In a remarkable display of grit, determination, and clinical execution, Hammersmith & Fulham pulled off a stunning victory over Camberley, getting their first W in 5 years against a team that only months before had put 72 points on the boys. The result, achieved on a bright February afternoon at Hurlingham Park, has instantly become one of the club’s most memorable days of the season so far. 

How did it start? Like most games, with a kick off. And with both sides eager to make an early statement.

Camberley, the favourites, struck first after earning a lineout deep in Hammersmith & Fulham territory after a strong passage of play. The visitors executed their typical powerful driving maul to surge over the try line to give Camberley a 7-0 lead. 

For Hammersmith & Fulham, flash backs of their painful 72-5 defeat away to Camberley earlier in the season started to resurface, but the underdogs weren’t about to let history repeat itself.  

Hammersmith & Fulham quickly regained their composure. A strong contestible kick-off put Camberly under immediate pressure, with one of their big carriers penalised for holding on. Fly-half Marshall MacDonald responded with a brilliant quick tap-and-go, catching the Camberley defence off guard and darting over the line to score. This brought the score to 7-7, but importantly, set the tone for the wars to come.   

This was a different team.

With a different mindset.

Determined to create a different result.

The boys seized the momentum. From the restart, they executed two attacking kicks that pressured Camberley and drove them deep into their own half. Camberley soon then conceded another penalty, allowing hammers to go for goal. Joe Carolan calmly slotted a penalty from 40 meters out, to take the lead. 10-7.

The home side’s defence then came under fire as Camberley mounted several attacking phases, testing Hammersmith & Fulham’s resolve. However, the hosts held firm. In a moment of brilliance, Carolan ripped the ball away from a Camberley forward – his first of three that day, not bad for a “wintered” 10 – and, after a quick clearance kick, the boys were back applying pressure in Camberley’s half. 

The crowd was then treated to an electrifying moment when the tiniest player on the field, Josh AA, grabbed a step ladder, and charged down a box kick from the Camberley scrum-half, pinning the visitors further back in their own half. With Camberley on the back foot, Hammersmith & Fulham took advantage of another penalty and kicked to the corner. The Hammer forwards a.k.a The Steam Pigs executed a perfect driving maul off the lineout, Ed Wynne crashing over the line to score. Carolan’s conversion stretched the lead. 17-7.

Camberley responded with a well-worked try of their own. After several phases of solid defence from Hammersmith & Fulham, the visitors earned a scrum 5m out from the Hammers line. The visitors applied their a dominant scrum, allowing them to pick-and-go from the base and score over the try line.  

The Dugdales. Same person

With the score now at 17-12, Camberley chose to return the restart via a long box kick just short of the Hammers 22.  Pressure resulted, Camberley with their tails up, and Hammers were pinned in an awkward spot. Would this be the point where Hammers surrendered their lead?

Nay.

From nowhere, Sam Seymour** denoted a stunning 50:22 kick which put them inside the Camberley 22. It would prove a vital step in the path to victory, relieving pressure, and setting the Hammers up for a backs attack off the Steam Pigs powerful maul to the lineout’s tail. Hands – from Sam, to Marshall, to Joe…to a Dugdale who spots a gap in the Camberley defence and makes a brilliant break to score! Carolan’s conversion..its over! Hammersmith & Fulham a 24-12 lead going into the break. 

The half-time break – the boys are elated with the score, but they’ve been here before.  Not just against Camberley – 12 months before they had been winning at half-time – but the week before even, squandering their half-time lead against Wimbledon through 10 minutes of second-half madness. Would this be a repeat?

Nay.

Before Camberley were finished eating their half time oranges, the Hammers flew out of the blocks and executed a well-worked backs move off a scrum. Mackerel McDoogle fed a “flat” pass to Miles O’Connor who crossed the white line to put the Hammers on the score board in the first 3 minutes. This extended the lead to 31-12. What would the next 3 minutes bring? 

