Match Report - Saturday 21st January 2006

LSA (20) v Civil Service (17)

Hard fought win for LSA over a strong Civil Service side.....

On a clear January day, ideal for rugby, LSA set out to avenge last week’s defeat at the hands of Richmond. A settled backline was starting but the pack still had a lightweight feel to it with a couple of players starting out of position. John Turner led the side out for the first time in place of the injured Carl van der Walt.

In the opening exchanges it was clear that this was a very different Civil Service side from that which had turned out back in October. In particular their tight five were immediately causing difficulties fro LSA with strong scrummaging and with the rolling maul proving a potent attacking weapon for them.

LSA soaked up the early CS pressure but not without conceding two penalties, both missed by CS in the 5th and 8th minutes respectively, misses that would prove costly later in the game.

Not long after, LSA themselves showed some great counter attacking play involving Nick Osman, Tiaan Coetzee and David Blackburn forcing CS to concede a penalty of their own.  Fifteen minutes in and LSA took the ball up well into the CS 22 after another great counter attack involving Osman and several forwards including Tiaan Visser. CS were penalised again for not releasing the ball and Coetzee succeeds with the kick to put LSA 3-0 up.

Well into the match it was clear that the game would be decided by how well the LSA forwards coped with the bigger, heavier CS pack and so how much good ball they could give to the LSA backs, who looked like they might score whenever they had ball in hand.

25 minutes in and LSA took the ball on from half way, first by Nick Osman who fed the impressive David Blackburn who himself punched through the CS midfield. Blackburn broke through 3 tackles and superb support from Tiaan Coetzee, who had just switched to the wing, allowed him the take the scoring pass and finish a good try from the 22, putting LSA 8-0 up.

The lead was to be short lived. As so often happens some sloppy defence allowed CS to claim their first 3 points from a soft penalty for offside at the ruck. A few minutes later, the strong CS forwards were able to drive their way over for their first try, putting them in the lead for the first time, 10-8. Worse was to follow as LSA frustration boiled over and Aldo du Plessis was sin-binned on the stroke of half time.

Beginning the second half with only 14 men, LSA focused well on the job in hand playing some of the best rugby of the match. In the second minute, a brilliant attacking run by John Turner from the back of the scrum fed David Blackburn on a great angle, cutting in through the forwards. Blackburn linked well with Iestyn Williams (on at half time for Bevan Williams) who held the defence well and put Nick de Kock into space for him to score in the corner. LSA were back in front 13-10.

Almost unbelievably the 14 men of LSA were immediately back on the offensive. Powering into the CS 22, the ball was won in the ruck and as it reached Matt Fendick at 10, Nick Osman called for the chip over the top of the CS midfield that he gathered well and surged over to score under the posts. The successful conversion by Matt Fendick left CS trailing 20-10.

Shane Aitken, making his LSA debut, had replaced the injured Coetzee and Aldo du Plessis had rejoined the action, putting LSA back up to full strength. For the next 20 minutes the CS pack played well, putting LSA under more and more pressure. The LSA defence held firm with brief counter attacks by the backs providing some relief. Chris Assad joined the action, replacing Iestyn Williams on the wing.

With just under 10 minutes remaining, the scene was set for the best defensive work of the match from LSA. In the 33rd minute Civil Service were awarded the first of a series of penalties in the LSA 22. For the next 10 minutes CS drove repeatedly into the LSA forwards from both set piece scrums and from occasional wide play. It was quickly apparent that CS were unlikely to breach the LSA backline and they kept it tight with driving maul after driving maul. Eventually in the 42nd minute of the half, and after over 20 phases of play, the CS were awarded a push over try which had more than a hint of a knock on by their no9. The defensive effort had been outstanding against a much heavier pack – a great performance by LSA.

In the final minutes LSA were awarded two penalties but neither attempt was successful leaving the final score 20-17.

Starting XV

James Saunders, Tom Modinger, Aldo du Plessis, Ryan Williamson, Jake Hoddinot, Andrew Field, Mark Otto, Tiaan Visser, John Turner, Matt Fendick, Bevan Williams, Nick Osman, David Blackburn, Nick de Kock, Tiaan Coetzee

Replacements

Chris Assad, Andrew Midgely, Iestyn Williams, Shane Aitken