Sat 26 Oct 2002
Uttoxeter RFC – 32
Essington RFC – 19
Uttoxeter's second round clash against Essington in the Powergen Junior Vase competition turned into a friendly after the referee failed to show up.
John Dack, the Oldfields side's touch judge officiated after the two teams agreed to play the match on Saturday as a friendly.
Although not seeming to have their hearts in the proceedings, Uttoxeter in the end plucked victory out of the bag, following a scrappy and unimpressive performance.
Once again they needed to call on the services of their walking wounded. Without Nic Grout in the back row, the town's scrummage at times creaked and collapsed.
Behind the scrum yet another different pairing at half back in Andy Gagie and Matt Williams meant that two of the home team's paciest runners were all too often wasted, having to either pass or kick, with little or no ball reaching wingers Hudson and Thomas by way of a pass from the centres.
On a chilly and breezy afternoon, interspersed with heavy showers, Uttoxeter started in fine style when an early drive led by Gorman took the side into the right corner.
Following a lineout, skipper Jason Cabrera went ploughing over for the game's opening try which was not converted.
The visitors went into the lead with 20 minutes on the clock when winger Chris Gibbs broke through a half half-hearted tackle to cruise in for a try at the corner flag. Full back Fran Chandler added the conversion points.
Essington seized the initiative, winning the "put in" at an attacking five metre scrummage. A quick heel, and a neat chip into the right corner saw winger Rob Matthews race through, beating the town's defensive cover to touch down the ball for the visitors' second five pointer which was not converted.
Uttoxeter replied through winger Matt Thomas dashing in at the corner for a nippy unconverted try. This should have encouraged Uttoxeter to get more ball out wide, but they still continued to drive up the middle or kick away valuable possession.
As half time approached, Essington extended their lead when on winning a penalty they plugged the ball into the right corner. Mauling back possession following the ensuing lineout, flanker Stuart Russell powered over for a try which Chandler converted to give the away side a nine point lead going into the break.
During the interval Dean Hayes, although nursing an injured hand, replaced Andy Moult who had hurt his ankle. So the town had their number one hooker back and his brother Donald was able to revert to propping.
Shortly into the second period Pete Whitworth and Will Gagie, both making their season's debut, also took the field as replacements.
Excellent driving play by Uttoxeter set up an attacking platform in the shadow of the Essington posts. The ball came back from a ruck to Matt Williams who went streaking in under the sticks to touch down for a typical try by the fly half which his half back partner Andy Gagie converted.
With 15 minutes left to play injured captain Tony Ball came on as a substitute for the second week running. He was just in time to see Gagie stab over a penalty which put his team one point in the lead.
Will Gagie added more points with a try in the right corner. The Uttoxeter pack set up another driving maul and Dean Hayes went charging for the line after catching his own pass on the rebound. But the determined hooker was stopped on the line.
However, Essington had been offside initially and the referee was playing advantage, so Uttoxeter chipped the ball into the left corner to take the lineout. Mike Ball made a clean catch of Hayes' throw and the forwards drove to the line. But when Essington came up with the ball the referee said they had gained it illegally and awarded Uttoxeter a penalty try which Ball converted for the final points of the game.
The teams will now have to do it all again for real at a date to be arranged in the near future with an official referee.
Meanwhile, Uttoxeter travel to Old Salteans this Saturday, still looking for their first win in the Midlands 4 West (North) division.
The second XV were once again forced to cancel their match at Willenhall due to a lack of players. .
Please enter your page detail here. This can be HTML or text. To edit click the first menu icon on the small HTML menu that appears when you click on this text. Please use the elements on the right if you wish to construct a richer page content with headers, images and layout grids.