Not much. The game entered a stalemate with both teams showing strong defence and attack, but neither side was broke through, the Hammers defending their territory ably but without the ball, while Camberley struggled to fight their way out of their own half.  

Something had to change…and so it did when on came Hammer’s exciting new signing, Kenneth Rogan, debut. Kenneth was a game-changer for Hammersmith, making an immediate impact with his pace, agility, and smart decision-making. Off the field, his charm is just as magnetic. Women love his confidence, and his bants, while men admire his athleticism and cool demeanor. He is a great new addition to the club.  Cool car, cool bikes, cool kids, Cool bloke. We’re lucky to have him. 

Just being on the field saw Kenneth make an impact, with Hammersmith awarded a penalty just outside of Camberley’s 22 for Kenneth being so good looking. The skipper Tom Proctor opted to take the 3 points despite many squeaky grumbles from his very small teammate Josh AA, who wanted to kick for the corner. Joe Carolan secured the 3 points which put the hammers 3 converted tries ahead. The boys could sense that something great was happening here. 

Mary MacSabbath celebrates as only he knows how.

So could Camberley.  Entering Q4 of the match, Camberley’s discipline began to let them down with many penalties going in the home side’s favour, including a yellow card for dissent, allowing Hammers to gain field position in their opponents 22.

After several tight carries by the forwards, Molly McFadden sent a long loopy pass over the heads of the Camberley backline to put one of their Dugdales in for their 2nd try.  

With the game effectively won, Hammersmith & Fulham switched off momentarily, allowing Camberley a final opportunity to score. The visitors mounted one last attack, making their way over the Hammersmith & Fulham try line. Fair credit to Camberley, they were chasing the bonus point and making a good go of it.

The game restarts and poor discipline puts Camberley back in the Hammers 22 as they hunt for a try. However, in the dying minutes, Joe Carolan produced another moment of brilliance, ripping the ball from a Camberley player and feeding it to either Max or Ben Dugdale. One of them sprints the full length of the field, diving under the posts for his/their third try of the match and providing the icing on the cake of an outstanding 80-minute performance by the home side. 

It was a a historic victory. The final whistle blew, and the Hammersmith & Fulham players embraced, knowing they had achieved something truly special. This comprehensive 46-17 victory over Camberley, a team that had earlier humiliated them in a 72-5 defeat, was a testament to their resilience and determination. Such a victory was a statement of intent, keeping their hopes alive of staying at level 5 and moving them 6 points clear of the relegation zone. As for Camberley, they will need to regroup and come back stronger after this humbling defeat, and we look forward to seeing them again next season.  

Full Time: Hammersmith & Fulham 46 – 17 Camberley 

Man of the Match 

Jo Carolan  

Special Mentions  

Probably Max Dugdale – Hattrick  

Kenneth – 1st XV debut 

After an up and down start to 2025, the Hammers welcomed fellow southwest Londoners to Wimbledon to Hurlingham Park. With the danger of Storm Eowyn potentially looming from across the Irish Sea, it was only the combination of everyone’s favourite northern Irishman McNeil and Eee-oin on the team sheet that actually looked like causing damage on Saturday. On what was a perfect winter’s afternoon for running rugby, and following a well-fought, close opening fixture fixtures against this top-4 team, it promised to be a day that ‘these red men’ could potentially cause an upset. 

This was exactly how the game began to shape up. Following some early pressure in Wimbledon territory and some hard carrying by the likes of Carolan, McNeil et al,  the Hammers found themselves with a lineout 5m from the Wimbledon line. Captain Proctor gave the orders, Hostetler hits the treble 20, and after a good initial surge Dugdale snuck in the corner for the opening try of the game with the conversion to follow. How would Wimbledon respond?

Annoyingly quite well, after some unforced errors by the home side they took their opportunity well and levelled the score shortly after, 7-7 after the opening 15 minutes. 

