Match Reports 2010/2011 Season
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Harbury put the Wind up Evesham 
Saturday 9th October 2010

 

Evesham 1st XV 18 vs kings norton RFC 15   

Evesham returned to league action on Saturday hosting mid table rivals Kings Norton in what was set to be a feisty encounter with league position at stake. Having endured most of this season on the road Evesham looked to apply themselves at home in front of a large home crowd. The game started positively with both sides exchanging possession within the early stages and it was Kings Norton who earned themselves an early penalty, after indiscipline at the breakdown from the hosts. The opposition fly half however pushed his kick wide and this was to be the tale of the game with neither fly half finding much luck with the boot.

Evesham rallied however after this early let off and applied the pressure straight from the restart. The forwards began to gather momentum with the likes of skipper Ben Whatmore and his counterpart Sam Garrett taking the game to the opposition gaining some hard yards. This pressure paid off and Evesham were awarded a penalty of which Diston joined his opposite number in missing a precious points opportunity. This did not deter the home side however as they retained possession from the resulting drop out and once again a combination of hard running from centres Liam Green and Stefan Lasota, accompanied by good ball retention led to another penalty. This time however Evesham looked to the corner in order to exploit the set piece opportunity and place Kings Norton on the back foot. A solid lineout led to a strong catch and drive with the Evesham pack rumbling towards the try line for stand in hooker Henry Webb to crash over, as a reward for the forwards graft. Diston failed to convert and the scoreboard went to 5-0.

Evesham began to look comfortable, gradually finding the form that led to such success last year with the backline working as good as yet seen this season with a solid platform to work from. Keeping the ball in hand against the wind Evesham began to make strides into the opposition half with fledgling winger Sam Hopkins coming close on his home debut after a 50m break only to be caught 5m short. This camped Evesham in the Kings Norton half and an exceptional turnover of the scrum followed by a huge effort from the tight 5, allowed Evesham to drive over the line for the experienced Sam Garrett to touchdown and double the score. After an unsuccessful conversion Evesham led 10-0. Kings Norton however did have their fair share of the half utilising the blustery conditions with territory from the boot applying pressure of their own, only to lead to more missed points opportunities. The Evesham backs began to live up to the benchmark set last season, with performances improving every week it was only a matter of time before they would cause the Kings Norton defence problems. This happened with quick turnover ball resulting in good improvisation from fly half James Bowen to fling it wide for the ball to reach the clinical Ben Holme who made no mistake in rounding his man and touching down to the right of the posts. This took the score to 15-0 with the home side looking comfortable.

It was to be a tale of two halves however and injuries led to a reshuffle in the Evesham backline and the pack, losing the consistency. With Kings Norton making some tactical substitutions the front row was changed and the likes of John Hopkins and Kieran Lippett did well to cope with the fresh faces they opposed. The second half was marred however by a mixture of questionable decisions which resulted in ill discipline particularly from the home side undoing the previous 40 minutes good work. Kings Norton started the second half strongly keeping the ball in hand and working the offload to good effect. With Evesham unable to make use the tailwind they found themselves rooted within their own half facing a barrage of attacks from the visitors. The visiting backs took the game to Evesham and after good handling found themselves breaking down the right hand side. However it appeared to the majority that the visiting winger was clearly in touch, however play was allowed to go on and Evesham paid the price for not playing to the whistle and conceded to make the score 15-5. Evesham did not learn from this as an identical move once again led to the winger touching down once again for a score in the corner and all of a sudden Evesham found themselves defending a slender 5 point lead.

With frustration building on both sides Evesham eventually managed to find a solution to the midfield stalemate by kicking long into the opposition’s half forcing them to attempt to run the ball from deep. A chance came after good work from Biff Grove and Sam Hopkins led to the latter being late tackled resulting in an Evesham penalty which seemed to be further away than first thought. Diston failed to convert but Evesham now had the upper hand and it wasn’t long before Diston had his final opportunity to make amends for his previous abject failures which he did so taking the score to 18-10 and two scores clear. This proved to be the decisive score as Kings Norton sensed a bonus point and earned themselves again another 5 points taking the final score to 18-15 in favour of the home side. Evesham will look to improve on this second half performance next week away when they face relegated Newbold-0n-Avon in another league encounter.

 

Harbury put the Wind up Evesham 
Saturday 9th October 2010

 

Harbury RFC 13 vs Evesham 1st XV 13   

 
Evesham travelled to Harbury looking for a victory against bottom of the league Harbury.
 
