Huntingdon & District Rugby

Stags v Rugby St Andrews

Stags made what is thought to be their first ever visit to Rugby St Andrews for an eagerly anticipated game against a team in a similar league position to themselves and with high hopes of good win on the cards.

Stags welcomed back their South African contingent Captain Wayne Bradley and Wade Schoemann, however, with several backs missing it was somewhat of a rearranged line up.

St Andrews started the better of the two teams, and an early penalty was kicked to give the host a 3-0 lead. This was soon followed up with a converted try when a host midfielder darted through a gap to score near the posts.

Despite losing Bradley early on to a fractured eye socket, Stags forward pack grew into the game and started to get a roll on. Several waves of attack were thwarted by spirited defence from the hosts frustrating Stags.

Stags finally got on the board when stand in fly half JJ Ward, not living up to his nickname of crisp packet hands, scooped up a wayward pass from the hosts and darted over to score. Connor Withers kicked the extras.

Soon after, Stags were back on attack and were it not for an infringement from the St Andrews hooker would have scored again. With the hooker getting a trip to the sin bin for his efforts, Stags turned down a kickable penalty and opted for the scrum. Putting the one man advantage to good effect the Stags packed dominated the scrum and allowed Schoemann to dot down from number eight without a hand being laid on him. Withers kicked the extras and Stags were in the lead for the first time.

The early exchanges in the second half were played largely between the 22s, with neither side able to get the upper hand. Another dominant scrum on the 60 minute mark allowed Schoemann to break off and score under the posts, which Withers again converted.

As the game wore on, it turned into chaos. It would be unfair to say the ref favoured either team, but inconsistency in decisions led to the game losing all structure.

With less than ten minutes remaining Stags were awarded a penalty close to the posts, and again opted to go for a scrum to secure the bonus point win. With the ball won, loose-head prop Will Gould lost his footing and was penalised. The hosts, more resembling a pack of rabid hyenas than a forward pack screamed for Gould to be sent off but the ref was unmoved.

St Andrews ran it out from their own line, and after several phases scored a try which closed the gap to 21-18. So often in the past Stags would have lost their composure in a situation like this but to their credit they pushed back into host territory. With time running out on the clock a try from a rolling maul, which was a potent weapon for Stags all day, from Gould secured the win. Withers kicked the extras from wide out to maintain his 100% record from the tee. Final score Stags 28 St Andrews 18.

Leading leader Coach Leader was to happy get the bonus point win, saying “I am happy to get the bonus point win.

“We probably left a few points out there today as our execution in attack wasn’t great at times, but it is a bonus point win away from home and that’s all that counts.

“We will drink the beer in their club and enjoy it, but there is lots to work on before the next game” concluded Leader.

Stags vice captain Jack Skidmore summed it up by saying “ ‘twas truly a spectacle seeing our gargantuan pack ploughing up their field like Sherman Tanks, carrying with splendid vigour.

“It was a disjointed game where at times I wondered if it was played under the laws of the Cambridge debating society, or even under Queensberry rules, certainly not the laws of Rugby Football, but we played the better rugby and wholeheartedly deserved the victory.”

Connor Withers was awarded man of the match for his excellent carries from fullback and accuracy off the kicking tee.

Stags are away again next weekend as they make the trip to Northampton BBOB, who like St Andrews are newcomers in the league following promotion last season. All support welcome.