Following some ill-discipline, field position was gifted to the away side and Wimbledon applied a lot of pressure testing the Hammers defensive line, but the door was shut time and time again.  The dogged defensive set being led by the most miserable hooker/back row hybrid you are likely to find (SVB) and Max Hyde’s absent father (Rogan). The men in red were struggling for a way out until the Wimbledon backline served up a googly that was well-anticipated and latched onto by Dugdale who set off for a race to the line. Being hunted down by Wimbledon defenders and not quite having the legs to go all the way, Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmand’s love child (Marshall MacCleod) appeared by his side to take it over the line and score his first of the game. Carolan inevitably converting. 

Wimbledon were refusing to go away, taking 3 points when available, pushing the Hammers back into their own half and scoring off a first phase scrum play. 15-14 to the away side after half an hour.  But momentum shifted when Dugdale came up trumps again, laying out the Wimbledon fly half and leaving him in a similar position to receive from one of Bangkok’s finest (for a second time). Some strong scrummaging from the pack led by Poulton, and excellent control from Yorkshire’s/Tumbridge’s finest forced Wimbledon back towards their own line providing the field position for Proctor to go into his bag of tricks at a close-range lineout. Hammers forwards enter stage left with the greatest piece of deception seen since Josh AA told a Hinge date he was over 5 foot. For some, acting wasn’t required as Bagshaw caught the ball with the same confusion on his face at every line out (he knows the calls), the forward pack setting up the maul for Hostetler to go over the line. Carolan added a penalty shortly after to give the Hammers a 22-15 lead at half time.  

With the words of our own little French general ringing in our ears, the home side hoped the start of the second half would resemble the Battle of Austerlitz rather than Waterloo. Unfortunately, it would prove to be the latter.

Following some unfortunate and unforced errors, Wimbledon were able to score two quick tries to start the second half and take the lead 27-22.  It was a crucial error. After a bit of foreplay in between the 22’s, and some substitutions with Dr John entering the game, the Hammers looked to respond in kind. Getting the ball just inside his own half, the Caravan mades a strong line break finds Marshal running a great support line and puts him in for his second try of the game and the conversion to follow. Our second half had now started.

Unfortunately, it did not continue in the same vain with ill-discipline and unforced errors becoming the theme. Consequently, Wimbledon scored 14 unanswered points to take their lead out to 41-29. With a victory looking unlikely this point, the Hammers rolled up their sleeves and set their sights on chasing the second bonus point. Camped on the Wimbledon line for the last 10 minutes of the game, we would not be denied. The Hammers were carrying the ball with the same disdain for the opposition as Jacob Poulton has for left-wing politics, led by the tiniest man on the pitch and our bearded leader, Josh AA. A bit of niggle off the ball from the Zak the Human Pear combined with relentless pressure saw two Wimbledon yellow cards being dealt out and the heat turned up in this proverbial Masterchef kitchen for the final few minutes. Eventually, the Wimbledon defence was breached and Carolan crossed over the whitewash, converting his own try.  

As the final whistle was blown, this undoubtedly felt like an opportunity missed.  2 bonus points may well prove crucial as the end of the season rolls around, so next week demands a huge effort against Camberley at Hurlingham Park. 

Hammersmith & Fulham, the Hammers, the men-in-red, the boys from SW6, travelled away out of the environs of London further to the south west, to face Bracknell, a road trip that was undertaken while the winds and the rains of storm Darragh ravaged much of the British mainland.

Undeterred, the men in red set out upon their voyage to claim a victory against an opponent sitting just above them in the league table. Buoyed from a resounding victory against a tough Tunbridge Wells side, the Hammers travelled to Bracknell looking to make it back to back wins for the first time this season, to lay down a marker that the domination displayed against Tunbridge was no mere flash-in-the pan, but a true marker of this team’s capabilities.  

There was some slight changes to the line-up, with Harry Scarr unavailable due to exertions the previous week against Tunbridge, but Eoin Baker was a welcome return to the side after missing the victory against Tunbridge due to work commitments.  