Evesham started brightly with a taking their opportunities well in terms of rucks and back moves. During the game the Harbury pack and backs were able to better understand and play the refs instructions on the breakdown. This led to Evesham finding themselves being heavily penalised. Harbury scored first taking advantage of some loose tackling by Evesham and releasing their backs well to score out wide. Evesham found themselves 5:0 down. Harbury restarted Evesham were able to get into the game and push pressure onto Harbury. Evesham were starting to gain a degree of ascendency in the Scrums. They were able to use this platform and place Harbury under intense pressure with a series of 10 scrums in the Harbury 22 which they were then able to spread wide through the backs and level the score with a fine wingers try from Matthew "Biff" Groves out wide. Unforthunately Biff was not able to convert his try.
 
The game went into a period where both sides were on par and unable to release their backs or forwards beyond each others defence. Evesham were getting a tad frustrated as they could not get the ball worked into the right areas as they suffered from a series of simple errors like knock ons or players being isolated.
 
Harbury likewise were finding this ascrappy match as they desparately sought their first victory. Evesham eventually conceded a penalty and were punished for another minor transgression with Harbury taking the lead at half time. 8:5
 
Evesham started poorly in the 2nd half with an uphill struggle as a strong wind was with Harbury there was a period of sustained pressure with Evesham camped in their own 22 but the defence held superbly and Harbury could not make that final bid for glory with a try. Evesham were able to make odd forays out of the half. It was at this stage a Harbury player was seriously injured and a long period of waiting ensued. The match was restarted and Evesham had used the break wisely and a different team appeared there were immense drives from the forwards and great breaks from the backs Gary Diston made an entry from the bench his creaking knees heard from the touchline and added some experience at the vital 9-10 link and was able to gain grounbd by some good box kicking. Evesham were envigorated and were very unlucky not to go in the lead with a disallowed try from Luke Matthews.
 
It was after a sustained break leading to a break down with fine driving runs from Liam Green and Steph Lasota that saw an excellent try from Darren "Snakey" Hunter completely bamboozling his opposite number and the Number 15 with some trade mark snake hips stepping and dodging. Evesham were 10:8 in front and increasing the pressure. Evesham were able to extend the lead to 13:8 when Matt Groves converted a penalty. Evesham were then caught relaxing with Harbury making good ground with some excellent drives and getting themselves in a position where they were able to push Evesham into conceding a try levelling the scores.
 
Evesham kept up their pressure and were gaining penalties. At this point Evesham were unlucky that a series of penalty kicks against the wind were unconverted and Evesham will probaby feel they were 11 plus points adrift of where they should have ended.

Late Comeback Not Enough 
Saturday 25th September 2010

 

Woodrush RFC 34 vs Evesham 1st XV 16 

Evesham were looking to build on last week’s impressive victory over Wolverhampton and despite an injury affected team there was a positive vibe to the pre-match preparations.

Woodrush kicked off and Evesham collected well and started to drive back up the pitch retaining possession well providing Darren Hunter the Evesham Scrum Half an armchair ride. Evesham Intelligently kicked from hand and was able to make ground. All boded well as Tom Johnson rose and was held aloft long enough for him to steal the Woodrush ball. At this stage Evesham were recycling and setting ball well. Woodrush soaked up the attacks well. Evesham were then guilty of losing possession easily in the tackle and found them under pressure from a very promising start. Evesham were stretched and did not react to as fast as Woodrush and found themselves with outmanned as the Woodrush No 10 intelligently spotted Evesham’s defence was overlapped and threw an outrageously long pass missing out two Woodrush attackers leaving the Woodrush Winger to gallop into space and score round the back of the defence under the posts. 8 minutes gone and Evesham were 7 points adrift.

Evesham did not lose their shape or patience as collectively they knew the match had a long way to go and Evesham were by no means outclassed by Woodrush. Evesham gained territory with Stewart Smart and Tom Johnson securing valuable line out ball. It was at the stage the Woodrush Number 3 killed the ball at a ruck by going off of his feet. Evesham’s Matt Groves took the opportunity to convert the resulting penalty. 7-3 and as they say “game on”.

Evesham made some deep in roads into the Woodrush half but by the likes of Ben Holme and Steph Lafota and some hard boshes from Liam Green and James Bowen. The trouble was Evesham were spilling ball, knocking on, or gifting Woodrush with easy possession. The breakdown was also proving to be a little bit of a lottery and the referee was noticeably whistle hungry. It was from this resultant pressure that Woodrush were able to get a free kick from a scrum where the referee pinged Evesham for foot up in the scrum. The Woodrush scrum half was allowed to tap and go from whilst Evesham were still seeing what the infringement was for saw that the Woodrush number 9 had cleverly snuck in for a try which was converted. Evesham were 14:3 down. Evesham compounded this score by undoing all their good work by not pressing their proven defensive skills allowing the Woodrush fly half the ability to run diagonally across and through the Evesham defence. Again this was converted taking Evesham to 21:3.

