The Mens Section got the second half of the season with the Brigands making the short trip down to Sidcup to play Sidcup 3s.

Sidcup are a club that we know well and have played them many times, in various leagues over the years. Club were victorious in the home fixture but were aware that the win would have to be fought hard for, as Sidcup had put together an impressive run into the Christmas break to make it to 3rd in the table.

Sidcup started well with strong carrying by their pack from the kick off, and after a series of phases they won a penalty for hands in the ruck and kick for territory. From the line out they set up a powerful driving maul to power over the line. The conversion was good and Club were 7-0 down after 7 minutes.

Club got on the board 4 minutes later following the first of several immense runs by Ollie Acton who broke through a soft shoulder, beat the next tackler and made it to within 5m. After some good phaseplay JP scores out wide. The kick was missed and the score was 7-5.

The next score came from a turnover when Sidcup were attacking just inside our half as Acton bounced on a knock on and popped it to French Alex, who runs it in from halfway. This time Nathan was good with the kick; 7-12.

Our backlines ability to thrive on broken play was never mor evident when Tommaso gathered the kick off on our 22, stepped the chase and slipped another tackle to be clear and go under the sticks. 7-19

Ollie Acton had a superb game, time after time targeting a hole and beating the arm tackle to make the line break. This led to the next score when he broke 25m to be hauled down just short. We called a missile and Conor Mitchel (aka Cabbage) buries over out wide. Cue gasps from the Club supporters that he hadn’t injured himself scoring! The kick was good despite the angle. 7-26 on the half hour.

The Brigands ability to move quickly from defence to attack was evident all day, and led to the next score. Pressure from scrum half Oli Savill at a Sidcup scrum forces a poor pass which the Sidcup wing fumbled and Charlie Shaw gathered to run under the sticks. A good score but the temptation was there to fine him for making Nathans kick too easy. 7-33.

Sidcup were fighting hard throughout and their forwards were a threat all over the park. Their shape and big carries caused issues at times and poor Club discipline led to a penalty from which the lineout led to another of their powerful mauls. The Number 8 then broke and goes over, taking two Brigands with him. 14-33.

As half time loomed we had a lineout on halfway from which Acton set it up in midfield. A strike move is called from the ruck, with Nathan taking it to the line & offloading to French Alex to break two tackles, going over in the corner. Proving the first miss was just a rangefinder, Nathan again slots it and we were 14-40 up going into halftime.

The second half got underway with Acton and Cabbage combining on the kick return but we are penalised at the breakdown and they can clear. We knock on in the lineout but succeed in pushing them off the ball at the scrum, from where Savil kicks a 50-22 box kick.

Actons big midfield runs off of a lineout are becoming a habit as he makes good yardage, we lose it in the breakdown, with the referee signalling a advantage for hands in and we regather to find French Alex to put him in for his third, leaving him owing the team a jug. 14-47.

By now news of the Club XV being in the lead and the first scores from the 1st XV game were reaching us and smiles were appearing on faces at the prospect of a Club clean sweep.

Broken field is when we are at our best as cabbage runs the kick back and gets it away to Juve and we win a penalty at the breakdown, from which we go to the corner. A mocve is called from the lineout and French Alex goes in for his 4th. 14-54

The final score was a beauty, with Alex McMeckan picking it up at the base just outside our 22 and gives an absolutely sells outrageous dummy to breakinto space. He finds Pete Ryall who breaks several tackles and runs it all the way in. 14-61Full time.

As an aside, the Bandits for recent years and now too the Brigands this season have relied on ‘experience’, with a large proportion of Vets to supplement the younger players in the team. Against Sidcup the average age was 25 and 20 weeks, with just 3 vets in the team to drag the demographic up the scale. The pathway programme and recruitment via social media is clearly working well.

This weekend both of our Social teams are in action at home in a double header. The Bandits are at home to Southwark 2s and the Brigands host Edenbridge 1st XV. Both games kick off at 2pm. With the 1st XV and Club XV both away there is still quality rugby on at home for Club Members to enjoy, so do come down to support. Members are also welcome to join in our Pub Quiz in the evening – contact tim.brindle@blackheathrugby.co.uk for details

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