Sidcup’s forward drive proves too much for Tabard

Tryfan Edwards’ try does earn tabard a bonus point though

London 1 North

Sidcup 30 Tabard 20

TABARD put in a spirited performance against Sidcup on Saturday and ran in four good tries but Sidcup’s forwards proved to be the masters of the drive and this spearheaded their side to a 10-point victory.

Tabard started much more positively than last week against the same opposition but an early slip let them down.

A Sidcup line out close in was well taken and, from the resultant drive, their hooker, Wilson, touched down for the try.

Tabard then showed their mettle and spent most of their time in Sidcup territory but without reward. As usual Tabard’s pack pushed above their weight in the set scrum and this gave them plenty of possession but they could not penetrate the Sidcup defence. Then Tabard found themselves with a line out close to their own line again and Sidcup repeated the medicine with Wilson claiming his second try.

This was just a glitch in Tabard’s game however and they were soon attacking the Sidcup line again with overwhelming superiority which resulted in a well taken try for prop Wilf Lake. However, just on the point of half time Sidcup converted a penalty from Ody and thus the teams turned round with Tabard losing by 13 points to five.

Tabard were quickly into their stride in the second half and were soon rewarded. This time from just inside the Tabard half centre Andy Mead made the initial ground with a surging run up the centre and although he was stopped Tabard quickly re-cycled and the ball went down to Jason Davis on the wing who made no mistake in touching down in the corner.

Sidcup then scored two more tries, the first from replacement hooker Cosh from yet another line out drive and then they were awarded a penalty try for Tabard joining the maul from the side, perhaps not the fairest decision of the day. Ody converted and Sidcup were 20 points ahead.

Tabard were not to be outdone however and following a good break from wing Henry Mitchell, a Tabard penalty was taken quickly by second row Darren Kidd and he went over for Tabard’s third try. In the final minute following more Tabard pressure the ball was re-cycled quickly and stand-off Tryfan Edwards powered under the defence to score Tabard’s fourth try and thus gain a bonus point.

Tabard: Hopcroft, Mitchell, Murphy, Meade, Davis, Edwards, Van der Vlugt, B Lake, Hart, W Lake, Calnan, Kidd, O’Connor, O’Neill (Gough 65), and Ruston (Brundle 43).

Other result: Fullerians 10-43 Tabard second XV. Tabard are now in the final of the merit table cup again.

There is no first XV game next week, with Tabard then playing Bury St Edmunds in their last home game of the season.