After a narrow lost to Chichester in the previous game, Hammersmith and Fulham 1XV were looking to come back strong in their local derby against Battersea Ironsides. It was a gloomy afternoon with the rain teasing us throughout the warm-up, looking like the skies would open at any moment. At least the pitch wasn’t waterlogged which made a change from the previous few weeks and there was good support on the touchline as the 2s game was cancelled.

Hammersmith and Fulham kicked off with the wind behind them and had a strong line-out drive nearing the opposition 22 but couldn’t quite hold on to the ball. A few scrums later, the Hammers started putting some phases together with good ball retention, culminating in high-flyer Tim Russell finishing off a well worked move in the corner. First blood to the Hammers! From the kick off, Hammersmith and Fulham were unable to exit and several phases of Battersea pressure enforced some strong defence to be applied. Eventually Adam Scaffardi was able to turn the ball over and we cleared our lines. From the next scrum, scrum half Ross Anderson struck a perfectly weighted kick into the opposition 5 metre line for a 50-22, giving us strong field position. A composed lineout and drive provided the platform for a well-executed backs move for Pete Bicknell to go break through the line and score.

The Hammers put their foot to the throttle and were able to score next. After a scrum on the half way line, captain Joe Carolan put a perfectly weighted kick through to allow Pete Bicknell to score his second try of the day; one try away from the bonus point after 20 minutes. Unfortunately, Battersea were next to score through a Hammersmith handling error just outside their 22 and they were able to go 60 metres under the post. Following the restart, after a sustained period of pressure, the boys were able to score a well worked lineout drive through second row Tom Proctor to secure the bonus point! For the remaining 10 minutes of the first half, Battersea were camped in our 22, with constant ‘pick and go’s’ from the ruck and after several penalties and strong defensive effort from Hammersmith and Fulham, they eventually were able to score.

Battersea commenced the second half and were able to sustain pressure in our 22 despite a few handling errors, but we weren’t able to exit fully. The first 20 minutes of the second half were mostly played in the Hammersmith half with possession switching hands regularly and no points scored. Then after quick ball for Hammersmith and Fulham, Joe Carolan put in a ‘small dink’ which winger Tim Russell was not only able to collect but also offload back to Joe and bring us 10 metres out from the Battersea try line. The lineout was lost, nevertheless Hammersmith and Fulham were still on their 22 and after another great backs move, Tim Russell pierced the gap and was able to step the full back and score in the corner. Battersea were able to stay in touch by responding with another try after putting together a few good phases through the middle. Hammersmith and Fulham continued to apply pressure and after a break from Pete Bicknell followed by quick hands, James Lo on his 150th Hammersmith and Fulham 1XV appearance was able to score a well-deserved try in the corner. Massive congrats to J Lo! The end to end match continued with Battersea scoring fairly soon after, this time in the corner.

In the final 5 minutes, Hammersmith and Fulham really turned up the heat. Another line break from Man of the Match Angus, who had carried well all game, set up Sean McMahon to score after a cheeky inside ball from a backs move. From the kick-off, Hammersmith decided to add some flair and play out of the 22. Marshall Macleod made a great break to give Tim Russell another hatrick, a try from 70 metres out and a great way to finish the game. You may have noticed I have not mentioned conversations throughout as there were not many that were made on the day due to the ‘windy conditions’…

The 1XV now look forward to a top of the table clash away at London Welsh on Saturday 12th March.

Tries;

Tim Russell X3

Pete Bicknell X2

Sean McMahon X1

James Lo X1

Tom Proctor X1

Conversions;

Joe Carolan X3

Hammersmith & Fulham 1XV made the long and arduous bus trip away to Chichester, with storm Eunice still in full force, the journey down was marred by torrential rain and what seemed to be every fallen tree in South-East England in our path. However, with some high-speed back road driving to rival that of Colin McRae, the boys made it in good time with nerves near shot and pants half soiled.

