Crows Vs Thatcham

Recap

Once again, the weather was on our side with a glorious afternoon at the Nest, as the Crows took on Thatcham in the mid-October sunshine. In the pack, there were returns to action for Olly Penn at Hooker, Dan Nicholson in the 2^nd row and a debut for fresh face 47-year-old, Sean Gale on the flank! In the backs, the Crows welcomed back Rob Brydon doppelgänger, John Holden at 10, moustachioed centre Declan Ellis in the centres and pint-sized plumber, Karl Pearce on the left wing.

The game started fairly evenly, with both sides going through a number of phases in the middle of the park, before Crowthorne indiscipline with successive penalties, saw them suddenly camped on their own line. A well-executed line out from Thatcham saw the ball moved quickly to their number 8, who powered over from about 5 metres out with a well-timed run. A poor start for Crowthorne then continued, conceding another try shorty after.

However the Crows soon rallied and after winning a penalty just over halfway, Holden kicked for the corner. From the resulting lineout, Penn picked out Stock, who quickly moved the ball from the top of the line out to local relationship expert Sam Taff, who made good yards, before the ball was shipped through the backs hands towards the left-hand corner. After being stopped just short, the lively scrum half, Wareing, showed good strength to hold the ball in contact just long enough to put Holden into a gap, as the Crows 10 broke the final tackle and crossed for our first score of the day. With the conversion successfully dispatched, it was now 5-17 to Thatcham. Frustratingly, Thatcham were again able to exploit a gap in the Crowthorne defence and scored again to make it 5-22.

At this point, the Crows really took the game by the scruff of the neck, starting with an excellent take from the kick off chase by the Crowthorne Express, Josh Breare. After recycling the ball a number of times, a high shot on Wareing resulted in a Crows penalty just to the left of the posts. Taff carried hard from a tap and go before young Sean Gale crashed over to score a debut try! Holden converted and it was now 12-22, momentum with Crowthorne. Halftime came at the wrong time for the home side who were really beginning to get into their stride.

Agonisingly, early in the 2^nd half, Thatcham managed to score from long range to really halt the Crows momentum. 2 Holden penalties narrowed the score to keep the Crows in touch. However, on a number of occasions, a slip up in the opponents 22 thwarted Crowthorne’s efforts. Highlights of the 2^nd half include a surging run from Ellis, as well as some great pace shown by MacKenzie chasing back to retrieve Thatcham kicks before gassing opposition defenders. A not straight line out throw deep in the Thatcham red zone summed up Crowthorne’s afternoon before a late try and then a penalty put the game to bed for Thatcham.

There have been clear week on week improvements from this new look Crows squad. In this match, the line out worked very well, Wareing was excellent at 9, taking man of the match and general ball retention was improved. Work still needed on defensive structure but overall the signs are positive.

After 4 consecutive weekends, the Crows now have a well earned weekend off, before retuning to action against Farnham Royal on 31^st October in what is now likely to be a home fixture, to the current state if the Farnham Royal pitch (please watch social media for updates on that). That game will be followed by the visit of top of the table Phoenix on the 7^th of November, so please get down to the Nest for both of those matches.

Thank you to all the supporters and volunteers for contributing to another great match day at the Nest. Up the Crows!