The savage storm Darragh meant a foreboding setting, with wailing winds, sideways rain and biting cold setting the tone for the encounter. 

Not to be perturbed, the men in red, led by grizzled captain Tom Proctor, were eagerly awaiting a physical contest. With the howling wind having subsided somewhat, the mercurial Sam Seymour got the game underway, duly kicking straight to Bracknell’s behemoth no.8, who was duly met by the Hammers own man mountain Thomas ‘Strong Jawline’ Proctor. That first carry set the tone for much of the first half, with the Bracknell pitch, as any quantity surveyor worth their salt would testify, being on a slope, with the boys from SW6 electing to play uphill in the first half with the wind at their backs, thanks to the tactical nous of Captain Tom (Potential chess grandmaster). 

The Hammers lineout was under siege in the initial phases of the first half, with potentially sabotaging actions being alleged against the Bracknell ball boys, using very lax towel drying methods when it was Hammers ball, yet vigorously drying Bracknell ball each time. Unfortunately it is very difficult to prosecute minors for accessory liability, so the Hammers legal department let them off with a stern written warning. The very tall and effective Bracknell lineout jumpers and the baying mob of Bracknellians all contributed to putting the Hammers lineout under serious pressure.  

Perhaps thinking that as Hammers were only a stone’s throw away from Parsons Green, (think white horse et al), the men in red would prove to be a soft touch, the first phases of the game consisted of very much direct running from robust Bracknell forwards, following turnover ball. Perhaps caught a little cold, the Hammers defence initially struggled against an onslaught of waves of green, powerful blocky forwards making considerable yards despite the manful attempts of the Hammers defence, Bracknell manged to power through towards the twenty two. After several phases the Brack managed to chip in behind, but Marshall Macleod A.K.A Robert the Bruce, denied his English foe any chance at scoring and said ‘come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough’ as he was forced to kick the ball dead to avoid a certain Bracknell try.  

Bracknell did come, and indeed did prove hard, and off the back of the resulting five metre scrum, after several thudding carries yielding nothing against a solid red wall, decided they could not take any more collisions against the Hammers men up front, so in a backhanded and uncouth manner, played it out the back while the Hammers were relishing the physical battle, with their short rotund fullback slipping over for the opening try (4). The conversion unsuccessful, it was 5-0 Bracknell early on. 

Stung into action, South West London’s finest began to play but errors crept in and Bracknell’s locomotive like forwards kept coming. However, chop tackling abounded in the Hammersmith and Fulham defence, the forward pack hunting down and smashing each Bracknell carrier with venom, as the youths say ‘they got that dawg in em’. Despite some excellent defence, with the backs now doing their duty for the fatherland, the hammers lineout was under attack, as the aforementioned unholy trinity of dubious Bracknell ball boy drying techniques, questionable lineout jumping by large trolls and the baying mob all served to make it exceedingly difficult for the Hurlingham heroes to secure their own ball.  

Eventually, after the referee spotted some more Bracknell underhanded methods, the Fulham massif were awarded a penalty. Up stepped the arguable G.O.A.T., soon-to-be married Joe Carolan (read it and weep ladies). Unfortunately storm Darragh had other ideas Mr. Top try scorer’s attempt sailed narrowly wide. The resulting phases of play were dominated by set piece, but each time a Bracknell forward carried, a Fulham man was there to meet with some ferocious tackling from Northern Ireland’s finest Marcus McNeill, who seemed to be effervescent in his appetite to smash big units into the ground. Not to be left behind was minor royalties’ second best rugby player, (after Mike Tindall), Seb Rivett, who was closely competing with Marcus for how many chop tackles one man could make.  

