V’ 12: Rugby triumph again!

Varsity day is traditionally the most important day in the UWRFC’s calendar and this year was no exception. For the first time both games were held at the club’s new home, Earlsdon RFC, and it was anticipated that Warwick would continue their unbeaten record in both fixtures.

The first game of the day was the second team’s fixture against their polytechnic counterparts, a match given extra significance as it was also a BUCS fixture. Due to heavy rain throughout the earlier part of the day, the pitch resembled a mud patch by kick off and spectators were soon struggling to differentiate between the two teams of mud-splattered players. Despite the torrential conditions, Warwick were the clearly superior team and after a period of sustained pressure, winger Chris Handley finished expertly in the corner to give his side the lead.

Soon after, Scott Peters continued his excellent Varsity try-scoring record by doubling the second team’s lead. 12-0 up, Warwick continued to control the game but were undone by an unfortunate interception try – the moment the ball went through Warwick’s posts was probably the only occasion the ball touched the ground in the Warwick half of the pitch throughout the first half. Following the shock Coventry try, Warwick maintained their territorial dominance and made it count moments before half-time, when fly-half Charlie Johnson continued his impressive rise through the club ranks by dancing around two opposition defenders to score, giving Warwick a 17-7 half time lead.

Much like the first half, Warwick dominated the second half and scored early through the ever-impressive flanker Alec Rickard. In an game of attrition, the hard work of the Warwick forwards was exemplified by prop Ben Garrod’s emergence from the bottom of a ruck in a consistent shade of brown. The forwards’ effort soon overwhelmed their less well-tuned opponents and as the half progressed, the floodgates opened. Warwick scored a number of tries, through Rickard again, captain Jamie Fenton, full-back Luke Macklin and replacement winger Luke Blease. These allowed the the second XV to run out 47-7 victors, claim the Varsity spoils and continue their promotion push.

Later in the day, the showpiece event took place under floodlights. As usual, Coventry seemed strengthened by a couple of unfamiliar faces, but unfortunately for them, the strength was not apparent in the scrum.

It soon emerged that Warwick had complete dominance in this crucial area and were able to push their opponents back at will. This power was epitomized in the period of play where Warwick took the lead. Having been awarded a scrum on the halfway line, Warwick walked the scrum to the ten metre line, where they were awarded a penalty, which they chose to scrum. The second scrum pushed to the twenty-two metre line where another penalty was awarded, and again, to the delight of their supporters, Warwick chose to scrum.

This time near their posts, Coventry were penalised and for the third time Warwick took the scrum and accelerated towards the try line, when Coventry cynically pulled the scrum down once again. The referee had had enough and awarded Warwick a penalty try, which was converted by fly-half Dominic Rey. Unfortunately, the Mauritian international soon went off with a shoulder injury. Shorn of their star, Warwick still controlled possession, despite being against the wind in the opening period.

They defended well and kept the ball, even though they were never territorially dominant. However, Warwick’s life was made harder in the closing stages of the half, when winger Josh Downie was sin-binned for tackling without his arms. A man down, Warwick held on and were 7-0 up at the break.

Warwick entered the second half expecting to be able to use the wind to their advantage. Yet this was not to be the case and Coventry soon slotted a penalty to reduce the deficit. As is the norm with Varsity, the game became a feisty affair with flanker Johnny Pelter soon being set upon at the bottom of a ruck by two Coventry brutes.

To the joy of the Warwick crowd, this was seemingly spotted by the touch judge but this joy was soon turned into anger as Pelter was sin-binned on said touch judge’s recommendation, while the Coventry antagonists benefitted with the award of a penalty. Even down to seven men, Warwick continued to dominate in the scrum, before Richard Newman was contentiously penalized for a punch, thus joining his back-row colleague Pelter in the sin-bin.

Down to thirteen men, Warwick were pinned back on their try line due to Coventry’s numerical advantage. Coventry seemed to believe that with two extra forwards, they were bound to be able to pummel their way over the Warwick line but ignored the fact that Josh Downie was continually confronted by a four-on-one on his side of the pitch – obviously spatial awareness and common sense aren’t requirements for entry to our rival institution.

Warwick’s forwards made light of their depleted numbers with some heroic defence and were even able to hold the scrum despite being two men down.

After seven minutes of sustained defence on their own line, Warwick were able to clear and were soon rejoined by their absent stars. As the game neared its conclusion, Warwick surged into the Coventry half and were awarded a penalty which was slotted, by the otherwise unimpressive Mark Day, to seal a 10-3 victory and maintain Warwick’s proud record in this annual battle.