WELWYN RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
Senior Teams
Mini/Junior Teams
Club Partnership Programme
Ruislip 22 Welwyn 13
Welwyn failed to lay their Ruislip jinx on Saturday. In the last three seasons they have now lost five of the last six fixtures between the clubs, including defeats inflicted two years ago in their championship-winning campaign.
With a superior record putting them third in the league compared with Ruislip's sixth at the start of the day, Welwyn were confident of gaining a rare victory over their north London rivals. Injuries and unavailability meant several changes, with Julian Emery coming in at tight-head prop, Alex Cross at right wing and Ed Knapp at wing forward. The latter may well be the most versatile player in Welwyn's 1st XV history with appearances in the most diverse positions of prop forward, wing three-quarter and now wing forward.
On a bitterly cold afternoon Welwyn kicked off playing with the advantages of a stiff breeze and a slight slope. However, they were immediately on the defensive and conceded a penalty in containing a thrust from Ruislip's forwards. The kick went wide.
Welwyn made good use of the wind to inch their way via the boot of Child into the Ruislip 22. Austen Cox secured good possession in the line-out against a trio of Ruislip beanpoles and, as ever, in loose play the forwards were more than a match for their opponents. Gareth Hughes missed an attempted drop goal but minutes later kicked a penalty to put Welwyn 3-0 ahead.
The game became more even after the restart, with both sides settling down and trying to throw the ball around. With a tricky wind blowing this was a risky choice of tactic with floated passes going to ground or being fumbled by cold hands. Ruislip moved their game up a notch, becoming more disciplined at the line-out and using a bulky front row to impose themselves in the scrum. This improved possession enabled their midfield to run with penetration and from such a move a try was scored in the corner. The conversion attempted failed but Welwyn were now 5-3 down and disadvantaged by having wing forward Ollie Nevel yellow carded for a technical offence.
Despite being a man short, Welwyn came back into the game and could have gone ahead through a Hughes penalty attempt had it succeeded. This was a temporary respite as Ruislip dominated the period up to half-time. Making fewer errors and running straight, rather than lateral, they created many chances and took advantage of unusually poor Welwyn defending to score two converted tries.
Welwyn kicked off the second half 19-3 down and playing against the breeze and slope. But these adverse elements were used as an incentive and from a line-out near the Ruislip line the ball was moved across field for Kris Birkin on the left wing to power his way over for a try and narrow the lead to 19-8.
Stand-in coach Grant Keeler brought on Ian Ward to give hooker Simon Banks another target to throw at in the line. The switch also added pace to Welwyn's play in the loose. Kyle Birkin showed how dangerous he is at centre when running onto a pass at pace. From such a break he initiated a handling movement, which culminated in Hughes going over for a try. Again the conversion was missed but the lead had been further reduced to 19-13.
One more score would have given the visitors the lead but Ruislip sensibly changed tactics. They used the wind to kick their way into the Welwyn 22 and then using a well-organised line-out to stay there. Welwyn were always capable of breaking out and scoring a try from long distance. But in trying to force such a chance from deep, Welwyn were penalised several times and from one of these opportunities Ruislip kicked the goal to secure a 22-13 victory.
Welwyn failed to lay their Ruislip jinx on Saturday. In the last three seasons they have now lost five of the last six fixtures between the clubs, including defeats inflicted two years ago in their championship-winning campaign.
With a superior record putting them third in the league compared with Ruislip's sixth at the start of the day, Welwyn were confident of gaining a rare victory over their north London rivals. Injuries and unavailability meant several changes, with Julian Emery coming in at tight-head prop, Alex Cross at right wing and Ed Knapp at wing forward. The latter may well be the most versatile player in Welwyn's 1st XV history with appearances in the most diverse positions of prop forward, wing three-quarter and now wing forward.
On a bitterly cold afternoon Welwyn kicked off playing with the advantages of a stiff breeze and a slight slope. However, they were immediately on the defensive and conceded a penalty in containing a thrust from Ruislip's forwards. The kick went wide.
Welwyn made good use of the wind to inch their way via the boot of Child into the Ruislip 22. Austen Cox secured good possession in the line-out against a trio of Ruislip beanpoles and, as ever, in loose play the forwards were more than a match for their opponents. Gareth Hughes missed an attempted drop goal but minutes later kicked a penalty to put Welwyn 3-0 ahead.
The game became more even after the restart, with both sides settling down and trying to throw the ball around. With a tricky wind blowing this was a risky choice of tactic with floated passes going to ground or being fumbled by cold hands. Ruislip moved their game up a notch, becoming more disciplined at the line-out and using a bulky front row to impose themselves in the scrum. This improved possession enabled their midfield to run with penetration and from such a move a try was scored in the corner. The conversion attempted failed but Welwyn were now 5-3 down and disadvantaged by having wing forward Ollie Nevel yellow carded for a technical offence.
Despite being a man short, Welwyn came back into the game and could have gone ahead through a Hughes penalty attempt had it succeeded. This was a temporary respite as Ruislip dominated the period up to half-time. Making fewer errors and running straight, rather than lateral, they created many chances and took advantage of unusually poor Welwyn defending to score two converted tries.
Welwyn kicked off the second half 19-3 down and playing against the breeze and slope. But these adverse elements were used as an incentive and from a line-out near the Ruislip line the ball was moved across field for Kris Birkin on the left wing to power his way over for a try and narrow the lead to 19-8.
Stand-in coach Grant Keeler brought on Ian Ward to give hooker Simon Banks another target to throw at in the line. The switch also added pace to Welwyn's play in the loose. Kyle Birkin showed how dangerous he is at centre when running onto a pass at pace. From such a break he initiated a handling movement, which culminated in Hughes going over for a try. Again the conversion was missed but the lead had been further reduced to 19-13.
One more score would have given the visitors the lead but Ruislip sensibly changed tactics. They used the wind to kick their way into the Welwyn 22 and then using a well-organised line-out to stay there. Welwyn were always capable of breaking out and scoring a try from long distance. But in trying to force such a chance from deep, Welwyn were penalised several times and from one of these opportunities Ruislip kicked the goal to secure a 22-13 victory.