Bracknell did manage to make a searing break, and their diminutive but rapid winger  approaching the Hammers line some of their players were already celebrating, but across came Sam Seymour doing his best Gandalf impression and screaming ‘you shall not pass’ as he tackled the bright yellow boot wearing winger in an incredible cover tackle. The Brack were in behind, but like waves crashing against igneous rock, the Hammers defence would not buckle and forced the Brack back and into a turnover, before clearing away possession.  

Despite repeated attempts to breach the Hammers defensive line, the brute force of the Bracknell pack could not get past the iron will of Hammersmith & Fulham. This forced another chip in behind the iron curtain, however, Marshall Macleod once again snuffed out the danger, ensuring that to breach the South West London wall, will require much more than simple little poots over the top. However, the lineout was Bracknell ball, just inside the Hammers twenty two. Repeated battering rams were thrown against the Hammers line, with the tackling incessant, with every man putting his body on the line. The hammering of the Hammers (if you’ll pardon the pun) line, continued, yet each time Bracknell were repelled.  

 Alas, as even the magnificent walls of Constantinople were breached, the iron walls of Hurlingham also fell the barbarian hordes of Bracknell. After repeated heavy artillery-esque carries, the ball was swung back against the grain of play and the barbarians of Bracknell breached the sanctity of the Hammers line. The conversion successful, 12-0 Bracknell, (20). Off the restart, the Hammers managed to win a penalty, and after a kick to the corner and a successful lineout, a Douglas Haig-esque drive against a stubborn defensive line occurred with some powerful carries from the proudly Irish Eoin Baker (just look at the name spelling come on), and Turbo Tim Russell bringing the Hammers within reach of the Bracknell line. However due to an injury to a Bracknell forward, no doubt due to the intense collisions on a part of the men in red, the referee stopped the Hammers momentum, allowing a wilting defence some respite. Severa

l scrums later and with a refreshed Bracknell defence allowed some breathing space, despite the best efforts of the Hammers with some powerful Jacob Poulton carries, unfortunately the ball was knocked on, and the hammers push on Moscow came to nothing. This allowed the Bracknell attack to worm its way out from the Hammers grip and push the game back towards the half way line, with some direct running. However the tackling was ferocious, no man from Fulham even countenancing a backward step, with Scott van Berckel and Dan Hostetler putting in some car crash collisions.  

With the conditions making the ball as slippery as a bar of soap scrums were aplenty. Just approaching half time, the Hammers backline turned itself into a David Blaine tribute act and produced some magic. Sam Seymour produced a delectable chip in behind which Tim Russell, the best thing to come out of Portsmouth since Charles Dickens, beat his man to before stepping and offloading to Marshall Macleod, who in turn passed back inside to Joe Carolan, who added another notch to the bedpost with another try! This sparked ecstatic celebrations from the Hammers travelling support, with Carolan converting his own try to begin the fightback. 12-7 (37). The Hammers ended the half with the wind in their tails yet still trailing.  

The second half began with the Hammers playing down the hill, but into the wind. There was much of a back and forth momentum swing, but the half time team talk delivered by Alain Van West stilled Hammer hearts and stiffened the already near impregnable iron curtain of defence. If Shaun Edwards had been in attendance he would have shed a tear such was the commitment and ‘spirit of the blitz’ attitude of the Hammers defence every time the barbarian hordes of Bracknell approached the citadel that represented the Hammers try line.  

Bracknell came out with vicious intent, pounding away at the Hammers line yet the ferocity of the Hammers overcame all. Eventually the pressure against the Hammers told, and the referee blew for a penalty ten metres out in front of the posts. This period of sustained pressure also led the referee to somewhat harshly yellow carding the freshly subbed on Max Dugdale. After having faced brutal collisions and unbowed will, which was leading to Bracknell taking more casualties than a Russian offensive, they opted to save their bodies and kicked for goal. 15-7 (44). 

