One minute of silence observed. Aron reported sick meaning putting elliot at number 9 and Alex K as flanker.

First 15 minutes we were passing the ball down the line well and recycling the ball resulting in the first try of the match with Tobi running 40 meters to score beneath the post.
Verulamians players putting hand in the ruck and coming in from the side which began frustrating our players as our momentum forward was lost. This resulted in a verulamian try as we had very little possession. Ref at half time said he was trying to keep the game moving due to muddy conditions.
Second half our boys were complaining about scratches from studs including rough play. The game went out of control as both teams began squaring up to each other for a fight and this continued after the match unfortunately.

In summary it was a bad tempered and poorly controlled game fueled by poor atmosphere. Our boys turned to complaints which they had a right to but it would have been better to get back to playing their game and using the aggression with hard clean tackles. Verulamians in the second half came in stronger determined to upset our players as we focused on the negative.

Positives

• Our ball Recycling was good
• 3 man pods were used to good effect
• When we had the ball we ran well gaining good ground
• Backs tackled well and when we got the ball we gained good ground
• Some good running from our forwards as well and stuck to the rules of the game.
• Overall despite the ill tempered game with dodgy atmosphere our boys made a decent effort to execute what was taught at training

Area to work on:

• needs to be more aggressive in the breakdown
• game strategy forgotten when tempers flared
• nearing their try line we forgot to pass as each person wanted to be a hero.

There were elements from both team that were not in the spirit of the gamer boys were encouraged not to stoop to their level

Man of the match difficult as certain players played well in spurts
Stan in the forwards since he kept his cool and played the game and
Armaury in the backs some good runs and try saving tackles.

Sunday morning started sunny and crisp, a lovely day for a rugby game in a soft pitch from Saturday’s late afternoon rain.

I could not be on time for the kick off and most of the first half, but I arrived to see Verulamians scoring twice, but not managing to get any points for the conversions. I counted teams of fifteen players on both sides and a number of subs in our bench, but the only scrum I saw on the first half lacked the front row expert management of our usual props - it was confirmed later on that our first choice tight head was out due to injury and “someone else” had to cover the position.

Second half of the game did not start so bad for the Hampstead team as they controlled the tempo and forced the wide attempts of over passing throughout the gaining line into touch. Line outs generated some options for a open game, but Verulamians dominated the breakdown and managed to turn over balls far too easy - I am not saying that the referee allowed a little of “play” in the rucks, but might have been one of the reasons for such a impressive dominance. In one of those ball turnovers, they managed to put a ball on the open side, but the lack of momentum and the defence pressuring up high forced to his half-fly - or full back, I am not sure -, to kick a soft and initially non-harming ball towards the line. A little hesitation from our boys and a good run allowed Verulamians to score a try, they did not even expect.

Unfortunately, after the try the match became single heading and the Verulamians imposed their advantage in the break and generated very good kick ball towards both wings playing always inside the Hampstead side. Their right wing (no. 37 on the back, more about him later on) produced two fantastic runs, but one was cut short from a well organised defensive effort from the Hampstead backs and the other did not conclude in try because his right boot clipped the white of the sideline.

After the try was disallowed, Hampstead created a very nice opportunity using a combination of good penalty decisions that allowed to carry ball well into their twenty two line and brilliantly executed passes helping the backs entering into action. Defenders won the ball after our left wing was isolated against the touch line, but just few meters away from the scoring line. Probably a better support - more players need to be available when a break occurs - or decision could have help to materialise the opportunity, but it was not easy to manage the ball to the inside of a well dug in defence.

The final Verulamians try came from a similar recovery from a bottom of the ruck that generated enough forward momentum and speed, so that the no 37 scored his previously denied try. Just a reminder, our line refs were two Hampstead parents, the same that the referee was the Verulamians coach. We can be more or less happy with their decisions, but we cannot disrespect them. At all. Never.

The match ended 7-24 to the Verulamians, just following another good attempt of the Hampstead boys to push towards the try line. It was also disappointing that a scruffle broke out when players were recognising their efforts and saluting each other. I was picking up the pitch equipment and did not realise in time. I do not know why it happened, but I’d rather see that aggression inside the pitch used to create options and points.