Swans Match Report
| Staines 17 |  |
Bracknell 15 |
Saturday 12th November 2011
National League 3 London & SE
National League 3 London & SE
Knight's delight as Wells kicks Swans to victory!
Staines Swans and head coach Greg Knights celebrated their first win at the Reeves this season, with a very intense win over fellow rivals Bracknell in a National league 3 South game. There was also the winning of the charity "Tom Agar Challenge Trophy" that is played annually between the two teams.
The home side started the stronger with Shane Brady at fly half setting the tone by firing an attempted drop goal just wide of the visitors uprights on the Swans first attack. Bracknell unsure and slightly confused gave Staines the first real opportunity after just 4 mins, as Referee Dan Parrott had no alternative but to award a penalty at the breakdown. Up stepped Chris Wells to score his first kick of the day, to take a 3-0 lead.
The visitors spurred on by there new head coach Carson Russell, started to gain territory from some clever kick and chase option from the fly half Pucs. The set piece line out was the Bracknell strength and this paid off for the visitors. When on the 25 minute mark, the Bracknell forwards drove hard into the Staines 22m from a lineout and with some clever link play out in there back division. Wing Daniel Antoneli touched down in the corner.
Staines came right back at Bracknell with Nathan Palmer putting in a thundering tackle on the receiving Bracknell lock at the kick off resulted in a turnover ball. James Robinson at scrum half, was asking the questions with the ball in hand the away team were finding hard to answer.
Rugged defense and a want of not losing was keeping Bracknell in the game up until just before half time, when Staines wing Lewis Pruce fielded a miss kick just inside there half way. Not being challenged, he set of for the line and just kept going all the way to register his first try for the Swans. With the conversion missed Staines went into the half for a well earned break at 8-5 ahead.
With backs coach Rich Mahony having to make the changes, with injured wing Tony Willis making way for debutant scrum half Cameron Meakin. With Robinson moving out to the wing, at the start of the second half.
Staines carried on from were they left of the previous half, Capt Tom Cleary carrying the ball supported by his fellow forwards into the Bracknell half. Were again the away team came of there feet at the ruck. This set up Chris Wells to kick the penalty to take the score to 11-5.
The game looked to be getting away from the visitors when the referee gave them a penalty just in side the Swans half. Sensing the advantage, they kicked for the corner and were given a line out 10 meters out from the Staines try line. From the ensuing lineout Bracknell drove hard for the line, only to be thwarted by some disciplined defence from the home side. Only after 8 phases of play, the Bracknell right wing Ian Burch popped up to score a well taken try through the barrage of players. With the try converted by Nowak, Staines were steering the down the barrel of another home defeat at 11-12 down.
Staines were now under some pressure with missed kicks for touch and the set piece miss firing. Bracknell started to dominate the game and pushed the home side back deep into their own half.
With only 20 mins to go the outstanding Palmer had to leave the game with a head injury, after yet another hard hitting collision in the tackle area. With Duncan Mcdemid on as replacement at lock, Staines had regroup quickly. Bracknell were held up over the line to give them the advantage of the put in, 5 meters from the Swans try line. This was to be the turning point of the game. All the Bracknell No 8 had to do was pick up the ball and drive hard for the line. Adam Murs was determined he was not going to score and smashed him down from the flank position. With Kerry Boyd supporting the contact, Staines managed to turn the ball over and counter attack into the visitors half. With the Bracknell back line coming off side, Staines were playing the penalty advantage. Robinson was held up over the line for Staines, from some adventurous and daring backline exchanges.
Up stepped Wells to dissect the posts, to again give the lead back to the Swans 14-12, with 10 mins to go.
Then a loss of focus by the Staines forwards from the restart, gave Bracknell a penalty. Nowak calmly kicked the ball high and true through the uprights to give an ever changing lead back to the Visitors.
With time running out the well supported home crowd, started to be heard and were now really starting to get behind the Swans. Tom Cleary rallied his side to go forward as a team. There was only 4 mins left when Bracknell wing Burch was adjudged by referee Parrott to have "late shoulder charged" Pruce after the kick ahead.
