Front-Row Woes Continue for the 2nd XV

'Field blew hot and cold throughout the match with moments of great rugby mixed with periods where the team just seemed to switch off. ‘Field started the match again lacking a full front row so had to go uncontested at the scrums continuing the theme throughout the season of not managing to turn out a contested scrum on consecutive weekends, hence it would seem a recruitment drive in the off season is needed for more props.

The match started brightly for ‘Field, having weathered an initial Totts attacked, Field re-gained the ball off a ruck in their own half. Quick ball out from the ruck to the backline found Landels taking a great supporting line round the fringes of the ruck which enabled him to make a clean break through the Totts defence. Franks and Hooper set off in support and number of passes were interchanged between the three before Deakin appeared to take the ball further into the 22, then offloading to Landels for a score under the posts which with the extras put ‘Field 7-0 up.

Sadly this 7-0 lead was short lived as Totts fought back immediately into ‘Fields half and made a number of incisive breaks through the ‘Field defence which eventually led to a Totts try but Field retained the lead at 7-5. This score seemed to wake up ‘Field again as the defence closed down the holes that had appeared and the forwards battled at the breakdown. From a ‘Field line out won by Ashworth in the Totts 22 the forwards were able to set up a rolling maul pushing in field and towards the try line. Then from a few metres out Christmas took on the ball in the maul and the forwards drove the maul over the line, with Christmas grounding the ball.

The next 20 minutes were tale of ‘Field being consistently caught out by Totts free running backline, as they used both the inside ball to the centres running support lines round the rucks, and also wide ball out to their speedy wings. From these key moves Totts were able to gain 4 further tries as ‘Field missed tackles and could find no way to shut the Totts attack which appeared to always have an extra man! Nevertheless ‘Field didn’t let their heads drop and seemed to spark to life every so often and create some clear opportunities with the likes of Waterfall, Franks and Deakin making breaks but to no avail as the ‘Field couldn’t find the final pass to score. But the territory was turned into some points as couple of well taken penalties from Doe kept ‘Field just about in touch with Totts going into last 10 mins of first half as ‘Field were 31-18 down.

Eventually ‘Field had another try. A kick over the top from Purchase was regained in the subsequent ruck by ‘Fields energised forwards and pass across the backline allowed first Franks and then Hooper to make mini breaks eventually leading to a deft pass back inside to Deakin to score ‘Fields third try and take the scores to 31-25 at the break.

As the 2nd half started ‘Field seemed to be stuck with half their mind still in the half time break mode and unaware of the attacking Totts backline, who created yet another clever inside ball to their centre who evaded a number of weak tackles to score and stretch the lead to 36-25. ‘Field soon had another opportunity to put some points on the board as from the re-start and resulting ruck a Totts infringement lead to a penalty. Purchase took over kicking duties with Doe struggling with injury and duly slotted the penalty. This score sharpened up the ‘Field mindset and the tackling became more accurate as Totts attacks broke down with good defensive play from ‘Field and in turn created opportunities for Field to make their own breaks up field, with Franks prevalent in shrugging off Totts tackles on a number of times to make gains up the pitch but the ‘Field support were not quite able to make the most of the opportunities. But the next score for ‘Field did eventually come when Purchase intercepted a lose pass from Totts to race from his own half hotly pursued by a Totts prop. The afterburners didn’t quite kick in as the prop almost snaffled Purchase but he just managed to evade his grasps and score under the posts, and with the conversion took Field within a point of Totts at 36-35.

Sadly this as is as close as ‘Field would get to Totts for the rest of the afternoon as the team collectively seemed to switch off at crucial moments in the match. Totts continued to use their strong backline to gain a further 2 tries through both their centres and wings again. The wind of fortune seemed to be with Totts as on the next 2 scores ‘Field were unlucky to concede as firstly a kick ahead from Totts bounced awkwardly for ‘Field and allowed a fast approaching Totts player to just get a hand on the ball as it went over the try line. And then Totts benefited from attacking line out deep in ‘Field’s 22 when the ball appeared to go directly out of play, ‘Field feeling somewhat aggrieved took their mind off the lineout and Totts stole the ball and set up a score under the posts.

61-35 down with 10 minutes to go and it seemed the flood gates could open further at any moment, but the ‘Field team kept their heads up and battled away in the last 10 minutes to prevent any further scores and twice came close to creating a try of their own but it was not to be.
After the game skipper Rupert Kellie reflected: “Didn’t quite work for us today, we were well in touch early in 2nd half but after that we just seemed to blow hot and cold and a good Totts backline took advantage. Anyhow we have our last game of the season next week against Trojans, fingers crossed we can turn out a full front row and am sure with the side we have we can then end the season on a high’.