The Blue Boar RFC, class themselves as a social side however their results this season highlighted that this was not going to be breeze for the station. Blue Boar have beaten both Shrivenham and RMAS Pirates in their last 2 games, word on the street was that they were a feisty set of forwards and the backs were rapid!!
The Station side had a swift training session earlier and with close to 30 potential players it was set to be an interesting event running the bench. Having decided to run out the strongest 15 from the start it proved positive as some strong forward drives the backs were able to move the ball to the wing and Masterman arced his run to leave the winger flailing in his wake and touch down under the posts – with only 5 minutes on the clock it was definitely the start the station needed. Tabadua converted 7-0. The station continued to dominate the forward battle and strong running from Fuller and Eccles set the platform for skipper Bolger to drive into the heart of the Boar defence, scrum half Putty drove through 2 would be tacklers to dab down in the corner, Tabadua converted 14-0 after 11 minutes.
Blue Boar rallied and from the kick off surged at the station backs, strong tackling rebuffed the attack but the talented Boar stand off was starting to show his prowess with dummy moves and sleight of hand setting his backs into space time after time. Blue Boar got into the game following a hopeful kick that bounced up into the arms of the winger, who at full speed crossed the line for the Boars first try of the night. 14-5.
Almost from the re-start the station stretched their lead as Livai picked up a superb pass to race through the Boar defence to score in the corner, despite coming close the conversion was missed. 19-5. As the Boar pushed hard to get back into the game the pressure on the station grew, penalties were given away for silly mistakes, Bolger rallied his troops and called for better discipline. To be fair having made almost 10 changes in as many minutes the original intensity had dropped off and the lesser players were being found out. The Boar confidence soured, only to be battered as Livai saw the opportunity, an excellent one handed interception saw him run 70 metres to score under the posts, try converted. Half time 26-5.
Yet more changes were made at half time and the station started the 2nd half with only 3 original players on the park. It had been decided that all 29 players would get a run out and the chance to show why they should have been selected to start!
It was in fact the Boar who started the 2nd half the strongest, their pack sensed the opportunity to get on top and pressed hard, beating the station to the loose ball and quick re-cycling allowed the backs to show their flair, as the half developed the Boar were well in the ascendance and quick ball saw their backs go over for 3 tries in 15 minutes of intense play. Missed tackles and some strange referee decisions certainly helped, the station were rocking with the score now at 26-20 and the Boar smelling blood. As the Boar pressed hard the shrill of the whistle halted play and with the ref’s arm raised for a penalty to the station Lowe got his hands on the ball and with a rush of blood tapped and went, only to be tackled by the Boar centre and was penalised for failing to release, yet more pressure as the Boar kicked deep into the corner. Great lineout take from Bolger eased the situation as this provided the opportunity for the station to relieve the mounting pressure.
It was time to reintroduce the starting 15 and sure up the ship. Within minutes the balance changed and the station started to dominate, securing lineouts and driving the Boar back at every breakdown, wining the battle for space beyond the ball became an almost one sided affair. Close linking between the forwards saw the station push into the Boar half, Goodchild took a pop pass from Fuller and burst through the pack he still had work to do as he rounded the fullback to score, Tabadua converted 33-20.
The final score of the game went to Man of the Match Livai as he finished a fantastic performance with a solo try, running in from 40 metres, final score Abingdon Station 38 Blue Boar 20.
This had been a good game of rugby enjoyed by all those that ventured out on a misty wet night in Abingdon. Rugby in the station continues with a well publicised game against the RMAS 2nd XV on Wed 30 Nov 11 in Sandhurst.
Click here or here to view the Blue Boar versions of the match report.
Click here to view some pictures on the Blue Boar site. |
