A large crowd of enthusiastic supporters braved the weather on Saturday as Chipping Sodbury RFC 1st Men’s XV welcomed local rivals Yate RFC to a wet and windy Ridings in the Counties 3 and below South Plate second round. Sodbury had a walkover in round 1 when Bristol Aeroplane Co. failed to put out a team, and Yate joined the competition this round after a bye in the first.
Since Yate’s formation, 9 seasons ago, there have been few meetings between the sides, and none in League or Cup competitions. A fierce rivalry has played itself out between players and supporters, as would be expected between two such near neighbours, and today provided the opportunity to secure bragging rights for the first half of the season.
League form has both teams on full points with 5 wins from 5 and try bonus points in every game, so unsurprisingly both clubs were fielding strong squads in anticipation of a tightly fought encounter.
Yate took the kick-off, downhill and with the wind, and immediately secured a scrum deep in the Sods half after the catch was fumbled in the slippery conditions. A penalty at the scrum for the visitors as the front row came under pressure gave an attacking lineout 5m out on the Sodbury left. A series of carries by Yate, thwarted by the now expected fast line speed and physical tackling of the home side led to an attempted drop goal by the visitor, a pattern of kicking that would play out throughout the game, and eventually a goal-line drop out after the ball was held up over the line. Pressure was maintained when the kick sailed into touch on the freshening breeze, but a penalty for holding on in the ruck allowed Jordan Davies at 10 to clear the lines and push Sodbury up the pitch.
A wet ball, greasy surface (and not a few nerves on both sides) saw the ball on the floor more than in hand as both sides struggled for some dominance. 10 minutes in and a second missed drop goal attempt allowed some respite as the subsequent 22 drop out produced a knock-on and Sodbury finally had possession in the Yate half.
The game now settled into a battle of the big ball carriers as both teams looked for dominance between the 22s. Sodbury were running hard at the line, Ben Keeping (capt.) leading by example as always, and Huw Edwards, Joe Sanders, Chris Bateman and many other all stepping up. Yate’s tactic of kicking for field position continued but was thwarted by the bounce of the ball as it ran dead, bringing the game back into their half. Franklin Griffee was looking poised at the back, gathering kicks and making good ground in the wide channels.
The Sodbury lineout was operating well with good connection between George Lockett and Ben in the front and middle, despite a strengthening of the breeze, and scrums had settled down into a stable platform for both sides. Freddie Nutt was once again dynamic at 8, picking and going and beating two or three tacklers before setting up solid ball for Ryan Halford to distribute.
The Sodbury lineout was operating well with good connection between George Lockett and Ben in the front and middle, despite a strengthening of the breeze, and scrums had settled down into a stable platform for both sides. Freddie Nutt was once again dynamic at 8, picking and going and beating two or three tacklers before setting up solid ball for Ryan Halford to distribute
Yate were pressing hard with their own big men and only determined tackling, and the slippery ball was keeping the score at 0-0 as the weather worsened. Eventually the pressure told as Yate were awarded a penalty 15m in from their right and 5m into the Sodbury half. A great kick by Chris Moore, in the challenging conditions, put the first score on the board, 0-3 to the visitors with 10 minutes to go in the half.
Sodbury attempted a short restart and Mike Oram gathered as it hold up in the wind. A series of quick, clean rucks and the ball was moved down the left with Bailey Green making good ground, backed up by AJ Smith in the centre. A scrum to Sodbury, quick ball from the base by Ryan and a strong run by Cort Carpenter (who had replace Justin Percival on the flank early on in the half) finally produced an error from the so far impenetrable Yate defence; yellow card for 12, Luke Bishop, after a high tackle.
The final minutes of a tense half saw Sodbury in the ascendency with determined running by Dave Mouatt, Biley and Franklin and some great sniping from Ryan, but all to no avail as the whistle was blown for the break. 0-3 to Yate and both sides deep in discussion with the coaches working out how to break the deadlock.
Second half and Chipping Sodbury began to the ring the changes.
Issac Freeman on at loose head for Alex Boshier who had put in a tremendous stint. Lewis Trott replaced Freddie at 8 and Tom Febry came onto the wing. Now playing down the Ridings towards the clubhouse, and with the weather improving, Sodbury looked to put some territorial pressure on the visitors, with Franklin, Jordan, AJ and Ryan all applying boot to ball to chip, grubber and clear. A particularly long effort by Franklin from inside the Sodbury 22 saw the Yate 15 knock on in his own 5m, and a second produced a 50-22 of great quality. This latter effort led to a series of plays culminating in a lineout just outside the Yate 22 on the Sodbury right. A clean take at the front from Ben and the ball was popped back to George on the blindside who steamed in for a second ‘swan-dive’ try in 2 games. 7 minutes into the second half and Sodbury take the lead 5-3.
The game then continued much as it had in the first half; back and forth with strong straight running and the backs getting to stretch their legs out wide, but with errors creeping in and penalties being shipped for hands in the ruck and not rolling away on both sides. Chipping Sodbury’s backs were beginning to get some traction, with Freddie Nutt coming on in the centre as replacement and showing a versatility not often seen in one so young. Final substitutions on, Rich Bennett for Chris in the row. Yate continued to apply pressure, spending periods deep in the Sodbury half while the boys in black looked to their tackling and clean hands to keep them at bay. Yate lost another player to the sin bin on 60 minutes, (4, Andy Taylor) for a high tackle on Ryan, but continued the assault on the Sodbury line, culminating in a penalty just outside the 22 for holding on. Converted by Chris Moore into the breeze. 6 minutes to play and Yate led 5-6.
Almost immediately from the restart Sodbury get a scrum centre field. Ryan moves the ball from the base out to the left with a series of quick rucks and fast hands. The ball is moved back into the idle of the park and Jordan makes the break, beating a couple of defenders on the back foot he offloads to Ryan and Sodbury score to the left of the posts. 10-6 Sodbury with the conversion from Febry, 12-6 and 4 minutes to go.
Yate now piled on the pressure, working the ball through the forwards and back with great effect and forcing mistakes from the defence. Despite this Sodbury manage to win ball and carry hard with George, Ben and Joe until Jordan makes a quick 20m up the side and eases the pressure. The move broke down and from the subsequent turn over Yate produced a final flourish moving the ball left and right stretching the Sods defence to bring the game into the Sodbury 22. A penalty for a tip tackle gave Yate a lineout just inside the Sodbury 22 on their left. A series of rucks followed producing a penalty 5 out. A quick tap and go was met with the full force of the Sodbury defence and a knock-on ended the game.
12-6 to Chipping Sodbury in a hard-fought encounter. Both sides deserve credit for the spirit in which the game was played and a mention should be made for the referee who policed the breakdown well and kept the game moving. First blood to the home side with two League games to come.
Stripped to the waist and with a tear in his eye, Steve Hopes stood in the middle of a ring of his players and belted out the Tikki with gusto. What a day! What a season! What a club!