Mens Rugby Team Canes Cardiff

After an extremely long off-season, the University of Southampton Men’s Rugby 1st XV kicked off the 2013/14 season with a special result at Wide Lane. They dispatched the visitors, Cardiff Met 3rd XV, with aplomb. 52-5 was the final score; it signified the progress this team has made ever since their promotion into Western 1A last year. A fluid performance set the benchmark for not just Wessex, but for their rivals to match up to. With promotion firmly on the agenda, the boys couldn’t have kicked off the season in a better fashion.

A predatory start from Wessex set the tone for the 80 minutes. A dubious call from the line judge prevented fly half Adam Davies from a try within the first five minutes, but the Welsh side remained on the back foot. With the pack dominating the set piece both in the air and in the scrum, the speedy back line were able to flourish in perfect playing conditions. The first try came with patient and meticulous build up play, a style evocative of a team who were half way through the season, not the first match!

Winger Max Hobbs was the man to start the 52 point rout, latching on to a clever grubber from Davies on the left flank. The moment of the match however came soon after, with the returning Jean-Claude Thompson nonchalantly gliding through the heart of the Cardiff defence from full back to score a wonderful solo effort, beating 6-7 players on his way. It was perhaps this moment in which the morale of the opposition was dented to such an extent that the result was more or less decided; such was the manner of the try. Before indulging in the rest of the tries which were all scored by the backs, it is important to highlight the monstrous effort from the forwards to secure the ball in which the back-line could thrive upon. This effort was spearheaded by second row and ‘Man of the Match’ Josh Barron, who over the course of the game stole 5 opposition line outs and secured each and every one directed at him. The pack did an outstanding job all day – the backs capitalized in the only way they could off such solid foundations.

As the first half wore on, the scoreboard didn’t cease from ticking over and Wessex took a commanding lead in to the half time break. This lead included a defence that hadn’t conceded a point, making the team talk during the interval one with a message to simply carry on. This message was conveyed well to the team as they more than doubled their first half score with a host of tries from Hobbs, Thompson who completed his hat-trick, and a special try from winger Tom Reeves. Captain Freddie Gleadowe, Adam Davies and Harry Burn also got on the scoresheet after the subs came on to make a profound impact. A late Cardiff try was merely a blemish on what had been a fantastic team performance. Special mention must go to freshers Kane Alboni, Digby Parsons, Will Todd and Sam Lindsay for their first competitive appearances for the club, and for Sam Cornford who got ‘Hit of the Day’ with a great try-saving tackle in the first half.

The squad hope to build on this commanding start to the league against their next opponents in Bristol, UWE 1st XV. A perfect start was everything the boys could have hoped for. Keep tuned for more twists and turns throughout the season!

 Match report courtesy of Chris Hanson.

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