The one thing Evesham could not be faulted for was the passion and endeavour they showed. Evesham’s number 8 Sam Garrett together with Luke Matthews was dynamic in the forward exchanges making some great yardage. Evesham’s scrum was working well with Keran Lippett and the returning John Hopkins providing a solid platform upfront. Jim Molton was making some big hits at number 6. Despite the good scrum platform and endeavour by the forwards and backs Evesham were losing ball at crucial points. The 2nd half ended by Evesham being penalised for being offside from a charged down kick allowing the Woodrush Fly half an easy shot at the posts. The 1st half ended Evesham behind 24:3, and still looking like they could be in the game

Evesham started the 2nd half well but were turned and despite some great drives and runs found themselves pinned back and undone by the Woodrush Fly half who was able to pounce on a loose ball due to some indecision after Evesham had skilfully stripped and stolen the ball from Woodrush at a breakdown. Evesham were now 31:3 down.

Yet they still had the spirit to keep on attacking and through a series of runs and by James Bowen and a great clearing kick by Liam Green allowed his fellow centre Steph Lafota top charge the Woodrush Fullbacks clearance down and Evesham were able to score and convert. The score was looking better at 31:13.

Evesham started to find their shape and as such were able to threaten the Woodrush line with some great close in work Henry Webb was being particularly effective at Loosehead although not his normal position his presence in the loose was being used to good effect.  It was during this phase that Woodrush scored another penalty taking the score to 34:13.

Evesham were under a series of attacks when Winger Sam King intercepted a pass and sprinted from 15m from his try line finally being hauled down 10m from the line but had the presence of mind and skills to offload to Matt Groves who crashed over being in just the right place for a support runner. Biff converted his own score and Evesham were 34:20 down.

Although, Evesham lost they did not let their heads go down and battled to the end. It was one of those days when Evesham were the designers and contributors of their own defeat  we are all sure that they will bounce back.

 

Dominant at Home
Saturday 18th September 2010

 

Evesham 1st XV 26  vs coventry welsh RFC 7

Albert road was the perfect setting for Rugby on Saturday with the pitch at its best accompanied with ideal weather, setting the scene for a good game of rugby. The crowd were down in force hoping to see Evesham notch up their first league points of the season against a Coventry Welsh side out to avenge last years defeat.

Sporting their change strip Evesham kicked off and immediately placed the visiting pack under pressure competing ferociously at the breakdown and within 5 minutes had deservedly earned themselves a shot at goal. Evesham fullback Michael Diston took his cue, duly converting rewarding Evesham for their early endeavours.

Straight from the restart the Evesham pack and their ever-improving backline managed to camp the visitors in their own half forcing them to work for every yard. Again, excellent work from the Evesham forwards led to a turnover from which quick thinking Scrum Half Darren Hunter, executed a perfectly weighted box kick beyond the visiting defence. The old proverb goes “never let the ball bounce” and the Coventry Welsh winger paid the price for failing to comply, as he went to gather the ball it bounced up into the hands of the prolific Ben Holme who raced away to score just right of the river end posts. Diston added the extras.

At this stage Evesham were looking the more settled and organised side, dominating all over the park. Coventry Welsh however did look to utilise their big pack without any result, possibly due to one aged member reliving his youth spending the majority of the game lying on the wrong side of the ball. We can only hope he finds his feet for next time. Evesham’s defence stood its ground well however and discipline was of the highest order after being persistently tested by the visitors. Evesham did manage to reclaim possession with fly half James Bowen looking to unleash his backline at every opportunity. Evesham were subject to some good fortune as after being penalised for crossing, at the resulting penalty the Coventry Welsh Number 9 opted to tap and go quickly, unfortunately for him knocking on in haste losing possession, resulting in a Scrum centre field exposing a large blindside. ‘Fans favourite’ Darren Hunter could not ignore the opportunity and after good work from no. 8 Jason Smith, Hunter sold the winger a dummy before racing away only to condemn the full back to the same fate carving his way through a shell-shocked Coventry Welsh defence and touching down for an excellent score under the posts, ever pleasing to the birds eye. Diston took 2 more to put Evesham 17:0 ahead.