After a swift change of underwear, the 1XV headed out to test the pitch and conditions. After extending his finger and testing the wind speed, Pete Bicknell headed back inside to reinforce his toupee with the strongest glue on the market, reinforcement successful. With some steadfast pitchforking by the home groundsman, the pitch was deemed playable, and the match was on.

A fitting minutes applause in memory of Evesham RFC’s Jack Jeffery preceded the game, with the home crowd providing ample noise from the balcony of the Oaklands Park clubhouse. Hammersmith and Fulham had the kick-off, playing with the wind into the clubhouse end. In true wet weather fashion, the game started with a myriad of back-and-forth mistakes with both teams vying for possession and field position. However, with a string of driving kicks from fly half Joe Carolan, Hammers had Chichester pinned in there own 22m. First blood went to the Hammersmith 1XV, with the forward pack carrying strongly through the gain line, Hammers were awarded with a penalty advantage for offside. Under advantage, a speculative long pass to space on the left side of the field was made by scrum half Matt Newman, gladfully received by the hands of fullback Jack Hooper. With quick feet, Hooper broke the first tackle creating a two on one opportunity on the wing with Ricky ‘Dane Coles’ Drewitt. Drewitt flew down the wing like a migrating swallow and touched down for a 5 pointer just metres infield from the touchline. Carolan converted with a well measured kick in testing conditions to make it 0-7.

Chichester replied soon after with a line break from the number 10 connecting well with his teammates behind the Hammersmith line, a few short picks from there saw Chichester score on the left side of the field, conversion attempt missed. 5-7, the game was on a knife edge once again. With the standard back and forth of territory resumed, Hammersmith were penalised on the 22m, Chichester chose to kick for posts which would prove to be a pivotal decision come the end of the game. Penalty slotted, 8-7. Despite being behind, the set piece was operating well with the Hammers forward pack dominating this facet of play. With hooker Angus Brown regularly getting his balls cleaned from the side-line by replacement Zander Stephen, the line-out was firing on all cylinders, providing the back line with a good platform to try and navigate the rapidly declining turf. Chichester were next to cross the white wash from a fast and well organised kick return managing to break through the Hammersmith press, the Hammers were now on the backfoot looking to level the game, 15-7. Fortunately, light fingered captain Carolan managed to best his opposite number by charging down a kick from hand, gathering the ball mid-air and running in under the posts untouched. A much simpler conversation attempt now faced Carolan, who casually stepped up and slotted the ball between the uprights, 15-14. These points were the last scored in a closely fought first half.

With the rainy conditions gradually lightening, Chichester kicked off the 2^nd half, with the home team now playing into clubhouse, much to the delight of the loud home crowd. Now against the wind, Hammersmith spent the first few minutes of the second half pinned in the 22m. Chichester’s strong kick return saw them behind the Hammers line, with quick ball available quickly for the halfbacks. A well delayed pass from the Chichester 10 saw his centre partner punch through a gap, chip kick over the last defender, and float the ball into the in-goal area. A scrappy 50/50 contest for the ball over the line then ensued that Legolas himself would have struggled to see. Regrettably, the referee had his elf eyes on that day, and the try was awarded as a Chichester touch down. A simple conversation successfully followed, 22-14. A good patch of Hammersmith pressure saw the boys with a scrum on the Chichester 10m.

