match, from a penalty deep in their own half skipper Wilds looked before tapping, saw the gaps on the right, fed Salvidge who did what he does best, beat the full back and touched down under the posts for a converted try.
Final score Croydon 31-10 Raynes Park.
Coach Golding said; A hardfought win, the score did flatter us a little with those two late tries, full credit to Raynes Park who played good hard 10 man rugby, our previous encounters had been a little fractious to say the least but both teams turned up to play. The boys did well, our line out was taken apart as never before, i felt we missed too many first up tackles in the 1st half allowing them to build up steam but the boys buckled down in the 2nd half and nailed their men and apart from a 10 minute spell of pressure coped well with their physical threat. Extremely pleased with the handling, the backs deserve enormous credit as does their coach Steve Ryan for making such good use of the limited ball they had and to score 3 backs tries was pleasing.
A few areas to work on before our next league match away at Cranleigh on April 13th.
Croydon Girls Play their first ever games
Sunday saw the newly formed Croydon Girls team take on experienced
opposition from Beckenham RFC and Mitcham RFC in a tournament at
their Addington Road ground.
In their first ever games of rugby a large crowd saw them go down
gallantly to a strong Mitcham outfit, showing improved form in the
second half as the shock of competitive rugby wore off.
Croydon 0 Mitcham 20
While coach Chris Pecorella talked them through this experience their
next opponents, Beckenham, fought out a tough battle against their
conquerors.
Beckenham 5 Mitcham 10
The final match produced the game of the tournament. After going behind
to a well worked try from Beckenham the Croydon girls posted their
first ever points with a determined run and dive over the line from
Alice Eastwood.
Turning round all square they realised they were capable of more. A
half of determined running, fierce tackling and end to end play from
both sides saw Croydon score more tries through Kellie Preston who, with
dynamic fly half Helen Harris, was awarded “man” of the match.
Croydon 15 Beckenham 5
The sportsmanship, skill and commitment of all three teams thrilled the
spectators and silenced any sceptics who turned up expecting to see
rugby that was somehow inferior to that played by men and boys.
The girls intend to carry on training and are looking forward to more
matches with their opponents and other teams in the near future.
Croydon Girls are looking for new members.
Join the fun on Mondays from 7.30pm. Give it a go!
Contact Chris at:
Or through the club web site: http://www.croydonrfc.com
Croydon Cruise through Cranleigh
Croydon at last began there league campaign with a home fixture against Cranleigh. The match began a little late,
with the opposition held up by late cry offs and traffic problems and took the field with 14 men. The first 10 minutes
were very even with both sets of forwards evenly matched. Any ground Croydon made was counteracted by giving
away stupid penalties for not being behind back foot or in at the side and were promptly kicked 30 yards back down
the field.
The breakthrough came when Cranleigh tried to run a Croydon attacking kick from their own 22, the home pack
were quicky there to force a ruck and 2nd row Billy Simons emerged with the ball to crash over in the corner, the
conversion from the touchline was narrowly missed.
From the restart, Croydon 2nd row Crozier caught the ball and charged into the opposing forwards, quick ruck ball
was popped to the flanker Jay Blake who stood in at captain on the day, another direct thrust took him to the 10 metre
line, his back row colleague, number 8 Salvidge was on hand to take the pop pass, beat 2 tacklers and out sprint the
cover to touch down under the posts, Woodhams easily converted.
The next 10 minutes were very even, the home teams thrusts were undone by poor discipline and penalties were
conceeded. Croydon finally managed to put together 4 phases of play with the forwards managing to win quick ball,
which allowed speedy number 8 Salvidge to tear away from just over the half way to score again under the posts, the
conversion was good. This score seemd to take some stuffing out of the away team and Croydon at last began to get
territory. From a lineout 12 metres out, Croydon secured their own ball, drove on, tying in most of the opposition pack
allowing hooker Bayford to peel off the side, dance around a couple of backs, similar to Fred Astaire in his heyday at
dive in at the far post, Woodhams again converted. Half time score 26-0.
The second half began as the first, with a reinvigorated Cranleigh showing further determination, they spent some
time in the Croydon half but determined defence and fierce tackling forced them to kick for space, from one of these
thrusts, full back Curtis put a superb cross kick in, the chase from replacement winger Earl was good, tackeld his man,
got to his feet and popped a superb pass to Woodhams to race way and score under the posts, he easily conveted.
Crodon now dominated with the backs making bigs holes in the opposition line and only a combination of bad handling
and last ditch tackling prevented the backs adding to the score. As Cranleigh tired Croydon bagan to find more space
and quick ball moved through several hands allowed centre Woodhams a stroll over the line for his2nd try and added
his conversion. It was nowone way traffic and Croydon should have scored further tries before substitute number 8
big Dave Thornton picked from an attakcing scrum and took 3 opponents with him over the line to score, a welcome return
to action for Dave who has missed 3 months with an ankle injury.
Cranleigh rallied for last 5minutes and maybe were unlucky not to score a consolation try as the home defence determidly
kept them out. Final score 47-0. Cranleigh deserve credit for keeping going all way through as one man down.
Coach Ian Golding said, a good team performance, a lot of guys had their best game of the season and at last are
starting to possess a more cutting edge with some of the work we have been working on in training paying off. We are
still conceeding too many penalties for stupid things like back foot offences which better sides will punish us harder.
Thanks to Blake for captaining the side, do not like to single individuals out particuarly when the team played so well
but Blake and Woodhams had outstanding games and replacements Thornton and Earl had very strong games.
Do hope Woodhams and Crozier can sort out their employers so can be available for our next league match, feb 3rd
away at Raynes Park.