However back came the red wave, unrelenting. They surged forward after some excellent carries from the ever willing Seb Rivett, Thomas Proctor, and the veterans’ veteran (think 3 tours of ‘nam equivalent) Rogan. The Hammers were playing some excellent rugby and were approaching the Bracknell. However unfortunately after another knock on, (conditions) Bracknell managed to survive and put in to their own scrum close to their line. By this stage, Dan Hostetler had unfortunately gone off with injury, but it meant Zak Underwood A.K.A. bomb squad supremo had arrived, to combine with Rogan and Jacob Poulton to form a holy trio of destructive front row power. Against the head, they pulverised the Bracknell front row, leading to hammers ball, which was spun out to the backs with Marshall Macleod (How many mentions) crashing over in the corner. Joe Carolan nails the touchline conversion 15-14 (54).  

Back came Bracknell, but they were given nothing. Time was slowly starting to ebb towards the 80th minute and the Hammers found themselves in their own half. However, after some arm wrestling between the two sides, the Hammers recovered a Bracknell kick in their own half and after several phases some more excellent carries from Jacob Poulton (who prepared for the game by watching Masterchef) and Eoin Baker, brought the Hammers up to Bracknell’s ten metre line. There they won a penalty and despite Rogan showing some French flair and attempting a quick tap penalty, the referee called the multitalented prop back to the mark and Hammers duly kicked for touch, with Bracknell receiving a yellow card. Unfortunately, we could not capitalise in the lineout and Bracknell survived, booting the ball into the waiting arms of Max Dugdale, easily distinguishable from Ben, due to him sporting a bright neon-green thermal. The Hammers tried manfully to edge closer towards Bracknell territory however another knock on meant a Bracknell scrum. The clock ticked, full time loomed large.  3 minutes to go. 

But, the beast was yet to be unleashed. With the game on the line the Hammers scrum, led by the titans, Rogan, Zak and Mr. E.Y. Parthenon Poulton, dismantled the Bracknell scrum. The Bracknell crowd, sensing the impeding danger repeatedly bleated from the side-lines, with the odd bellowing local screaming ‘BRACKNELL’. Yet it was to no avail.

There was no mercy shown. From one scrum penalty to another, the titanic trio of the front row pushed Bracknell back and back to their own line. Penalty after penalty. The pleas from the crowd begging the all-conquering machine for relief, yet like Cesar crossing the Rubicon our boys sensed victory and pummelled the Bracknell scrum into oblivion.

The clock ticked red.

Another scrum penalty.

This time, the bedraggled Bracknell scrum managed to stay the red tide. Sam Seymour spun the ball to Max Dugdale, some excellent lines from the centres Eoin and Joe, and the ball was shifted to Marshall… Throats clenched, crowd watching on intensely…last play of the match…

Hard line by Marshall…

Cover defence scrambling…

Hammers hearts in mouths…Cue Tim Russell on wraparound….Excellent pass to weedy winger Miles O’Connor who simply touches down in corner (arguably in very effeminate matter) and Try. Cue ecstatic celebrations. Hammers win!

There are 3 inevitabilities in life: Death, Taxes and Will Bretnall putting his card behind the bar at the Christmas Lunch. However, before we get onto Sunday, let’s talk about Saturday the 2nd December…. 

The Hammers rolled in after a week off after a sobering loss against OA’S, facing a must-win stretch between now and the New Year. But as the old saying goes, “don’t-back-a-veteran-42-year-old-prop-up-against-wall” – you’ll get a response. 

Genuinely, first 25 mins was a bit of a blur. We were liquid, playing fast-flowing ruggers round-the-corner enabled by a ruck speed that left the Tunbridge Wells defensive line scrambling to keep up. The conductor of this symphony of running Rugby? Sam Seymour, directing the boys from the 10 shirt like a Christopher Nolan movie in what would prove a man-of-the-match performance, yet this wasn’t Interstellar – NAY, this was Hammers, and we were INTO THESE TUNBRIDGE MEN! 

