Match report: Francis Branford

17:30 pm
14 Finsbury Park players congregate outside the Fullback, eager to kick off our preseason with a trip to take on Datchworth RFC, a team playing two leagues above us.
17:40 pm
Our bus arrives. The 14 board and we attempt to find the 15th absent player. Based on the team sheet a winger named Matt is identified as missing. The search for Matt quickly dries up when we realise he had set his availability for the match as unavailable. In a stroke of genius, the quick-thinking fins attempt to recruit our athletic looking bus driver to play on the wing. Alas, he declines. To make matters worse Harry Wilkinson-Roberts manages to make it back from work in time to catch the bus. Despite the numbers shortage, the patched together line-up and supposed strength of the opposition, the boys set off in high spirits.
18:55 pm
The bus lands in stunning Datchworth, giving us ample time to warm up for our 7:15 kick off. Thankfully we find that hooker Callum Macdonald succeeded in making it to Datchworth, bolstering the fins to a full complement of 15 players. The boys are looking sharp in the run through. Following this the team gathers for a tactics-heavy pre match chat: Captain Josh tells us to have fun and Coach Barney advises us not to get injured.
19:15 pm
The first of four quarters kicks off and despite our thorough preparation, Finsbury Park struggle in the opening encounters. Datchworth score an early rolling maul, followed by two quick breakaway tries. Ball-in-hand the fins similarly falter, struggling to keep the ball whenever we have it. The line-out also falters in this period, leaving the fins scrum as the only stable platform against a strong Datchworth pack. A 20 minutes of rugby to forget for Finsbury as Datchworth take the quarter 19-0. Captain Josh however keeps the boys’ heads up and we go into the second quarter feeling positive.
19:45 pm
Finsbury come out of the blocks firing. The defence is much tighter and more aggressive, with Musson and Scott in particular chopping several of the Datchworth ball carriers. In attack we’re looking more dangerous. Big carries from the likes of Heekin, Smith, Murray and debutant Worthington help set a platform for the backs to play off. Pech and Gillham, despite communicating in French, control the attack excellently, enabling us to spread the ball wider. After a period of sustained pressure, the Fins are awarded a centre field scrum. Gillham last minute darts to the blindside, creating an overlap and excellent hands from him and Startin put Painter over in the corner. Gillham slots the touchline conversion: 19-7. The boys continue to thrive in this quarter but unfortunately a second try eludes them.
20:10 pm
Halfway through the game Morgan finally arrives, just about giving us a full backline for the 3rd quarter
20:11 pm
Morgan immediately leaves the pitch to take a s**t.
20:12 pm
The 3rd 20 minutes is a strong outing for the Fins. We concede just once, while playing uphill and the defence is resolute throughout.
20:35 pm
The final quarter commences. We’re 24-7 down, but with the hill on our side and our tails up. We start well, finding ourselves deep in Datchworth territory. We pressure the line with strong ball carrying from Bromley and debutant George “handy to have in the side” Handyside, among others. Eventually Captain Josh takes matters into his own hands and swats aside several Datchworth defenders to cross the whitewash. Gillham converts: 24-14. From there Finsbury go from strength to strength, but don’t quite have it in them to nab a third try. Datchworth nick two last minute tries of their own, leaving a final score of 34-14.
Despite what was in the end a convincing loss, there were several positives from the game. In defence the boys really fronted up (after the first quarter) and took it to a more physical and skilled side, while in attack our structures began to shine through. The two debutants had excellent games as well which was lovely to see.
POTM: Francis Branford
DOTD: Ed Allington

Finsbury Park RFC

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