Match Report : Powergen London 1 Worthing Raiders 1^st XV v Shelford 1^st XV                        

15^th September 2007   

Result : 28 points to 19 points  

To rephrase an old saying, “So far and yet so near”. At this juncture in their second season in London League 1 , Shelford will be mulling over an opportunity spurned when they recount the proceedings of their encounter with Worthing, who now have adopted the name of the Worthing Raiders.

As with previous matches between these two teams, the assembled crowd were treated to an exciting and eventful eighty minutes of rugby and once again, as with last season, Shelford have quickly established a reputation for being a team that will make an impact on the pitch whoever the opposition are. The theme of the majority of the conversations in the crowd prior to the start of the game was how competitive rugby was at this level. With the disappointment of missing out on a playoff position last season by points difference, Worthing were acutely aware of the need to perform well against a Shelford side who acquitted themselves well last year in their first season at this level.

As a result Chris Glynn was able to add to Shelford’s points tally with two penalties whereas Worthing could only respond with one. Consequently the teams turned round at half time with the score line at 8 points to 13 points and with Shelford showing little sign of allowing themselves to be bullied around. Early in the second half Worthing registered a penalty as a result of a series of infringements by Shelford which indicated a degree of in-discipline creeping into their play. However, despite the continuing adverse penalty count, Chris Glynn was able to convert two successive penalty kicks that took the game into the final quarter with Shelford leading 11 points to 19 points. At this juncture the Shelford three quarters that now include Duncan Low, Dominic Jones and Gavin Hogg, were contributing through their play to Worthing having to force the pace of their game.

The result was a number of handling errors which caused the home supporters to begin muttering negative comments. The need to maintain their discipline and learn how to close games down at times like this has been a call that the Shelford coaching staff have been emphasizing, but on this occasion that was not to be as Worthing snatched the game with a converted try and finally a further penalty during the final minutes of play. Once again, as was the case last season, with an audible sigh of relief from the Worthing supporters and a sense of frustration by those from Shelford, the referee blew for full time with the final score at 28 points to 19 points.  

The message that will be driven home when the Shelford players look back at these events is, as per last season, that the margin between success and failure at the level that Shelford are now performing in is very fine. The need for discipline on the field is vital, as is the ability to know what to do, when circumstances dictate.

Although the same statement was made after the game with Worthing at the end of last season, the benefit this time is that the new season has only just started and the Shelford team have the experience from last year. Matters just might be about to come very interesting.