Match Report - Saturday 28th January 2006

LSA (58) v Blackheath Development (10)

Big win for LSA cements 2nd place in the League....

After two weeks of slightly below par performances by the team’s high standards, this game presented LSA with an opportunity to get back into their stride in the Canterbury Shield campaign. On a fine day at Imber Court the conditions were excellent for good running rugby.

With only two minutes on the clock LSA showed that they were going to be a different proposition from the previous week’s team when they spurned a great try scoring chance with some loose handling out wide.  Only minutes later the forwards made amends, establishing field position with a good ruck which then set up an opening for Tiaan Visser to drive over from 5 metres out. Tiaan Coetzee converted to put LSA 7 – 0 up.

With 10 minutes gone, it was Coetzee’s turn to make a great break taking LSA up to the Blackheath 5 metre line. Blackheath were penalised and LSA opted to kick for touch – Mark Otto took some great ball at the line out which was quickly spread wide from skipper John Turner to Coetzee who again created space before feeding Bevan Williams to cross in the corner for LSA’s second try.

Blackheath fought back strongly and put together some good, well-disciplined play for the middle period of the half but it was not long before LSA were back into scoring mode. Good three quarter line play, in particular by Bevan Williams took play into the corner. Another good lineout set up some hard straight running, finished well by Coetzee in the corner, putting LSA 17 – 0 up.

On 33 minutes Blackheath claw back 3 points but from the restart a superb piece of individual skill from Coetzee, chipping over the flat defence and gathering his own kick, sets up a score for David Blackburn. LSA then consolidate well at 22 – 3 up but shortly before halftime an injury to Jake Hoddinot gives an opportunity to Deon Vosloo to make his LSA debut at lock.

With Andrew Field on for James Saunders and Mark Otto leaving the field it was a different feel to the pack in the second half though no less effective. In the backs, Nick Osman replaced Iestyn Williams in the centre.

With 2 minutes gone the LSA pack drove up deep into Blackheath territory and the fresh looking Nick Osman was on hand to take a scoring pass from the excellent Blackburn to finish the move, albeit after some weak Blackheath tackling.

Almost straight from the restart, LSA attacked well again and Nick de Kock was unlucky to be prevented from scoring himself. Forced to look for support, the disbelief was almost visible from the stands as he popped the ball to Osman for his second score in as many minutes to stretch LSA’s lead to 34 – 3.

After some great lineout work by Justin Rose, Osman was on hand again in the midfield move, this time feeding Blackburn on a great angle, who ran in LSA’s 7th score of the day! Bevan Williams took the conversion and added the 2 points. His work done, Osman was then replaced by Gary Johnson with Blackburn moving back to 12.

The 60th and 64th minute saw good tries first for debutant Vosloo, after some loose play in the Blackheath 22, and then again by Coetzee, after some good forward play, the latter converted by John Turner.

LSA were disappointed to then concede a converted try after some good build up play by Blackheath, with their prop driving over to add a consolation score for the men from South East London.

Spurred on by this, Blackheath attacked again but on 70 minutes some great defence by the LSA forwards and backs leads to a break out up the length of the field setting up Gary Johnson to score in the corner leaving the score at 58 – 10.

For the final 10 minutes, LSA gave a debut to Martin Schoeman at 10 in place of Matt Fendick with Bevan Williams moving to the back row and Andrew Midgely moving to scrumhalf in place of John Turner.

There was just time for James Saunders to show what he could do on the wing when after some great running by Aldo du Plessis he tried to link with fellow prop Andrew Field but Field couldn’t get the pass away and the ball was taken to ground.

Try scorers: Tiaan Visser, Bevan Williams, Tiaan Coetzee (2), David Blackburn (2), Nick Osman (2), Deon Vosloo, Gary Johnson

Starting XV

James Saunders, Tom Modinger, Aldo du Plessis, Justin Rose, Jake Hoddinot, Chris Burrows, Mark Otto, Tiaan Visser, John Turner, Matt Fendick, Iestyn Williams, David Blackburn, Bevan Williams, Nick de Kock, Tiaan Coetzee

Replacements (all used)

Nick Osman, Andrew Field, Andy Midgeley, Gary Johnson, Deon Vosloo, Martin Schoeman