Bromley RFC VS Charlton Park RFC


Results
Club | Points | Outcome |
---|---|---|
Bromley RFC | 18 | Win |
Charlton Park RFC | 0 | Loss |
BROMLEY SNUFF OUT PARK
Bromley entertained Charlton Park on Saturday in front of a boisterous crowd well fuelled by another successful Vice Presidents Lunch. The home side has been in the throes of a crippling injury list and the unavailability of a number of senior players which has completely disrupted the beginning of the season. For today’s game, some of them returned to the fray mainly in the forwards but Bromley still had to rely on some younger players to step up namely Walder, Godden and Jensen Monk. After last week’s heavy defeat it was hard to predict how the home side was going to perform but it was evident from the beginning that both sides were up for the contest and the opening twenty minutes or so were played at a heck of a pace.
Bromley made the early running playing up the slope and tested Park’s defence with good interlinking play by Wilson, Scott and Hawkins. On eight minutes Bromley turned over a lineout allowing scrum-half and captain George Scott to place a clever kick in behind the away sides defences. The opposing scrum half gathered the ball and instead of getting rid of it decided to try and run the ball back. He was caught and enveloped leading to a penalty for not releasing. It was a simple enough kick for Griffiths and he duly knocked it over. Charlton Park responded a few minutes later with a good attack of their own and their number nine was just about halted with Bromley stealing the ball and the excellent George Hawkins nailing an enormous clearing kick to within a metre of the opposing twenty-two. This inspired Bromley to several minutes of intense pressure on Charlton’s line but they held firm until they broke out with their fifteen hurtling down the right-hand touchline and only a dropped pass probably prevented a try from being scored.
It was evident both sides were in attack mode leading to several exciting moves by both sides which stretched to the limit of their respective defences but both teams were sound in this department with any number of thumping tackles going in. On thirty minutes, more pressure from Bromley led to winger Bender making an incisive break only for a potential try-scoring pass being dropped by the all action Wilson. However, the home side was not to be denied and Charlton Park was caught offside in front of their posts and Griffiths added the three points. Again Park responded and their pressure led Bromley to concede an eminently kickable penalty but this was reversed for a bit of back chat which did not sit well with the splendid referee. In fact, back chat was a bit of an achilles heel for the away side as the referee spoke to them at length about it. Half time and 6-0 to Bromley and the game in the balance.
Again Bromley applied the early pressure in the second half and after the away side had given up a number of penalties their number 6 was yellow carded for persistent offending. On fifty-five minutes Bromley was probing down the left-hand side and winger Alex Griffiths put in a speculative kick and hared after it. With a very fortunate bounce, the ball fell into his arms and he was over for the try and in a show of brotherly love, Johnny Griffiths slotted a magnificent conversion from close to the touchline and Bromley had a bit of daylight at 13-0. The opportunity was now available to go on and put the game to bed but this is Bromley and a few minutes later Wilson was yellow carded for a deliberate knockdown. Charlton Park needed no encouragement and attacked from all over the pitch and with Bromley coughing up penalties it seemed inevitable that the away side was going to score. For three or four minutes they were camped on the Bromley line and seemed certain to score in the left hand corner only for the winger to be bundled into touch inches short. Still, the pressure came on and there was an almighty scrap for the ball near the Bromley line. Then Captain Marvel George Scott emerged with the ball and much to the pleasure of the raucous crowd smashed through four tackles before he was brought down but Bromley retrieved the ball and Griffiths launched a big one way down the field to lift the siege.
This seemed to inspire Bromley and on seventy-five minutes from a catch and drive at a lineout they steamed towards the line spewing out opposition players and Wilson went over to the huge delight of the spectators (well most of them). 18-0 and the match was all but won. A little bit of game management and the remaining minutes could be seen out but no Bromley made a couple of rash decisions and invited Park to attack again and only some last-ditch scrambling kept them out. Finally, the whistle went and Bromley had four points in the bag and a much-improved performance to reflect on.
This was a very hard-fought victory over a good Charlton Park side and it was based on a never say die defensive shift which the opposing side found hard to break down. They had a number of very dangerous runners in their back line and were keen to exploit this from anywhere on the pitch but Bromley snuffed them out time after time. Bromley’s three young players all deserve great credit for their contributions. Walder at second row was everywhere and made a thorough nuisance of himself all afternoon, Godden was strong in the tackle and was a handful with the ball in hand and Monk was strong and powerful both in defence and attack. Next week the firsts are away at Deal and Betteshangar in a rearranged fixture. The news from the overworked physios is that they hope a number of the long term injured may be available for selection next week if not the week after which is welcome news.
COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH, JOE SIMPSON:
“As mentioned in last week’s report, this week was important for many reasons……reacting to a big defeat, being back on home turf and trying to show what we can do against traditional London 2 opposition.
I can’t praise every player in the 1st team squad enough. The numbers and intensity at training on Tuesday set the standard for the week and it was clear we wanted a performance. To Nill Charlton Park at home after conceding 50 points the week before says everything you need to know about their attitude. Every player properly turned up and did everything asked of them down to the most minor detail. We have now set our benchmark for every week.
Big shout out to the 2s and 3s for contributing to a club win on Saturday. Those of you who turn up to training and push the player in front of you are contributing to the big picture. What a Saturday and on we go to the next. “
THE REST OF THE CLUB:
Even with the injury crisis, Bromley was able to field three teams on Saturday for the first time this season. Led by skipper Ralph the seconds made the short trip to Dartfordians and this young side did an excellent job and returned with a 76-12 win. Not to be outdone a slightly more elderly third team downed Shootershillians 67-10. Even a certain Mr Boyne, in his seventh-decade, entered the field of play, well part of it, for a whole six minutes which seemed like an eternity for the rest. Joking aside he is a true inspiration to us all. Next week the threes play Orpington hopefully and the twos have a blank in the fixture card but I am sure they will be keen to play to keep their good form going. Just need to find the opposition.