Marlow Under 17s

Bucks Cup Final

Sunday April 29th 2007

Drifters 35 v Marlow 43.

This year’s Bucks Cup Final was without a doubt the best game of the year for this Marlow side, not because they won, but because they won while playing the most incisive running rugby of their season. Six tries in total, all through the backs (including two each for the wings), and a haul of six goals from seven attempts. For a side that was struggling to score in the early part of the season, this was a remarkable turnaround and a tribute to the coaching led by Simon Gordon in the second half of the season.

The game started on a sombre note, with the Marlow boys wearing white armbands and holding a one minute silence to mark the sad death of Harry Mills, to whom the side dedicated the game. This seemed to set the right tone for the match, which was played throughout in an excellent sporting spirit on both sides.

Drifters were first to show and rocked Marlow by moving quickly to a 10-0 lead, showing how they too had improved since the league fixture in January. Marlow had hardly touched the ball. But from the restart, Drifters made their first mistake and coughed the ball up. One quick ruck and the Marlow backs had the chance to show what they could do. A 20 metre double cut-out pass from fly-half Guy Swadling put full-back Matt Saunders clear into space with Andy Wilks outside. Wilks easily eluded the cover from Drifters and touched down near the left-hand corner. Game on.

Drifters came back hard from the kick-off but Marlow got the ball and moved upfield. Again a breakdown on the right, but this time a flat pass to Miles Noble at inside centre, and straight through the gap as the defence drifted. Behind the defence, good passing and again Wilks was over in the corner. Another conversion and Marlow were ahead at 14-10.

The pattern was already clear. The Marlow backs, with space and time, could cut through the opposition defence; the question was – could the forwards deliver enough quick ball against the Drifters pack? The tone was set for the rest of the first half. Another rumble forward by the Drifters pack pinned Marlow into their 22, and repeated phases stretched the defence until eventually they crashed through under the posts. Back came Marlow, quick ball moved to the right and this time it was Ben Heath’s chance to get on the scoresheet. Another conversion from wide out, plus a penalty, and half-time came at 24-17.

The second-half was every bit as dramatic as the first. During the third quarter the forwards started to get a grip on the game, with Jorn Pace making a thorough nuisance of himself in the lineout, Matt Bailey and captain Joe Dowling everywhere in the loose, and prop James Wetenhall turning the screw at scrum time. More ball came to the Marlow backs; Noble crashed over, Jack Rider sneaked through another drifting defence to touch down despite being tap-tackled, and Heath scored again after Marlow capitalised on a Drifters error. ‘Swads’ eventually missed one of the conversions, and Marlow also conceded an unconverted try and penalty goal, but we were, seemingly, conclusively ahead at 43-25. You sensed that Drifters were there for the taking; they were struggling to contain Marlow’s pace and power out wide. We wondered if Marlow might cut loose in the final 15 minutes.

But the tactics changed, and so did Marlow’s grip. Instead of running at Drifters, Marlow kicked for territory but were unable to get their hands back on the ball in the opposition half. Possibly tiring from the effort in the third quarter, the Marlow forwards started to cede territory to the big Drifters pack. Drifters forced their way over for another score after Marlow infringed near the try-line. And then another try as Drifters again mounted a siege in the Marlow 22. Now it was Marlow’s turn to feel the pressure.

But the core of this Marlow side have been together for several years. Collectively they rallied for the last effort. Drifters battered away at the line but having missed their final conversion effort by inches, they were still two scores behind. Perhaps knowing that they had the critical cushion, the Marlow tackling held firm. Drifters did again cross the line in the dying seconds, but the excellent ref Paul Stanley ruled that the ball was held up, and blew for full-time.

The joy (and relief) for the Marlow side was obvious, but credit to Drifters, who played a full and committed part in the game. They were without doubt the strongest Bucks side Marlow faced this season. It was tough on them to have played so well and lost. We all knew Marlow had just edged the win rather than been the dominant side. It had been a wonderful match, with eleven tries in all – the real winner was rugby. Presenting the trophy, County Chairman Peter Kyte summed it up as ‘the best game he had seen in Bucks – senior or junior – for three years’.

And Harry Mills – as you looked down on a game played for you, we know you would have loved such a spectacle of running rugby, such a thrilling game. God bless you Harry. Rest in peace.