Match Report
Match reports 2008/9: 1st XV | Stacks | Gnus
2nd Team Match Report - 1st November 2008
Score: 0 - 17
Again Canvey were away in this Div 4 merit table fixture to Maldon.
The Stacks were still without Fly half Liam O'Connor, but welcomed back Prop and Vice-skipper John Irving, No.8 Nick Edwards, Joe Symons, Aaron Sultana, Mike Waters, Big George and Andy "Bosh bosh" Hardy. Young Matt Gervais dropped into the Fly half position.
In what can be described as fantastic weather for ducks, The Stacks and Maldon played end to end Rugby with Maldon having the upper hand in the early stages. However, the Stacks mobile pack were always able to secure their own ball at Line out and Scrum time to set up a platform for the backs to operate.
About a quarter of the way into the first half, No.8 Nick Edwards peeled of the back of a scrum and was supported by Skipper Horton and Big George, John Irving, Andy Hardy and the Dark Lord were able to secure the ball at the resulting ruck and the ball whizzed out from Gary (merlin) to Matt Gervais, Mike Waters drove through the centres to off load to John "Sparky" Mailes who had switched to 13, the ball was shipped onto Dave Wood and Dave was able to draw the man and put Full back Alfie Webster away to go round the opposition and score. With Gary converting, the Stacks led 0 - 7
Fair play to Maldon, they kept battling the Stacks defences but the Stacks were able to hold out and went further ahead with a well worked try for Luke Lanza. Again some great driving play through the forwards set up the opportunity for young Lanza to crash over the line. With the conversion missed;
Half Time arrived 0 - 12 to the Stacks.
Joe Symons came on to replace Big George (Injured Quad) and Aaron Sultana came on for the Dark Lord (Light Sabre was malfunctioning in the rain) The second half got underway with Maldon using the conditions to play the ball into the Stacks 22. For the next 20 mins the Stacks held Maldon out with some stoic defence and great tackling. John Irving, Aaron Sultana, Skipper Horton and Andy Hardy crunching tackles all over the pitch. The backs held their fair share of the tackles and as the game wore on, the weather changed for the worse, with rain lashing down and Trench foot starting to set in, the Stacks were desperate to hold Maldon to zero.
Mark Turnbull replaced Alfie Webster who was injured (Shoulder) when the Stacks broke out of their own 22. Some great carry's by the forwards and quality rucking enabled the Stacks to get into the Maldon 10m area and slowly start to strangle the game. The backs and forwards combined to move the ball up the pitch and secure phase after phase of play. With about a minute to go and before hypothermia started to kick in, the break was made by Nick Edwards. From the base of another scrum he was able to break the first tackle and pass to Gary (merlin) supporting, Matt Gervais played it out to Mike Waters and Andy Hardy popped up to take control and find John Mailes, Sparky played it down the line where Stavos broke into the 22 on route to the line. With an over lap begging, he cut back inside but had the strength to score. A little bit of white line fever there son, but when you consider Mark "the goal Hanging Fireman" Turnbull was the likely recipient of a try, thank f-ck Stavos scored.
Gary(merlin) just missed the Conversion and the whistle signalled Full time
Final Score Maldon 0 - Stacks 17
Skipper Hortons final comments were: Tremendous performance again boys. Special mention to John Irving, Nick Edwards and the youngsters in the front row. A cracking game in what were atrocious conditions. Big pat on the back to the Maldon boys for making this a fantastic scrap.
Trys:
Alfie Webster 1
Luke Lanza 1
Stavos 1
Kicks
Gary(merlin) 1 from 3
Stacks were: Luke Lanza, John Irving, Stavos, Skinner (The Dark Lord), Andrew Hardy, Big George, Danny Horton (Skipper), Nick Edwards, Gary (Merlin) Desmond, Matt Gervais, Dave Wood, John "Sparky" Mailes, Mike Waters, Craig Nash, Alfie Webster, Joe Symons, Aaron Sultana & Mark Turnbull
Man of the Match: John Irving
