Sevens Sink in Soaking Situation

After a long week of organisation by Team Manager: Alison Denham finally managed to get a team together with the help of the Churchill dynasty. The pride of RG4 left Fortress Sonning in the beating rain to their away fixture in Warwickshire. It was a miserable and long journey but Sonning’s morale was still high after last week’s win.

As the players arrived the wind and rain cleared. Phil Cooper (the 1999-2001 3rd team keeper) was making his return in goal after a 13 year hiatus. Phil, Andrew and Rudi Eagling quickly went to the changing rooms to sort out the keeper’s kit. This all went very smoothly until Fry and Eagling were confused when just before they were going to depart for the pitch Phil sat down on the changing room bench Spread Eagle. They had forgotten the final piece to the puzzle... the jock strap. After Andrew and Rudi winched on the jockstrap over his shorts Superman style they were finally ready.

First Half
Banbury were an experienced side who broke through early and in the first five minutes Cooper had to make a double save deflecting the ball out for a long corner. The pressure was still coming strong with Cooper forced to rush off his line with an incoming 1 on 1. Super Cooper quickly closed the angle and slid in in with the ball ricocheting of his breast plate followed by the Warwickshire player quickly going arse over tit. The loose ball was quickly smashed away from Steve Olds.

The first goal finely came when the ball was taken down the by-line and laid up for the incoming forward who was unmarked on the p spot. All he has to do was pick a corner.

This goal fired up the Sonning side who managed to get some runs mainly down the centre.
Jeremy Matheson and Wes Churchill had some great play both going forward and defensively stopping the ball. Banbury were still piling on the pressure though.

A diving glove save followed quickly with a stick clearance kept the “Ghost Between The Posts”. The second goal game from just inside the D and went into the far corner which was unsighted by the keeper.

Half time.
Sonning were committing themselves to the tackle too much which is something that you cannot do with such an experienced side. The wide players were playing too high effectively eliminating themselves from the game

Second Half
The second half started well with play being spread around. The Tyler Churchill and Andrew Fry combo were keeping it strong in the middle of defence and with the wide players playing shorter this meant that the Blue and Gold could get the ball up to the Earl of Earley and Jay Churchill. Jay Churchill was holding up the ball well allowing time for tired sticks to join and overlap him.

Two more goals were scored when the forward broke his mark and swung for the far post. The fourth and final goal was scored when a long range smash beat the out of position keeper into the bottom far hand corner of the backboard.

Analysis
The positives were that they did not score from a short corner.Banbury had drilled their short corners well but Sonning were up to the task of defending them. Andy Staig is improving everyweek too. Finally the most important question was answered. Could the sevens take the Phil Cooper show on the road? Of course they can!

MoM : Phil Cooper with 18 saves including 3 One on Ones.

After the second Break week The Pride of RG4 will face their nemesis and arch rivals Phoenix & Raneleigh. Pheonix have been punching above their weight recently and stand in 3rd in the league. The sevens will have have to bring their “A Game” to get a result.