2nd Xl chalk up first win

Saturday morning started well. Scrambled egg on toast, cups of tea and Manu Tuilagi crashing over within two minutes. We were on cloud 9 when Underhill touched down midway through the first half and someway over that when Ben Youngs stepped inside to score (what should have been) England’s third try. Alas the TMO ruled out both tries, but thank the lord for George Ford’s boot.
England 19, New Zealand 7. The wold cup final awaits.
So that was Captain Whitmill’s team talk written. ‘If you can’t take inspiration from the England rugby performance this morning, there is nothing I can do for you’.
The match started in good spirits. Valence had snatched draws from the grips of victory and losses from the grip of draws already this season. Today was the day to get some points on the board. They applied early pressure and generally looked the more menacing. Seb O’Leary ran at the visiting defence from the outset and caused problems. Richard Turnill and Tom Willson had general control of the middle and the visitors were generally restricted to speculative opportunities.
Missing Stille and Sheldon, Sutton Valence were without their usual Short Corner combination, so when the first was awarded a new set up was scrambled together. Tom Willson struck the inside of the post and ball agonisingly ricocheted across the goal line and was cleared by the defence. A short time later when a further SC was awarded, Willson was more clinical and if there was any doubt Ollie Laing made sure. 1 Nil Valence.
Blackheath were struggling to cope with Valence and some of the last-ditch tackles were beginning to get a bit agricultural, seemingly the only answer to Valence’s quality. The robust Richard Turnill managed to slip through tight to the baseline and around the keeper only for the defender on the line to make a double save. Later in the first half a combination of a good Blackheath attack and slightly lapse Valence’s defending led to the visitors finding an equaliser.
Half time team talk. ‘Work a bit harder, make sure of your passes’.
The second half started with a lengthy spell of possession for the visitors. Eventually Valence got hold of the ball and began to dictate the play again. Due to his build and outspoken dispassion, disruptor Richard Turnill is used to some pretty full-bodied challenges, but one has to take the rough with the smooth. When turning the opposition inside out and then being obstructed multiple times the frustration was building, especially when the decisions were being given against. The opposition were appealing to the umpire for a dismissal. Manners maketh Man. Turnill wasn’t going to let the moaning get him down, he wiped the sweat from his brow, demanded 100% commitment from the SV 2nd XI and the team set about winning the match.
A short while later, Seb O’Leary and Richard Turnill hustled the visiting defence, forcing a mistake. Tom Willson intercepted and supplied Seb O’Leary who found Richard Turnill at the back post, he put everything behind the ball to ensure that it hit the back board. 2-1 Valence.
Valence played out the rest of the game in relative calm, with only a few hair-raising moments; Andy Barr’s chest height clearance off the line and the strong appeal from the Blackheath midfield bandit claiming that Andy Barr struck him in the face. Meanwhile Barr made it very clear that no such attack happened.
A well deserved first win of the season for Sutton Valence’s 2nd XI. May many more follow.

MOM: Tom Willson
Combative Award: Richard Turnill
Scorers: Ollie Laing, Richard Turnill
Cards: N/A

Team: Steve Parker, Freddie Hubbert, John Edmed, Ben Tragett, Tom Willson, Richard Turnill, Seb O’Leary, Ollie Laing, Mark Whitmill, Tom Bartlett, Andy Barr, Alex Hodges
Umpires: Andrew Wishart & Ryan Robinson

Next Game: Gore Court away – 2nd November 2019

Match Report by Richard Turnill