History in the making as LSA win first ever official RFU League match 34 - 7 v. Kingston..

Saturday 9th September saw Kingston become the first ever official visitors to Imber Court to face London South Africa in Surrey Division 1. On a beautiful afternoon, the team started well and were 8-0 to the good after as many minutes thanks to a Matt Fendick penalty and a great solo try from wing, Gary Johnston who finished off his own chip over his opposite number to score the club’s first try at this level.

In perfect conditions, the team struggled to capitalise on the good start and got bogged down in some tight forward play. This continued for around 20 minutes and culminated in LSA conceding a disappointing pushover try from a 5m scrum allowing Kinston back into the game at 8-7 some 7 minutes before the break. Almost as if awoken by the affront of conceding LSA quickly responded. Kingston’s rally was shortlived as on 37 minutes LSA’s openside, Tiaan Visser, finished off some good forward play with a well taken try, duly converted by Fendick.

Half time saw hooking specialist, Werner Swanepoel, enter the fray in place of injured Ellis Stanyon. 3 minutes into the half Dave Blackburn broke through the Kingston midfield and fed Gareth Williams who finished well in the corner to increase LSA’s lead to 22-7 after Fendick had added the extras once again.

LSA quickly stretched their lead further after Hanno Vermaak had broken several tackles in the middle of the park and freed Blackburn before Osman collected the pass and crossed for the first of his two tries. Again early season rustiness allowed Kingston to hold their own for the next 25 minutes when LSA threatened to rack up a big score and it wasn’t until  5 minutes from the end that Osman made the score 34-7 following s superb box kick from john Turner, with Blackburn again unselfishly involved to his centre partners benefit.

Head Coach, Bert Merritt, described it as a “solid performance” with “plenty still to come over the next few weeks”. After a long wait it was great to get the season off to a good start.

Surrey XV Squad

Aldo du Plessis, Ross Cooley, Ellis Stanyon, Jake Hoddinott, Ryan Williamson, Tiaan Visser, Hanno Vermaak, Duncan Baxter, John Turner (c), Matt  Fendick, Nick Osman, Dave Blackburn, Peter Howlett, Gary Johnston, Gareth Williams, Werner Swanepoel, Tom Hendry, Carl Van Der Walt.