Old Cats vs Warlingham

Match Report from our Head Coach Nick - he is definitely getting good at these!

Lets start, is it on, is it off, the ground was hard but it was definitely on!

It was a tough day at the office for this developing Old Cats side, the toughest day of the season, as a large and formidable Warlingham side arrived at old cats for the 3rd attempt at getting this fixture together, fresh from an emphatic win over Edenbridge.
Its clearly from the outset that Warlingham had the psychological upper hand.

Straight from the outset Warlingham forward put themselves around the park, quick line speed and a turn over and Warlingham charge up the field using they big players they batter an Old cats side reeling under the onslaught and score under the post, well converted and its- 0- 7 to Warlingham.

From the kick off slick hands from Warlingham get the ball to their full back who is a handful for any side and he makes good ground against weak Old Cats tackling, eventually Old Cats re-group and bring him down but there’s is space out wide and there’s no one at home for Old cats and some more slick hands it’s a relatively straightforward run into the corner to make the score – 0 -12 to Warlingham.

Another kick off and the ball is gathered by Warlingam number 8 who hands off 5 Old Cats players to return the ball to Old Cats 22, where he is finally brought down by some desperate cover tackling but it’s too little too late and its – 0 -17 to Warlingham.

It looks like this match is going to be the match from hell for Old Cats but their heads don’t drop and they start to build some phases together and work their way up the field and win a linout followed by a penality 10 meters from the Warlingham try line, the penalty is rushed the ball goes to ground and Warlingham kick the ball down the field to relieve the pressure.

With some great kicking from Ben, whose been under pressure all day from the Warlingham back row and Old Cats make their way back into the Warlingham 22, but poor handlung from Old Cats and the ball goes to ground and Warlingham fly hack up the field, recover the ball and score, against the run of play, thinks just aren’t going Old Cats way against this tough Warlingham side and its – 0 -22 to Warlingham.

Old Cats kick off and apply some pressure, re-cycle the ball and start to put some passes together and with some good hands and Ross’s hard work and tough tackling is rewarded as he goes over ion the corner for Old Cats first try!. – 5 -22.

Warlingham don’t like it and wounded they come out aggressively, and Old Cats are pinned into their own half, after a sustained attack and some great passing Warlingham are over in the corner and its 5 – 27 to Warlingham.

Not long to go till half time and it can't come quickly enough for Old Cats who are watching the clock and not the match, their heads are down and the line speed drops off, giving Warlingham time and space to go over in the corner – 5 to 32 to Warlingham.

Kick off and Old Cats are struggling, poor follow up on the kick gives Warlingham’s big runners space and the capitalise on it making charging runs through the Old Cats defence, a defence that is creaking under the onslaught and Warlingham score – 5 – 37 to Warlingham.

Half time and Old Cats make some changes and some tired legs are replaced with fresh legs and Old Cats come out with a renewed vigour, a succession of infringements and some quick thinking by Old Cats and they start to make ground, making they make their way into the Warlingham 22 and win a penalty, this time cool heads take charge and a penalty move straight off the training field and Harrison is over on the corner and Seb slots the extra points and Old Cats are back in the game 12- 37.

Is this the start of Old Cats come back, sadly not, a poor lineout and poor tackling gives Warlingham another score and the extra points are scored with a great conversion from out wide and it 12 – 44 to Warlingham.

But there is a change in the air and Warlinghams big players are starting to tire, Old Cats start at last to compete at the breakdown, nearly presenting the ball to the wrong side which had the effect of completely confusing the Warlingham pack who failed to pounce on the ball, Old Cats re-cycle and some picking and going from Harrison and the forwards sucks in the Warlingham forwards, Ben see the space out wide and some great handling sees Cal finish superbly in the corner just before getting flattened by Warlingham’s big full back and that’s time 17 – 44 to Warlingham.

Yes it was a tough day, its was always going to be against a big and well drilled Warlingham side who were missing a few players, still it was a great turn out from Old Cats who were still missing a few players.

Old Cats gave Warlingham the psychological advantage from the off, and in parts were committed but learnt a lesson from Warlinghams commitment and consistent pressure, this can only hold us in good stead as we embark on our next phase of matches.

Some great tackling from James in the first half which saw him leave the field with a bang on the head.

Great work from Ben, under sustained pressure from a fast Warlingham back row.

Ross saved numerous tries with last ditch tackling at the back and the back row of Harrison and Will were immense really competing with the Warlingham scrum and punching well above their weight and man of the match goes to Charlie who on a tough day never took a backward step.

With out doubt the team are getting better and we are slowly but surely narrowing the gap on these big sides and its matches like this where we learn and improve.

Thanks for Martin for excellent refereeing and for Gerard as not only Team manager but head of catering operations!