Last Updated: Thursday 07 February 2008

Hammersmith & Fulham 25 Belsize park 19

With a strong team selected for the league game versus Belsize Park, the hammers did something that not many fans of the club have seen before, that’s right they started strongly. Right from the off the hammers put pressure on B.P and forced a turnover deep in there half. With some strong straight running and excellent clearing out of the rucks pressure was mounting for an early try, however it was not to be the case, and a penalty was awarded from almost in front of the post’s and with memories of the our last encounter with Park where an early penalty was all the difference in a colossal 5-8 battle, there was no hesitation in slotting the 3 points on offer.

From the ensuing restart, again the hammers kept up the strong pressure, working their way into the opponents 22 again, running hard, clearing breaks and ensuring quick ball, a penalty was not going to keep them out this time as Dillon (I’m still playing) Rudd took the ball from 20 metres out and showed great pace to skin the B.P backs with not a thought given to poor Ian (Habana) Smith outside him as he raced to the try line. Conversion made and in less than 10 minutes the score was 10-0 to the hammers.

With full credit to Belsize they were made of sterner stuff than this, and for long periods played the game in the hammers half, making the hammers defend and defend until they could defend no more when from the scrum there Number 8 picked from the base of the scrum and broke clean through to score. A try that hit the hammers where it hurt, but the response was ideal, we’re not giving this up, we’re here to fight for this game, and the tempo was raised and before the half was out some lovely running, and big defence from both sides was the order of the day, before a chip a head and a foot race went the hammers way and the all important try before the half time whistle was just the tonic that we needed.

With the try unconverted we went into the break with a deserved 15-7 lead.

The second half saw much of the same, big hits, and fiercely contested ruck ball. From all accounts quality rugby to behold, and then the break through came. From set piece the hammers attacking Belsize’s line, Charlie (trust me I know what I’m doing)Bevan set the back line move that would open the defence up, with a dummy to his inside runner, and then a dummy pop to his centre, he not only confused the defensive lines, but also the attacking lines as the back line move panned out differently what was expected as he just kept going.. and going.. and then when the gap opened up there was no hesitation at all to snap it up and run in a great try. Unconverted the score was 20-7 surely enough had been down now. That said, the team was hungry for more, and after again working their way deep into Park’s 22 and with a penalty being awarded, a quick tap and go, then a great pass out wide to Mr Mowbray, no one was going to bring the big fella down from only 5 metre’s out, 25-7 game set and match.

Not quite, as I said earlier, Belsize were made of sterner stuff, and hit back almost instantly, but with a cushin of 25-12 things weren’t looking too bad, but when they hit back again and then converted to make it 25-19 with 5 to play, the efforts of last weeks comeback fresh in the hammers minds, we all new we had to front up and make our tackles count. Fortunately for us we did, and the game ended 25-19 to break Captain O’Malley’s 100% record. Although, was it ever in doubt when he had his two brothers playing with him… That said, with the real captain Adam (2 month honeymoon) Stone back, I’m sure everyone will be pleased to have him back.

In all a great game played the way rugby should be, with plenty of running, big hits and good spirits, well done to the boys.

Team

Ian Smith, James Wiseman, Dan Collins, Dillon Rudd, Al Philips, Radley Foxon, Sean O’Malley, Dave Wickman, Kevin O’Malley. Charlie Bevan, Felix Whitechaple, Chris Lilley, Tom Parkinson, Stan Lam, Robin Corbie,

Res

Al Hamilton, Lewis Meridith, John Mowbray, Brendon O’Malley

Email  info@FulhamRugby.co.uk  for further information