Bromley RFC VS Beccehamian RFC

DERBY WOE FOR BROMLEY

Preceding the eagerly anticipated clash between Bromley and Beccehamians there was a well attended club lunch and games between under 11 sides from both clubs featuring both boys and girls teams. Girls rugby has been reintroduced this season and has been a huge success so far and details can be found about this on the club website as indeed can info about all teams and age groups.

The game itself started off at a furious pace with the away side in the ascendancy and they were awarded a kickable penalty for offside within two minutes but this was missed. The trend of Beccs attacking and Bromley defending continued for several minutes. Eventually, the home team got their hands on the ball to release winger Hawkins who tore down the left wing. He was eventually tackled but Beccs were penalised at the breakdown. Fly half Griffiths knocked the ball into touch about twenty yards from the try line. Lineout secured and a driving maul rumbled forward, Milne broke off and surged towards the line but was held up. The ball was recycled quickly left where prop Carroll assumed he was an outside centre and gracefully cantered over the try line and used all his body weight to ensure there was no doubt that a try had been scored. No conversion and after nine minutes Bromley were ahead 5-0.

Would they now kick on? No Beccs dominated the next ten minutes and after conceding three penalties in quick succession in their twenty two the away side were gifted an easy three points. On twenty six minutes Bromley finally managed to lift the siege when George Scott sniped down the blind side near the half way line and put winger Pillow in a bit of space. He skilfully manoeuvered himself into space and it looked as if he was going to score but a desperate tap tackle brought him down and the chance was gone. Three minutes later Bromley were pinged yet again for offside and centre Fothers had to leave the field for ten minutes. Bromley had been under intense pressure and had defended magnificently but one man short was not going to help. However, they refused to buckle and as half time approached it looked as if they would turn around with an unlikely 5-3 lead. The last play saw Bromley having the put in at a scrum near their own line. Won cleanly and kick it off the pitch. They decided to run it, got turned over, more pressure, several thumping forward drives and the defence cracked and the boys from Sparrows Den were over. Halftime 5-10 to Beccs.

Bromley started off the second half in lively fashion and started to spread the ball wide and five minutes in winger Griffiths had a sniff of a chance in the top left corner but Beccs somehow managed to retrieve the situation and broke out of their twenty two and careered into the Bromley twenty two where they were rewarded with the put in at a five metre scrum. More colossal charges at the line and they were over for another converted try. Shortly afterwards Bromley coughed up yet another penalty and their task became increasingly more difficult at 5-20 down. Twenty minutes to go and Bromley finally upped their game and went into full attack mode and on sixty three minutes Beccs had a player yellow carded. Bromley now had their tails up and after a series of quick ruck balls scrum half Scott crossed the whitewash. Conversion missed 10-20. Fifteen minutes to go and game on. On seventy two minutes the home team conjured up a super backs move to put Hawkins in space and he flew towards the line but yet another incredible tap tackle brought him down and the chance was gone and probably the match at that stage. Bromley kept at it but Beccs were dogged and determined on defence. Two minutes from the end Bromley were awarded a penalty head on to the posts but a fair way out. Decision – kick to the corner or shot at goal to salvage a bonus point. Kick to the corner was called and the time petered out and Beccs were deserved winners 10-20.

This was a fiercely contested local derby with the outstanding feature being the defences of both teams which was pretty awesome to behold. Overall Beccs just had a bit more in their armoury and the Bromley players and coaches will no doubt look at areas where they can improve upon and how to cut down on their error count which did not help them on the day. However it was a great game, well refereed and played in good spirit considering the intensity on display.

In another far corner of south London the seconds took on Askeans in another Kent League fixture. The boys under the captaincy of Matt Ralph produced another outstanding display and came away with a 33-5 win which makes it two out of two and a great start to their league campaign. Next week the firsts are away at Dover, the thirds are at home to Bexley and not sure about the second team.