Continuing their dominant display, front row partners Drewitt, Brown, and Rogan pulled together to send the Chichester pack backwards towards their own line. Control at the base from 8 Alex Hart saw the Hammers scrum romp forward to what seemed an inevitable penalty try. The scrum then collapses with the bogy pitch giving away under foot. No matter, Hammers retain the ball and recycle, the forwards display good control with short, close to the line play. 1XV debutant Tom Proctor then powered over the line with a little help from his friends for a well earned try on debut, Carolan’s flawless performance off the tee continued, 22-21. Hammersmith then emptied the bench for a dose of fresh legs and clean shirts with Bray, Stephen, and Dugdale taking the field. With the wind firmly behind their backs, Chichester were able to effectively clear their line, starving Hammersmith of any meaningful territory. Resolute defence by both teams saw the majority of the remaining minutes played in the middle of the field, with the now swamp like turf making the pill increasingly difficult to handle. With fatigue now setting in, penalties were traded backwards and forwards between the teams, with each team gladly kicking long to touch. Osgood then dramatically drops to the floor as if a snipper lay in the distance, the dreaded double calf cramp had set in. Flailing on the floor like a toddler at the dentist, the physio runs on to provide Osgood with some much-needed relief. With the result in their favour, Chichester tighten up the game to retain the ball and run down the clock. Hammersmith blitz the remaining rucks in an attempt to win the ball back in the dying seconds for a final opportunity to win the game. The Hammers boys final effort was deemed overexuberant by the referee, who raised his arm to mark a penalty to Chichester. The ball was tapped and sent long over the touchline, the final whistle shrilled, ending the game 22-21 to the home side.

The 1XV look to redeem themselves in their next fixture at Hurlingham against Battersea Ironsides in two weeks times.

Tries;
Ricky Drewitt x 1
Joe Carolan x 1
Tom Proctor x 1

Conversations;
Joe Carolan x 3

Hammers Match Report

After a disappointing loss to H.A.C. 2’s the previous week at the fortress, Hammers 2’s were keen to right some wrongs when playing away at London Welsh. As a result of some bad cases of Couchevelitus and a list of injuries that had left Nugget quaking in his walking boots, the team heading into game day had plenty of fresh faces; due to Storm Eunice some of these faces were even blown out of retirement.

Before the match began, the team’s lined up for a minute’s applause as a celebration of the life of Jack Jeffery, who tragically passed away the week before playing for Evesham RFC. Jack’s twin brother Charles was playing in the 11 jersey to honour his brother that match.

The conditions on Saturday were about as bad as they could’ve possibly been, and the Hammers made the obvious decision to start with the wind behind us meaning the first half was ours to lose. The boys started the game with serious ferocity at the breakdown with turnovers coming thick and fast, resulting in Ross utilising his big boot (or 40mph wind behind him) to pin London Welsh in their 22 for most of the half.

Despite this dominance we failed to convert our chances as the same wind that was allowing for 60 metre kicks was also causing enough knock-ons to lead to your author still wearing a neck-brace while writing this. Suddenly, out of no where Adam Scaffardi did his best Beauden Barrett impression with an interception that left his team mates so surprised they didn’t support him. However, this did not matter as Adam ensured that in his words, he “intercepted from our own 10 metre line, gassed a London Welsh player and stepped the full back” to score our first try. Max Dugdale then managed in the gale-force winds to convert the try too.

By the time the half-time whistle went, we had conceded a well-worked try from London Welsh. The Hammers were already starting to suffer from some injuries to the team and the forwards were recovering from the 20 scrums in the first half, and a pep-talk from Nugget was needed.

With the side going into the second half with a 2-point lead and with the wind against us a serious shift was needed from everyone. However, lapses in decision-making along with poor execution led to us conceding two tries from London Welsh who took advantage of missed tackles. With one of these tries poetically being from Charles Jeffrey, who scored along with kicking two conversions in the second half.

With our scrum struggling against a large London Welsh pack and poor ground conditions, it was a relief when Rob came on to ensure that at least one half of our set-piece remained solid in the second half. Going into the last 15 minutes with the scores at 19 – 7, our captain, Michael Cook provided a contender for assist of the season. By providing a kick over the Welsh defence that Marcus Smith would be proud of, he managed to get the ball in the hands of George Nellany who managed to blister past scoring a try.

With the champagne moment providing the impetus for a final push to score another try the team put their bodies on the line and ended up with injuries to James Darrell, who came out of retirement, ending up dislocating his thumb and Cooky injuring his knee before he was able to insure it after his wonder-kick. Unfortunately, with a few decisions going the other way and a few players nearly helping themselves to some cheddar, our efforts were in vain.