With a well respected silence, Chris Wells kicked his 4th penalty of the day. The crowd erupted as the flags were raised behind the posts to signal Staines taking the lead 17-15.
From the kick off all the Swans had to do was keep the ball for 2 mins. With cool heads and a composure that has been a missing of late, the final whistle went to give Staines Swans there first and a very needed home win of the season.
Staines carried on from were they left of the previous half, Capt Tom Cleary carrying the ball supported by his fellow forwards into the Bracknell half. Were again the away team came of there feet at the ruck. This set up Chris Wells to kick the penalty to take the score to 11-5.
The game looked to be getting away from the visitors when the referee gave them a penalty just in side the Swans half. Sensing the advantage, they kicked for the corner and were given a line out 10 meters out from the Staines try line. From the ensuing lineout Bracknell drove hard for the line, only to be thwarted by some disciplined defence from the home side. Only after 8 phases of play, the Bracknell right wing Ian Burch popped up to score a well taken try through the barrage of players. With the try converted by Nowak, Staines were steering the down the barrel of another home defeat at 11-12 down.
Staines were now under some pressure with missed kicks for touch and the set piece miss firing. Bracknell started to dominate the game and pushed the home side back deep into their own half.
With only 20 mins to go the outstanding Palmer had to leave the game with a head injury, after yet another hard hitting collision in the tackle area. With Duncan Mcdemid on as replacement at lock, Staines had regroup quickly. Bracknell were held up over the line to give them the advantage of the put in, 5 meters from the Swans try line. This was to be the turning point of the game. All the Bracknell No 8 had to do was pick up the ball and drive hard for the line. Adam Murs was determined he was not going to score and smashed him down from the flank position. With Kerry Boyd supporting the contact, Staines managed to turn the ball over and counter attack into the visitors half. With the Bracknell back line coming off side, Staines were playing the penalty advantage. Robinson was held up over the line for Staines, from some adventurous and daring backline exchanges.
Up stepped Wells to dissect the posts, to again give the lead back to the Swans 14-12, with 10 mins to go.
Then a loss of focus by the Staines forwards from the restart, gave Bracknell a penalty. Nowak calmly kicked the ball high and true through the uprights to give an ever changing lead back to the Visitors.
With time running out the well supported home crowd, started to be heard and were now really starting to get behind the Swans. Tom Cleary rallied his side to go forward as a team. There was only 4 mins left when Bracknell wing Burch was adjudged by referee Parrott to have "late shoulder charged" Pruce after the kick ahead.
With a well respected silence, Chris Wells kicked his 4th penalty of the day. The crowd erupted as the flags were raised behind the posts to signal Staines taking the lead 17-15.
From the kick off all the Swans had to do was keep the ball for 2 mins. With cool heads and a composure that has been a missing of late, the final whistle went to give Staines Swans there first and a very needed home win of the season.
Director of Rugby Rod Jermy said after the game "There was a confidence shown today in each others ability that has been a missing of late. Confidence is a technique that is just not practiced enough. A good result for all the club"
Staines 17 (8)
Try; Lewis Pruce
Pens; Chris Wells 4
Bracknell 15 (5)
Tries; Ian Burch, Daniel Antoneli
Cons: Ben Nowak
Pens: Ben Nowak
STAINES SWANS were:
Quirke, Willis, Wells, Major, Brady, Pruce, Robinson, West, Murs, Boyd, Palmer, Cleary, Jones, Thomas, Walsh, Spellen, Mcdermid, Meakin.
Staines 17 (8)
Try; Lewis Pruce
Pens; Chris Wells 4
Bracknell 15 (5)
Tries; Ian Burch, Daniel Antoneli
Cons: Ben Nowak
Pens: Ben Nowak
STAINES SWANS were:
Quirke, Willis, Wells, Major, Brady, Pruce, Robinson, West, Murs, Boyd, Palmer, Cleary, Jones, Thomas, Walsh, Spellen, Mcdermid, Meakin.
Next week Staines Swans travel to leaders Canterbury next Saturday. Leading onto our last league game at home this year, on the 3rd December against newly promoted London Irish Amateurs.
