AEI ended their recent losing streak with a victory in this traditionally close fought encounter. In what was in truth a very scrappy match, AEI made as many mistakes as their opponents and were left with the feeling that the winning margin could have been a lot larger. After a spell of early pressure, Andy Sullivan scored the only try of the first half, picking up at the back of the scrum and charging over.
With the wind and sun at their backs in the second half, AEI found things slightly easier although the backs still struggled to get clean ball. Captain Stevie Neal scored a try following a swiftly taken penalty and Mark McDonough's subsequent conversion attempt hit the cross-bar before bouncing over. The final try went to winger Tim Udall who picked up a bouncing ball and drove two opponents over the line as he scored.
Aylestone failed to turn up.
A creditable AEI performance against what turned out to be the Saracens first XV. AEI took the field with the team 15 players actually selected, which was an occasion in itself, but this again did little to help AEI's characteristic early torpor. The first 20 minutes all belonged Saracens who went into a 10-0 lead following a penalty and converted try. AEI then upped their game and the forwards eventually began to win some ball at the lineout, where Saracens had dominated early on. Saracens had to withstand a number of incisive AEI attacks but then hit back with another try before halftime.
The second half again started with Saracens in the driving seat and they were soon on the scoresheet again. AEI finally roused themselves and spent the last 20 minutes on the attack, with man of the match Steve Oxberry and winger Rob Goode to the fore. The Saracens defence eventually gave way at the death when hooker Andy Clark finished off a fine forwards move. Mark McDonough scored the conversion to give AEI some pride.
A very dissappointing match for AEI who were even slower out of the blocks than normal, Warwick being 8-0 up within five minutes. For much of the remainder of the match AEI held their own but towards the end the Warwick superiority told with the home team scoring three late tries. AEI's day was made complete with regular half-backs Gary Storer and Paul Eaton suffering long term injuries.
General comment on match: arse!
GPT were quicker out of the blocks in this close fought encounter between ex-GEC rivals. The first ten minutes was all pressure from the GPT forwards but again the AEI defence held firm and once AEI got hold of the ball their backs looked immediately threatening as a couple of attacks made considerable ground. One of these attacks saw the ball spun out down the line, the attack was stopped just short of the line, but quick second phase ball saw prop Andy Clark go over for a try. AEI soon went further ahead following a GPT scrum close to their own line. Scrum-half Tim Sly, who had made his opposite number's life miserable all afternoon, again got in a quick tackle and flanker Steve McKenna pounced on the loose ball over the line.
GPT, who had pulled a try back before half time, started the second half well but were eventually silenced by an Andy Sullivan try following a quickly taken penalty by Tim Sly. The final score of the game followed a scrum on the GPT 22 and a fine back row move releasing AEI replacement scrum half Gary Storer who in turn fed full-back Tim Udall for his first try for the club.
The recent heavy rains had taken their toll on the Bugbrooke pitch which in some parts was muddy and in other parts resembled a scene from the Somme. Exhibiting strange physical properties (much like Richard Tuckey) the mud managed to stick like glue to the ball but failed to aid the ball to stick in the hands, leading to numerous scums much to the delight of the over-zealous referee.
AEI started attacking the (more) boggy end and kept Bugbrooke pinned down there for much of the first twenty minutes. Eventually the pressure told and fly-half Paul Eaton scored and excellent try, beating the fullback to touch down his own impudent grubber kick. Mark McDonough slotted through the conversion. Bugbrooke then came back but good AEI defence held them out until halftime.
When Bugbrooke started the second half on the attack again, AEI found themselves entrenched in their own 22 for long periods and unable to clear an ever heavier ball up field. Bugbrooke scored a try from a penalty thanks to some sloppy AEI tackling and then came back up the field for their fly-half to completely defy the ground and ball conditions and score a drop goal which bounced in off the post. AEI started to come back in the final 20 minutes but by then the mud had sapped any remaining energy. Following the game and a 30 minute shower, two AEI players were treated for trench foot.
A very scappy game eventually yielded AEI's third win in succession. With the ground very wet under foot and a strong wind blowing across the pitch, the game was always going to be littered with mistakes but AEI did themselves no favours by conceeding an early penalty in front of the posts. However, the AEI forwards eventually dragged them back into the game as they began to exert dominance in the scrums while the Clive Partridge/Tim Sargent partnership in the lineout worked wonders. Finally, just before halftime, an rolling maul (it must have been a red letter day) ended in a try for Stevie Neal (apologies for getting it wrong before).
AEI made a few changes in the second half but this made little difference to the scrum and penalty count. Nick Elliott extended AEI's lead with a typically powerful run and then Nathan Yeung finished off a move which had started with Neil Morgan and Paul Eaton deep in the AEI 22. Mark McDonough converted Yeung's try before Buckby hit back with a try at the end.
An excellent report and the first time we've beaten these boys for a long time. Much credit due to Mike Burnard in the lineout and wingers Rich Pinks and Rob Goode apparently.
In a game relocated at Rugby due to flooding, AEI blew hot and cold in the wind and rain.
Claverdon kicked off with the wind behind and exerted constant pressure for the first fifteen minutes, but AEI’s defence held firm. Unusual tactical kicking by Stack Stephens at scrum half caused some questions to be asked, but AEI retained their composure throughout. Having weathered storms on the pitch and from the clouds AEI began to win some consistent possession and territory. From a line-out on the half way line, the three quarters were unleashed by Paul Eaton at outside half. Guest Tim Udall on the wing ended a smooth handling move with a sweet reverse pass to full back Nathan Yeung who opened AEI’s account.
AEI continued to gain good possession and from another line-out Paul Eaton made an innovative chip over the Claverdon defence, which he gathered himself. His pop pass launched the immense Nick Elliott who barged his way to the line. Elliott looked in sparkling form in his second match back from injury. The conversion was landed by Jock Corbett into the wind.
Further pressure from the home side resulted in a series of penalties close to the Claverdon line. It took big Steve Neal to breach the opposition to score another try just before half time, at which point AEI looked to be cruising.
At half time injuries forced changes for both teams, disrupting the pattern of play. Claverdon started the half more lively, forcing AEI into an early error. Worse was to follow as they scored a converted try from the resulting line-out. Although the wind was in their favour, AEI struggled to find their first half continuity, significantly finding it hard to win any line-out ball. Possession and territorial advantage were balanced evenly for most of the half but with 10 minutes left Claverdon exploited an uncharacteristic defensive lapse to score their second converted try.
With the result on a knife edge, both sides stepped up a gear to try to secure the victory, Chris Hague being particularly influential and the defensive boot of Yeung relieving AEI on several occasions before the final whistle eventually blew.
Colin Stephens 4/12/99
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