London South Africa move up to 2nd in the table

21st October 2006

In blustery, showery conditions, Saturday saw a solid, if unspectacular performance from London’s very own South African team. LSA ran in five tries against a determined Battersea Ironsides outfit to run out winners by 32 – 16. This win cements second spot for LSA behind leaders Old Wellingtonians, their one defeat so far.

As has become a recent habit LSA conceded early on to a simple Battersea catch and drive from a penalty. With their usual resolve, however, it took only 5 minutes for them to level the score though winger Nick de Kock making his first start of this seasons campaign.

With the LSA pack taking some time to find their rhythm, The Iron were able to take a drop goal together with a further 3 points from a penalty to push ahead 5 – 11 after 25 minutes. This was turning out to be a harder game for LSA than the league table would have predicted at kick off.

Spurred into action Denis Schutte, on for the injured Ross Cooley, made a strong drive upfield, feeding Nick Osman who in turn was able to release Nick De Kock down the left wing for his second score of the day and bring LSA back to 10 – 11. In a tough blow for the Iron it was only a few minutes later that Dave Blackburn showed all hi class to set up a Matt Fendick score on the stroke of half time to take LSA into the break at 15 – 11.

The second half brought solid rugby from LSA, punctuated by two great scores either side of a Matt Fendick penalty. The first was a superb piece of skill from David Kelly with a chip over the top leading to a Malcolm Mirfin score in the corner, well converted by David Blackburn. The second was a while in coming but involved Blackburn and Osman again with the latter feeding the former for him to score under the posts and so complete the 32 –16 victory.

Whilst the final result was never in doubt once LSA hit the front the Iron provided another reminder that it will not be plain sailing for the club to achieve their ambition of winning promotion at the first attempt.

Surrey Squad

Ross Cooley, Werner Swanepoel, Aldo Du Plessis, Ryan Williamson, Gareth Dickson, John Turner, Tiaan Visser, Jake Hoddinott, Tom Hendry, Matt Fendick, Nick Osman, David Blackburn, Malcolm Mirfin, David Kelly, Nick De Kock, Andrew Midgley, Denis Schutte.