Manor 4s Secure League & Cup Double!

Spirits were high as we had easily beaten Billericay by 50 points a few weeks ago, how could we lose? It was on arrival at Westcliff that we realised that this was not the Billericay 3rd team that we were going to be playing! This was a massively ringered team full of players who had never before stooped as low as a 3rd team!

Having won the toss we decided to start the game going down the slope with the wind, a decision that was easily justified as after kick off we spent the 1st 25 minutes of the game camped in our oppositions 22. Unfortunately we were unable to make the most of this pressure and despite some lively crash ball by Mark LeVallee and Ralph Norcaro, we couldn’t cross the line. The best chance of the half fell to Jeff Bradley who due to a dodgy kicking tee (yeah right!) missed what should have been a routine penalty. The only other time that Billericay got the ball out of their own half, Alistair (our young full back) kicked forward for Harry Franchesci to chase, the only way their full back could prevent Harry scoring a try was to illegally push the ball in to touch, again this went unpunished. The Referee who had already shown himself to be useless blew the whistle for half time with the scores tied at 0-0.

The second half was literally an uphill battle and we spent the 1st 15 minutes pinned inside our own half. The only highlight of this period was Andy Morton taking crash ball and breaking clear only for his complete lack of ANY pace meaning he was easily caught and hauled down!! Every time we tried to kick clear the strength of the wind would blow the ball back to us and we would have to start all over again. Just as some of our forwards were beginning to tire due to the monumental effort given in bossing every single scrum, Jeff Bradley noticed that their full back had joined the line. He chipped over the top and the ball was shepherded out of play, again we won the lineout and Jeff chipped over the top. From the resulting line out catch and drive we were awarded another penalty within kickable distance, this time only to be denied by the wind as the ball fell short! The resulting chase was immense, led by Mark Joliffe and gang of Manor Players tackled the Billericay player who had caught the ball and pushed him and most of the Billericay pack back over their try line to win a 5 metre scrum. The Manor forwards smelt blood. The ball was fed in and an almighty heave found us 3 metres from the try line, our young number 8 James Fox picked up the ball and went for the line only to be held up.

The remaining few minutes of the half were scrappy until Billericay were awarded a penalty in front of the posts about 40 yards out, their number 10 luckily failed to connect and missed. The game finished 0-0.

We were informed it was to be a golden point game 5 minutes each way.

Jeff kicked off down into the corner and Billericay were pinned inside their own half. They tried to break but were held up, Martin Mitchell expertly winning a penalty 40 yards from the posts. Jeff Bradley again attempted the kick, this time it sailed over and the crowd (all 5 of them) went wild!

The team was: Has, Seb, Sweet Pete, Morton, Kiwi John, Phillipson, Luong, Cross, Bradley, Dwyer, LeValee, Norcaro, Franchesci, Fodder & Alistair.
Subs: Mitchell, Coggins, Joliffe, Landon, Fox

The determination and team spirit showed in this game against a much bigger Billericay team epitomised the team performances that have defined our season, we thoroughly deserved our victory and I hope to carry this through to next year.
Big thanks to the senior players in the team who have advised me throughout the season. It’s you lot who have made this such a successful campaign.