This early bout of scoring was due to huge efforts from the pack and backs alike. Luke Matthews, Gareth Campbell and new father Jamie Cameron forming a strong front row unit were prominent with their hard graft. Again Evesham were rewarded with another Diston penalty at 35 minutes.           

With Evesham resting on their laurels, Welsh responded in route one fashion running hard and fast at the Evesham causing problems and a mixture of poor scramble defence and tackling resulted in a penalty 5m out, which the Coventry Welsh centre took quickly, catching Evesham unaware and scoring to take the score to 20:7. Evesham rallied from the Kickoff, again enforcing unwelcome pressure upon the visitors who were penalised and with Diston’s kicking on song, the score was increased to 23-7.

After a first 40 minutes of all out action everyone was looking forward to a 2nd half of similar endeavour and enjoyable running rugby.  However this was not the case with both sides making mistakes and scrappy ball at the breakdown led to a monotonous start to the second half, highlighted by lively breaks from Matthew Groves making good ground. However, Evesham appeared to be lacking that finishing touch in scoring the try. Likewise Evesham were nullifying the Coventry Welsh attack. There was no let up however and skipper Ben Whatmore managed an Evesham record sin bin, minutes after his introduction and as a result, Evesham went down to 14 men. Coventry Welsh were unable to exploit this 10 minute period with a truly valiant defence by the hosts converted into relentless attack, yielded a number of penalties with 3 additional points being scored. Diston opting to kick points, taking his tally to 16 and the score to 26-7 and potentially killing the game off as opposed to chasing the bonus point two tries away. Certainly the new bonus point reward gave the numerous spectators something to mull over as they retired to the Club House delighted in Evesham’s first win in their new league.

 

Positive Start for New Squad
Saturday 11th September 2010

UPTON RFC 32 vs Evesham 1st XV 11

Evesham began their new league campaign on Saturday away at Upton, with a squad still adapting to one another, taking over from last year’s all conquering league winners. Evesham kicked off with Upton setting the tone using their runners to good effect gaining yards through their imposing number 8. Upton maintained the pressure as Evesham were penalised for infringing at the breakdown. The home fullback duly obliged taking the points, in a game where every point held vital importance.

Evesham resumed making hard yards with some excellent forward play and kept the pressure on the Upton forwards with excellent driving from all. Evesham then looked to test the ‘notorious’ Upton backline finding space in the outside centre channel, only for lapses in concentration to let them down at the last minute. With execution not at its best, an Evesham mistake led to Upton turning over possession and breaking away down the left hand side with their winger scoring in the corner on the counter. Upton’s fullback added the extras.

Evesham began to show more resilience and as a result managed to retain possession and pose a real threat up front with both the lineout and scrummage firing on all cylinders. All this hard work was undone however when poor execution of kicks led to two tries in quick succession for the hosts, instigated by their lively back three who counter attacked with purpose. Evesham struck back and their pressure up front paid dividends as the penalties rained down on the home side and –after good pressure at the lineout- Tom Johnson crashed over from close range.

The 2nd half came at the right time for Upton as a distinct switch in momentum was apparent with Evesham maintaining possession and playing the disciplined rugby that is required of them to succeed at this level. After a lacklustre 20 minute spell it appeared Evesham had found their feet and this was apparent straight from the whistle after the interval. The 2nd Half saw Evesham batter away relentlessly at Upton, forcing them to defend persistent phases nullifying the drives from their back row. This led to early penalty opportunities of which Rick Taylor stepped up to take first blood of the second half. Evesham continued their offensive again, working the pick and drive to good effect into the Upton half again earning themselves a hard fought shot at goal which again Taylor accepted with three more points to Evesham’s tally. Upton recovered from this early bout of pressure and astute kicking on his home ground from the fly half, forced Evesham into their own half. Upton’s fourth stemmed from a dubious line call from another Evesham kick with the Upton back three’s alertness catching Evesham unaware allowing them to once again break away and score through their backline.

All in all the game was played at high pace with all aspects of the game out on exhibition, well played by both sides. Evesham never let their heads drop on this afternoon of discovery showing bags of character and that they can pose a threat in this league. Next week the 1st XV face Coventry Welsh in a must win game against last years title rivals at home with kick off around 3pm. The club is relishing this weekends’ tie and would like to thank all the efforts made by the Ground staff making the pitches of a fantastic standard. We extend a warm welcome to spectators to come and see their local side play great rugby. Please note that we do not allow dogs save for Guide Dogs on the Pitches or Spectator areas.