Sat 1 Oct 2022
After a delayed start due to the late arrival of the Amplefordians coach, Old Freemen’s made a slow start and allowed the opposition to dictate exchanges, who were playing downhill and with the wind.
The Amplefordians no10 used the wind to advantage by kicking into the corners. He missed an early penalty attempt, hitting the right hand upright but after fifteen minutes, with some lackluster tackling, the Amplefordians inside centre scored near the posts to take an early lead, which was converted. With ten minutes left before half time, the fly half followed up with a penalty after an offside offence.
After some lenient refereeing and a third deliberate knock-on from the Amplefordians centre, the referee eventually awarded a yellow card. Freemen’s started to exert pressure for the first time but were unable to construct a score.
The home side became architects of their own downfall once again allowing Amplefordians to score this time through their right wing. 15-0 at the break.
With a stern team talk at the break from head coach, Jon Moore, Freemen’s looked a different side. They started to dominate exchanges and Luke Butcher scythed through the Amplefordians ranks, scoring a fine individual try under the posts. A Butcher conversion made the score 7-15.
Halfway through the second half, Tom Abraham, having moved to full back, cut through the opposition and found Ali Tabaqchali on the right wing. Unfortunately, with the line beckoning, he dropped the scoring pass. Soon after, with a move in the backs, Abraham continued his fine form to score near the posts. Butcher converted to reduce the arrears to a point.
With pressure building and Freemen’s camped in the opposition half, another yellow card was awarded, this time for a late tackle on Abrahams. A number of opportunities came to no avail, leaving the home side to rue a missed opportunity to take the four points which would have taken them to joint top of Counties 2 Surrey.
Freemen’s have a break next week and play Old Rutlishians, at home, on 15th October.
Team: Tabaqchali, Earl, Crouch (c), Attree, Catlow, Bell D, Hunter (c), Etherington, Davies, Abraham, Bell J, Butcher, Haddock, Stanley J, Duke. subs: Cribb, Parisi, Bradford
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