Old Millhillians RFC

OM’s 57-3 West London

16th November

A day of sunshine greeted us, soft ground and hopefully some running rugby - the perfect conditions to remember John O’Shea and to put in a performance for our late friend.

Aiming to bounce back after a first defeat of the season, OM’s looked to draw in a big crowd for their double header at headstone lane with the visit of west London for the 1st. A strong, intense warm up indicated the determination of the team to put right the lessons from the week before.

Teams emerged to a flag tunnel by the young members of the Junior M’s (memberships available on request) to raptures applause from the home fans with a sell out crowd. James Roycroft using his blue badge for the first time in the front row!

Kick off was met with an eagerness to get underway and the first half served up a physical encounter between the M’s and their visitors. Early structure saw the M’s take control and persistence was key working the space well for Louis Bird to dot down in the corner. This was followed by extended pressure and territory from the choccy and whites who brought a tactical game in the slippery conditions executed by Brad Abrahams and Oli Avent to pin west London back. A fast paced tempo and control from the pack seized an opportunity for the home team to extend their lead - will obree finding space to open his account.

Numerous occasions in West London’s 22 was met without reward as ill discipline from the home team accompanied with frantic but connected defence from west London left the hosts empty handed in the red zone. A dominant scrum, something not always connected to Old Millhillians rugby provided a platform for front foot ball and it was finally Blaine Abraham’s gallivanting run that opened the defence for a pop pass that saw Oli Avent dart onto the opportunity and go in under the sticks. 19-0.

Half time.

A turnaround and some impactful words from will wheeler highlighted the importance of a fast start to the second half to take the balance of the game away from the opposition. The M’s would be rewarded for adhering to their coach’s demands with a second will obree try coming in a matter of minutes - stretching the lead away from west London. Sustained pressure and development of phases saw Sam Smith on his first run out for the season punch a hole  through the defence in the wider channels with no one covering to stop the marauding centre from diving over to continue the scoring routine.

Blaine Abraham an assist in the first half, had a desire to put himself on the scoresheet, rampaging once again from the base of the scrum to shrug off a couple of tackles and have an outstretched hand dot down on the line. Pandemonium in the stands from Christmas! Two high tackles in quick succession from the home side put the referee on high alert and when another one was delivered by Oli Avent on his opposite number rather circumstantially, the ref reached for his pocket.

With a man down and Brad Abraham taken a knock to the head for the second time that week, the M’s structure became slightly unpicked and the game’s scrappiness went up a level. Yet it was the M’s who prospered from the mess with pressure in defence the most unlikely substitutes Will Wheeler grasping an intercept on halfway in the wider channels to run in for what will be his easiest and hardest try he’s ever scored. Payback for the fitness on Wednesday night I think. It was Will again who popped up to provide prop turned 10, receiving the ball in the 15 metre channel to draw the fullback with Nick Schild screaming for it on his right shoulder but Will electing for the the longer pass to Simon Webster in open space to run it in (sadly no dream try for Schild). Converted from the touch line from stand in kicker Will Donald with a few bets won and lost on the touch line as a result!

Restored to 15 men, flowing rugby was the order from the choccy and whites, who were starting to find gaps in what had been a solid west London defence. To round proceedings off, back in the starting line up and a man who was everywhere on the day, Ralph Murduck found himself in his favourite position of outside back in open play and diligently glided through the outstretched arms of the defence to score his first for the 1st this season. Final score 57-3 an emphatic victory to please the crowd and bounce back from the defeat the week before.

Man of the match was a man at the heart of everything, scintillating in open play and back to his old tricks - ruthless in defence and a menace around the park, was brilliant to have him rewarded with a try! Ralph Murduck

DOTD: As is tradition a yellow pips the title and therefore skipper Oli Avent grabbed that one.