It wasn’t long till the first of 7 tries was scored, Northerner Henry Boyd breaking his try drought with not one but two clinical finishes in the corner, the space created thanks to the Hammers’ forwards bullying their opposite pack in the set piece from everywhere. The third try – merely 15 minute in – came from yet another lethal Hammers maul, but this time the Steam Pigs were determined to finish their own good maul work and hooker Dan Hostetler crossed the white line by the posts. Your author did more running of the tee then he did with the ball, (and respectfully he wasn’t too happy about it), but the games the game. The opening stanza would be completed just the other side of the 20 minute mark when boys secured their first bonus point win of the season off the back of a Ben Dugdale try… but he later tapped and went on his own line, so net loss. 

To their credit – and after an absolute spray under the sticks not seen at Hurlingham Park since 2019-2023 seasons – Tunbridge came back into the game with their physicality and, frankly, quite intimidating number 8. Hammers repelled multiple phases but eventually leaked a try thanks to Up-the-Jumper rugby. Half time, 26-7. 

The second half saw the Hammers settle into a more composed style of play. Kicking smartly, making tackles, and doing the basics well kept the game in their control, but Tunbridge wasn’t about to lie down. They mixed up their game plan, began to run much more direct, and came at the boys. Some stella defensive sets kept the Hammers try line unsullied, but it was only when Timmy Russell reached into his handbag and pulled out an absolute vintage interception-and-try that Tunbridge’s momentum was halted. The boys could sense that something special was happening…

That “special” came off a Hammers penalty in our own half. A quick tap…slipped tackle…2 accurate passes…quick feet…and an offload later, we found ourselves in prime real estate just inside the Tunbridge 22. It was on…but how would it end…

…with wily veteran Rogan running a speculative cheat line to the blind side of the ruck. Quick ball, and some slick hands from Marshall saw Rogan dot down in the corner! The crowd went utterly wild! To put this in perspective, the last time our 42 year old, father-of-2, 141 cap loose head prop Andrew Rogan scored a try:

• The Fire Fest documentary came out
• Everyone played Flappy Bird. 
• Bitcoin was worth £5k.
• The Red Wedding Aired.

It was a beautiful moment for the team and well deserved. There was little else to report on from that point until full time aside from their replacement prop getting a red card for a shocking shoulder charge clear out on Josh AA’s big brother, Ben Dugdale. 

The Hammers won, up to 9th. The rest of the night was filled with Temperance, Kings Arms (Sleep), The Mitre, Kings Arms AGAIN & The Mitre AGAIN. Talk about a good old fashioned weekend!

Bracknell away next week, Lambrini beckoning. 

Into these Red Men.

The day began with a somber and reflective mood, most certainly due to this match being played on remembrance weekend which was respected by both sides and supporters with a minute’s silence prior to kick off.

What ensued afterwards was a real back-and-forth of a game, an arm wrestle – as some would refer to it – but a fantastic display of attritional rugby and grit in the first instalment of the ‘Dan Hostetler Cup’ (Named after the hooker who recently transferred to Hammers from Maidenhead, who also happens to have written this report…oops). 

In the first minutes of the game it was clear Maidenhead, a team higher in the table, had come with some venom to attempt to assert the dominance their league position suggested they deserved. This was, however, not on the agenda for Hammersmith & Fulham who viewed this as a must-win game after not being on the positive side of a series of results since the first game of the season. 

There early parts of the game were, as you’d expect, a cagey affair, with some handling errors and the majority of play in between the 22’s, other than the odd kick-and-chase scare for both teams. However, what was already apparent, 10 minutes in, was the Hammers dominance at the scrum… more on this later. 

Uncharacteristic Hammersmith errors led to a couple of penalties which Maidenhead looked to put into the corner and drive over. However, some inside knowledge on this meant they were not successful in this area paid dividends, with the Hammersmith jumpers Harry Scarr (6) and Tom Proctor (5) running great aerial interference. Maidenhead did put the first points on the board just before the 20th minute with a strike from their fullback. 0-3 to the visitors. 