The boys can be proud of managing to achieve a crucial losing bonus point thanks to two moments of magic and grit, however the feeling from camp is that we need to hit another level for the final two games of the league to give Hammers 2’s hope of the winning the title.

London Welsh 2^nd XV 19 – 12 Hammersmith & Fulham 2^nd XV

MOTM: Ben Dugdale DOTD: James Darrell

A slightly disappointed Hammers 3s took the short trip down the road to Chiswick, instead of heading into town to play at the nicest pitch in London, and funnelled that disappointment into a dominant display of running rugby. Some of the boys had clearly struggled to get out of bed for the pre 6 Nations 12pm KO but once they saw the all-weather pitch being baked in sun they perked up knowing this was a great chance to get back on the win train.

The game started perfectly with debutant Harry Bower clinching the opening kick-off over the heads of the opposition allowing MOTM Will Brentnall to crash through a few shellshocked HAC defenders, Sandy Duncan to pull the defence from one side of the pitch to another before Will finished the move off tumbling over the try line whilst apparently being hit by a sniper at the paintball ground next door.

Hammers built on this momentum and continued to push the opposition hard with winger George Nellany and number 8 Rory Gibson finishing excellent phase play with tries of their own. With the forwards getting bored of (ie tired from) all the open play towards the end of the first half, Captain Matthew Jones called for a kick to the corner and a maul of the subsequent lineout before rumbling over himself to give Hammers a 22-0 lead at half time.

With the wind behind us and the sun in the oppositions eyes the boys were very confident going into the second half however HAC weren’t giving up without a fight and seized on a mistake and some sloppy defending to score their opening try. This gave the boys the kick they needed and George Nellany scorched his way through their defence from his own half to score his second try of the day. HAC dug deep and kept playing putting the Hammers’ defence to the test but it held true with fullback Ed James and scrum half Daniel Gispert making great cover tackles on numerous occasions.

The game became very loose in the final quarter with the pace of the play catching up with those less used to the 4G surface but barring a scare from DotD George Nellany, when he offloaded the ball before going into touch to HAC’s best player, Hammers controlled the game and field position with Ed James scoring to take the final score to 36-7. A good team performance from the boys with three great debuts from Harry Bower, Chris Hudson and Tom Hodges putting us all in a great mood for an afternoon of 6 Nations rugby and the run in for the rest of the season.

The win puts Hammers 3s back into 2^nd place in the table before our final three games which start with hosting Ealing 1871 2^nd XV this weekend before must win games against Hampstead and Old Streetonians to ensure a place in the end of season finals.

Overall a good game played in great spirit and with respect by both teams which is even more important after the tragic news of Jack Jeffery from Evesham, a club who I have played against a number of times and where I have a few friends, from the weekend. The whole of Hammersmith and Fulham RFC extend their condolences to Jack’s family and Evesham RFC at this difficult time and share your grief with the rest of the rugby community.

Final Score 36-7

Tries – George Nellany (x2), Ed James, Matthew Jones, Rory Gibson, Will Brentnall

Conversions – Ed James (3/6)

Man of the Match – Will Brentnall

DotD – George Nellany for keeping the ball in play by passing it to their best player

With the dust having settled from the weekend before, which left many through the camp deflated, a palpable sense of redemption was in the air; the latest battle a mere few hours away. A wise man once said, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall” and it was time for Hammersmith and Fulham to rise.

The sun began to set behind the horizon on a cold January afternoon, and the chosen men of Hammersmith and Fulham RFC landed their vessels on the shores of a common foe, London Irish Wild Geese. Walking out to the battle ground, last week’s Somme-like conditions a mere figment in the memories, with this week’s track the envy of the finest dance floors up and down the country, as if the groundsman of Lords and the most talented carpet fitters in the land had woven a surface so perfect for rugby, even Saint Fiacre of Breuil could merely dream of. The light dwindling and the pre match festivities over, in the depths of their barracks, the men of Hammersmith tightened the boots and adorned their armour, all be it the wrong kit due to an error of Poultonic proportions.

