Calne RFC

Sat 21 Dec 2024

Calne

12 - 0

(HT 0-0)

Devizes II

Calne

Devizes II

Calne welcomed Devizes II on a wet and windy day for the final game of 2024. The hosts were looking to finish on a high and go into 2025 on a much needed win.

Calne got the game underway and with a period of solid defence kept Devizes penned in their 22, finally releasing pressure with a kick to touch. This allowed Calne to build a platform just inside the Devizes half.

Lineout wins were hard to come by for both teams with the wind playing a bigger role than all would like. Add to that frequent blasts of rain and you won’t be surprised scrums became a common sight.

As the game progressed Calne were able to work their structures well. Swift handling, from both forwards and backs, released Simon Hansen (sponsored by Casali Recruitment) down the wing and around the fullback, only for it to be pulled back for a forward pass.

This gave the match its first scrum of the day which highlighted what was to be the main difference between the two teams. Calne’s scrum remained resolute on their feed and dominant enough to drive Devizes off the ball on their feed. This provided Calne with plenty of possession and phases to tire and move the Devizes defence.

Multiple opportunities were created by Calne in the first 20 minutes with great intent but poor final decision making, or attempting something a bit too adventurous for the conditions, means they didn’t produce points. However, a good period of possession in the Devizes 22 finally paid off with Calne’s dominant scrum pushing Devizes back over their try line. Devizes illegally stopped the Calne No.8 from dotting the ball down from the back of the scrum leaving the referee with no choice but to award a penalty try.

Being able to turn pressure into points seemed to help relieve some of the nerves. Soon after a lovely break from Joe Scott (available to sponsor) helped Calne work their way back into the Devizes 22. Consistent pressure from the forwards helped Calne inch closer before captain Peter Brownlie (sponsored by Step-up Supplements) pushed his way over the line. A missed conversion left the score at 12-0 going into halftime.

Understanding that their best bet was to keep the ball alive and in the hands, Devizes came out after halftime with renewed momentum. Full of youth they began to throw the ball about well, showing good handling in the conditions and began to make breaks through the Calne defence. Good cover tackles helped snuff out these breaks and eventually forced a turnover. Calne were unable to replicate the dominance of the first half but produced good spells in the second half with line breaks made but unable to be finished.

Tom Delaney (sponsored by PAT Testing Wilts) used great awareness to spot some lazy Devizes defence around the ruck and drove the team deep into the Devizes 22 with a knock-on in the following phases eventually bringing the attack to a halt. Both Tom Denham (sponsored by Rob O’Neill Fitness & Nutrition) and Mark McAlonan (sponsored by Ferns Group) found gaps in the defence to go down the wing and into the Devizes 22. Both times the final offloads missed their target and gave possession back to Devizes.

A fantastic break from the Devizes 10 saw him set free on the wing, and chip ahead where he looked set to give Devizes their first points of the match before knocking the ball on over the line.

This was the start of a tense period of the match, as Calne now found themselves as the team unable to relieve pressure and would have to show their defensive determination to earn this win.

Devizes kept Calne in positions where the weather made it tough to relieve pressure and a stodgy ground made making yards hard work. Multiple phases from Devizes, who now had some confidence, saw Calne produce some fantastic defensive sets.

Stand out mentions must go to Neil Lavelle (available to sponsor) who produced a superb turnover in Calne’s 22 to bring a stop to a promising Devizes attack, and Marcus Turner (sponsored by WR Fitness Solutions) who brought his trademark defensive quality to help hold the ball up over the line and ensure the Calne defence wasn’t breached.

Calne managed to repel the Devizes attack one final time before clearing the ball out and ending the match.

After a hard-fought match at Calne, we all enjoyed a meal from the Pewsham. Devizes gave us a great battle, but Calne came out on top with some promising play. Many thanks to Devizes for their strong performance and competitive spirit throughout the game.

The Riches Roofing Man of the Match was Joe Scott.