Moving on and Hammersmith regather their composure post kick to pressure Maidenheads defence, forcing the visitors to commit a series of penalties which leads to the first try of the game.  A perfectly thrown ball to the tail of the lineout allowed for the driving line-out maul – a reliable try source this season- to set and go, allowing tackle machine Marcus McNeil to drop over the line safely. Extras are added, 7-3. Game on… 

…only for Hammersmith get caught offside a couple of minutes after kick off, the Maidenhead fullback puts it through the posts, 7-6. 

What ensued for the remainder of the first half were errors in defence leading to penalties but neither team able to take the initiative and trouble the scoreboard further. Hammersmith threatened to add 3 to the tally with the best opportunity thanks to a scrum penalty, (credit to the Ferraris of the team for this one (Front 5)) but unfortunately the kick sailed just wide. Maidenhead came closest to a try but the valiant Hammers defence stopped any such thing, holding it up on the line. HT 7-6 

We came back from the HT break, both teams hydrated, rested and ready for action. Excellent, smart rugby from the home-team back line allows for Hammers pressure to be consistently applied to the visitors, keeping them down in their own half.  

This is where the real fun began. From early in the second half, the Hammers scrum displayed a feat of pure dominance, the Maidenhead loosehead quite literally bending over backwards to meet Ed Wynne’s need for forward direction of travel at scrum time. It really was a thing of beauty and set the tone for the second half. 

This penalty led to a lineout, for which the maul was subdued on this occasion, with the Hammers hooker breaking off to not go backwards but found himself in space about 20 metres out from the line. It is a fair assumption, he did not make it but ball was recycled and the ensuing phases left Hammersmith with a fantastic attacking position which was unfortunately not capitalised on and led to an away penalty. So close…

Once possession was regained, the backline continued their fine job of keeping Maidenhead under pressure and playing in their half. The ball was turned over at lineout which led to Hammer’s own crossing the line…but a definite travesty resulted as it was called held up  Nevertheless, pressure continued and Hammers added points from the tee, 10-6. 

After clearing their lines from kick off Hammers fullback Max Dugdale unfortunately receives a yellow card for a high tackle, thankfully both players were okay. This however leaves Hammers under pressure for the next 10 minutes – time to dig deep, time for the beauty’s (front row) to turn into beasts. 

Maidenhead looked to make use of the extra man on the pitch, especially out wide with a couple of rapid wingers, consistently looking to quick tap penalties but could not keep the phases together… leading to scrums, which Hammers were more than happy with. Even a untimely injury to talisman Marcus McNeil who, after finding himself on the wrong side of a collision and had to be removed from the field of play, couldn’t hold back the boys. We wish him well in his recovery. 

Finally, Hammersmith’s scrum dominance led to the sin-binning of Maidenheads tighthead prop, who had a tough day at the office but was a bit unlucky to earn the referee’s gaze (I wouldn’t want to come up against 139 year old 42 cap Andrew Rogan either).  Dugdale now back on the pitch, goes on to add the 3 points and make it 13-6. 

Maidenhead, to their credit, kept fight, and – energised by being a man down – finally were able to string together the phases they are known for and shift the ball wide to their pace men, eventually scoring and making it 13-11, hitting the post with the conversion. With 7- minutes down on the clock, the question now was would that prove costly? 

The final 10 minutes were frantic, both teams wanting to secure the result with a try, which actually led to some of the most entertaining rugby of the afternoon (other than the scrums, which are always entertaining). Hammersmith however took the opportunity to make it 16-11 deep into the second half following yet another scrum penalty to give themselves some breathing room. 

Some close calls almost led to Maidenhead stealing the win but consistent pressure from Hammersmith’s brilliant backline in defence and Hammersmith’s dominance at scrum time saw them fought off. The whistle goes and Hammer’s get the W, with the full time score 16-11 and Rogan securing man-of-the-match on behalf of the front row.

Bring on next week!