A crowd gathered, and silence rang around only pierced by the referee’s whistle to commence conflict. The ball was in play and a game was afoot. The first blow struck by the Irish hoard, as they regathered possession from the kick-off, and proceeded the march forth towards the hammers line. Repelled by stoic defence, the geese came time and time again, before the drawbridge did fall and the barricades of hammersmith were breached. First blood drawn. 7-0. From the off Hammersmith’s resident back rowers of Harry Scarr, Sean McMahon and Steve John , clearly on loan from the local logging company, had come to fell some Irish birch, and down they did fall. Back and forward with no gain from either side, a stalemate on the western front. Until an unknown beast used all his speed and ferocity to leave a trail of geese in its wake. A beast of golden flair, but what was this creature that could spring with the quickness of lightening. A buck escaped from Richmond Park? or a stallion bolting towards the finish line? Maybe the mane was a lion? But no, a badger, a honey badger! 7-7 the Hammers were back, and Rich Vaughan had claimed another for his meat pie collection.

Like two matched boxers the geese and the hammers played host to trading blows momentarily. Using our front row of Ed Wynne, Ricky Drewitt, and Jacob Poulton as battering rams, and a centre partnership as if David and Goliath had joined forces; the hammers continued to press. A strike from the boot of our captain saw the Irish line forced backwards. However, it was about to get worse for this gaggle of geese, soon to be rendered a mere raft of ducks. Again, a dart from the golden maned honey badger saw yet more geese drop out of the sky, and this hungry badger score another meat pie. 7-15. This was not to be the last quack from the Irish wild geese, their industrious escapades deep into the hammersmith territory fruited reward in a try that could only be described as “the third try of the game”. 14-15.

Down the left-hand flank, Hammersmith released the hounds of hell, and overcome by the spirits of the American frontier, the fastest hands in west, the ball was passed back and forth, turning the Irish defenders left and right. From one to another, Fijian offloading the dish of the day, and served up a plenty to see hammers dive over in the corner. But wait, do my eyes deceive me? Do these beasts come in pairs? Had Hammersmith and Fulham played Noah and brought them in two-by-two? Deep in Irish territory the hammers had just unleashed their ace in the pack, their tastiest snac, their two-pronged honey badger attack, Tim Russel the beneficiary. 14-20.

The Hammersmith line as strong as ever took the fight to the Irish defence once more, with attacks coming from all angles, only time would be the barrier for the hammers. Sustained bombardment behind enemy line saw the ref blow loud awarding Hammersmith a penalty, up steps the assassin from full back, Pete Morris. Irish wild geese lay strewn around, wings clipped, and beaks shattered, the insult to be added by a quick tap, and a pass to his fortunate comrade, captain Joe Carolan, to waltz under the sticks and put to bed a half the geese were praying to end. 14-27

The half came and the bombardment from either team halted, as breaths were drawn, and the wounded tended to. Cries out for “more” rang throughout the Hammer’s ranks. Come the second half, and a renewed Irish team had come to play, the accelerator pedals untouched by the Hammersmith contingent. Darting breaks, slick hands, and attritional carries became the order of the day. No team could break the stale mate. A line out firing on all cylinders kept the geese at bay, with a defensive line that refused to be broken. Only time would stand in the way of Hammersmith now, and the clock was about to strike. A metronomic advance into the Irish 22 the prequel for what was to come. The move started by the reliable dartsman of Ricky Drewitt, bamboozling the Irish forwards to send Dr.John crashing in behind. With honey badgers in tow, the backs were called upon. Bodies ran left and right, the geese dazzled, opened a gap as if Moses could part this green sea too. Through went a hungry honey badger sniffing for a meat pie, to scavenge his second, Tim Russel no less. A highlight that will live long in the memory. 14-34.

The sound of pints being poured in the bar gave spirit to the tired bodies on the field, but the final whistle was blown putting an end to the game. Hammersmith and Fulham the victors, the country road with take us home today, and eyes now look to the next crusade; To Farnham we ride.