Beccehamian RFC VS Bromley RFC

BROMLEY SUCCUMB TO SUPERIOR BECCEHAMIANS   

With a much changed team from last week, especially in the forwards, Bromley went to Sparrows Den to contest a first local derby against Beccehamians for a number of years. For fifty five minutes this was a fierce contest with every player on both sides giving their all but the home side at the end of the day had more in the tank and ran out worthy winners.

The teams spent the first ten minutes or so testing each other out but Bromley, playing up the slope, began to exert pressure and were rewarded with a lineout ten metres out on thirteen minutes. They attempted to take a quick throw but this was illegally intercepted by the opposition winger and as the Bromley receiver would have had a clear run into the line a penalty try was awarded and the offender spent ten minutes on the sidelines getting acquainted with the laws of the game. More or less straight from the kick off the away side coughed up a penalty and this was slotted by the good Beccs kicker. Four minutes later after clever play by Beccehamians at a lineout and missed tackles by Bromley the home side were over for a try to the left of the posts and with the conversion Beccehamians were 10-7 ahead. On twenty-four minutes Bromley was in the ascendancy again and was awarded a penalty about thirty metres out which Griffiths J kicked with aplomb, 10-10.

Now Beccs began to up the ante and put Bromley under severe pressure and the story of Bromley’s season re-emerged with more injuries which led to reshuffling yet again. The wind was now in the home side’s sails and Bromley was lucky not to concede due to some wild passing by the opposition when a try looked a formality and another score being chalked off for crossing. When it looked as if Bromley had survived this storm they conceded a try just before halftime. They had defended desperately and bravely for a number of minutes but eventually, they cracked and the try was scored with the conversion missed it was 15-10 to Beccehamians at the break.

Bromley now had the slope in their favour and came out firing with a fifteen-minute blitz of the home side’s defences but they could not breech a very solid line of tacklers. Eventually, an opportunity was created on the fifty-minute mark with number eight Bird picking up from the base of the scrum and slipping a neat pass to Hawkins who created space for substitute Powell to charge for the line but a foot in touch denied him. This was really Bromley’s last meaningful attempt at troubling the scoreboard and a couple of minutes later Tommy Scott took the walk of shame to the touchline for ten minutes after an over robust challenge. In the last twenty minutes, Beccehamians ran in a number of tries due to good driving play by their forwards and slick execution in the backs leaving the score at 48-10 to them which was thoroughly deserved if the margin of defeat was a bit harsh on a game Bromley side.

There were a number of new and young players in the Bromley team today and they now know what it is like to play at this level. It is hard uncompromising rugby and you have to go at it for the whole eighty minutes and although there have been multiple setbacks to the start of Bromley’s season there is no point in crying about it. There will be another day. Congratulations to Beccehamians and it was great to see such a large crowd attending. Speaking of other days Bromley entertain another well-established club at this level Charlton Park next Saturday which coincides with one of the club’s famous Vice Presidents Lunches.

Comments from Heach Coach, Joe Simpson:

“Hopes were high after our win at Folkestone but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be against Beccs. 

Despite more unavailability and a few injuries we were hopeful of putting in a competitive performance in this important local derby and being within one try up to 55 minutes makes the score line hard to swallow. 

The boys were honest with each other after the game and are already looking forward to making it right.

We will regroup at training this week and look to make the home supporters proud next week.” 

BACK AT HEADQUARTERS

Bromley Seconds entertained a Colfeians XV in a Merit Table game. The away side could have cried off as they were under strength but all credit to them they turned up and after a bit of horse-trading the game took place with Bromley running out clear winners approx. 55-5. Next week they are down to play a difficult fixture against Dartfordians and hopefully, the thirds can get their first run out of the season.