Chargers shut out Cents in cup semi
Scott Clewlow on the charge. - Credit: Archant
St Albans Centurions’ London Cup campaign came to an end as they failed to score any points against an impressive South West London Chargers side.
Whilst the St Albans team never seemed to settle down, South West London went through the motions of playing hard, simple rugby league of a very high standard which certainly paid off against the Cents, who found it hard to compete with their free flowing, none stop style.
Cents’ director of rugby David Stevens said: “We played against what is probably the best team in the league today. They were outstanding opponents. “However, one of the few positives we can draw from a game like this is that our complete first and second team squads are drawn from players who live in and around St Albans, we have no Australians or New Zealanders.
“The team we faced today had a lot of Aussies and lads from up north who have played rugby league to a very high standard. We had a couple of lads in our squad playing only their first or second ever competitive game of rugby league, so the result should be put into some context.”
The visitors played a game where every move or break was backed up by several support players. Cents knew they were in for a hard game as Joe Shaw limped off after 15 minutes with a re-occurrence of his hamstring injury and then Simba Mupamhanga and Harry Trude, playing his first game for the Cents, both had to leave the game with facial injuries.
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The Chargers ran in five converted tries in the first half and four in the second. Individual Cents players showed bursts of good play, and on several occasions it did look like the Cents might score, but this was one game that whatever they tried, the opposition had an answer for.
After the game coach Obi Ijeoma said “I can’t say anything about that performance. Individual players did their best, and the team showed a big heart, but we must play as a team, not as individuals.
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“I will be speaking to the team on Tuesday at training. I know this season was a consolidating season, aimed at getting all the new players up to standard for next year, but we should have done better than that.”
The teams meet in the London League at Toulmin drive this Saturday. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
