And a rugby to that! Warwick win thrilling BUCS season opener

Warwick 20  17 Nottingham 

Lanre Ige reports on the Warwick Rugby Union 1st XV’s last gasp win over Nottingham in the first Warwick home fixture of the season. 

Location: Cryfield Pitches

Star Man: George Teeboon (pictured) – His cool kicking under pressure kept Warwick in the game, and helped set up a late rally.

Image: Warwick Sport

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[dropcap]H[/dropcap]eading into the first BUCS match of the season, there were lofty expectations placed on the Warwick rugby union first team to perform. Many see Warwick as the favourites for the Midlands 1A division and up against newly promoted opponents, the consensus surrounding their opener was that Warwick would stroll to a convincing victory.

While the performance fell short of the eloquent game plan set out by Warwick Captain Matthew Lawrowitsch of ‘Dominate, Dominate, Dominate’. What became obvious towards the rear end of the contest was Warwick’s unflinching determination and character in the face of adversity. This wasn’t a classic Warwick victory by any means but nevertheless, in between loose hands and a slow start lay all the hallmarks of potential champions.

What became obvious towards the rear end of the contest was Warwick’s unflinching determination and character in the face of adversity

The early match excitement surrounding the first BUCS fixture of the season was almost immediately brought to a halt. Soon after kick-off, a quick move by the Nottingham backs lead to a gaping overlap, and in a flash the Notts’ 11 was away to the posts. Try. Nottingham’s subsequent failure to convert did little to brighten the mood. Despite Warwick’s relative domination and the large disparity between the two team’s set pieces, they were unable to get a foothold on the game. Sloppy play meant that any momentum that Warwick tried to build up soon dissipated due to a handling error or infringement. Despite the so-far disappointing team play, Warwick’s noticeable individual player advantage kept them firmly in the game. Bruising carries by the likes of Will Harvey and Antoine Cornet kept Warwick camped in Nottingham’s half. The Warwick pressure was telling as an offside infringement gave Warwick’s scrumhalf the opportunity to kick for points on the 15-minute mark.

While impassioned home support has long been a bastion at Fortress Cryfield, Warwick were more in need of calm heads. By the 25 minute mark the game still sung the same story. While Warwick continued to dominate, silly mistakes kept Nottingham in the contest and occasionally put the home team under pressure. The Nottingham number 11 seemed determined to trouble the Warwick wing all afternoon with his quick feet. A characteristic break from him off a Nottingham turnover lead to his second try which was then converted. At 3-12 one wondered if the Warwick players began to feel disheartened.

The first half oscillated between anticipation and disappointment. For all of Warwick’s individual good work and excellent set piece play, they were hampered by their systematic inability to hold onto possession

The first half oscillated between anticipation and disappointment. For all of Warwick’s individual good work and excellent set piece play, they were hampered by their systematic inability to hold onto possession for more than a few phases. The number nine, George Teeboon, kept Warwick in the game with another 3 points off a penalty kick. For all the disappointment in the first half, it was hard not to feel that Warwick were still very much in the game.

Image: Warwick Sport

The second half saw Warwick make some vital changes with Colm Geoghegan coming off for Brian Cabrol at lock; followed shortly by an injured Cam Lewis being replaced by the appropriately named William Taal. These substitutions and the Warwick coach’s stirring half time team talk seemed to spark a fire. After a bout of possession in the Nottingham 22, Chris Orford, Warwick’s openside flanker made a darting break and placed the ball behind the opposition try line, Teeboon once again converted. Following a first half of lacklustre Warwick rugby, the first ten minutes of the second half showcased everything that Warwick fans and players had been excited about in the off season.

Warwick seemed energised and looked ready to run away with the contest. However, some silly defensive errors from the Warwick backline, followed by a slight of hand by the Nott’s’ 12 lead to another try. With Nottingham leading 17-13 in the 60^th minute, the tide of the game turned once more. The fans seemed fed up; a shout of “You have the scrum, use it!”, from behind the touchline told the story of Warwick’s failure to capitalise on their obvious set piece advantage. In typical fashion, a good piece of Warwick scrummaging was followed by one or two good phases of possession before the ball was once again lost as they approached the opposition try line.

Image: Warwick Sport

Soon after, Will Harvey, Warwick’s hulking inside centre powered through the middle of the pitch in the game’s pivotal moment, in the ruck that followed the Nottingham Number 8 was pinged for stamping on a Warwick player. His ten minutes in the sinbin gave the Warwick players the much needed drive to power on and eventually win the game. Following a strong maul off a lineout, deep in the opposition territory; the ball was taken out wide by the Warwick 9 and after some intricate interplay by the backline – landed eventually in the hands of the Harvey, who swiftly placed the ball in between the Nottingham posts five minutes before the final whistle. George Teeboon followed up with the expected conversion to seal the Warwick win.