Plate Final
After reflecting on the plate final yesterday I feel a few comments are in order.
10 each at half time and the D&W officials said they thought we were the better side and unlucky not to be ahead - I feel a Chippenham player touch judge did not help us in that department!
Tom Hyde's substitution was a real blow in that the ref would not play rolling subs and let Tom return to the field! I should have questioned that myself before the game, so it was my fault and I whole heartedly apologise to Tom; he was gutted and quite understandably so. I feel that Tom has really come on in his two years in the Academy. He previously propped and after a couple of outings as centre, he is a footballer who has developed as a good outside half, thank you Tom.
Then we finished the half with a yellow card and 14 men.
Four converted tries to one in the second half! We started the half with 14 and no Tom, then we lost a bunch of players from key positions, mostly in one key period in the middle of the half. Scrum half, full back, then the replacement scrum half, number 8 and for periods, a few players were walking wounded. We reached a point that we had to play with 14 men so no wonder our defences dropped! Apart from that period, we still won the contact area most of the time and controlled the rucks.
Perhaps the main thing to take from this game is the following. I heard the coaches telling club members the score and saying their team did not get going in the first half, the truth is:
1) Chippenham were second best in the first half because our game plan and your tenacity shocked the hell out of them and they did not know what to do. They were really rattled. We controlled the game and what was happening and they could do nothing about it.
Even in the second half when you were settled and composed you caused them huge problems. With attitude and physicality you subdued them. You exposed them as a side who can be derailed, since they really play one way and once found out and blocked they were found wanting!
By contrast, you play with our structures and a game plan and with heads up are able to adapt.
2) You kept working and battling to the end scoring while down to 14 and playing your hearts out - I was very impressed and proud of your attitude. A couple of the D&W officials including a Chippenham committee man were also impressed by your attitude ( I don't think they were weasel words).
To cap that, the final "Whooooo" of "Who are we, who are we …" was spot on for the first time this season - thank you all!
