Deepings IXV v Brackley RFC

Saturday 21st February
6°c, Sunny with moderate northerly wind, firm but muddy pitch.

After a minutes silence in memory of Deepings Vice President, Malcolm Gregson, who passed away on the 17th February Brackley kick the match off, the ball is caught and a line break from the Deepings No.12, Dan Young, pushes Deepings to just short of the 5 metre. Brackley are caught offside at the ruck and the penalty is taken quickly by No 13, Steven Corrigan, the ball is held out for the Deepings Captain, Gareth Silverwood, with No4, Matthew Johnson, leached onto him they power through the Brackley defence for Silverwood to score. No10, Guy Cunningham hooks conversion just wide. (05-00)

Swift hands from the Brackley restart and No 15, Adam Gilbert finds a gap and makes good yards and passes inside to Corrigan who gets stopped just short of the line. Deepings get a penalty from the resulting ruck and kick for the line out.

Brackley steal the line out but knock on, the ball is scooped from the back of the following scrum by No9, Adam Edwards, who sends it wide to Gilbert who scores in corner. The kick is too long a kick for Cunningham. (10-00)

The restart is horrendously cleared by full time hooker and part time No6. Dominic Peacock, for which he is awarded “Plank of the Day”. From the Brackley line out they settle in to an attack but are caught offside at the breakdown. Cunningham kicks to touch and makes the Brackley 22 for the line out.

Deepings knock on in the line out and Brackley clear the scrum and kick to touch at half way. They knock on at the line out but the advantage is played and Deepings get the ball across the pitch only to give away a penalty for holding on.

Brackley kick to the Deepings 10 metre for the line out they go wide but No 14, Matt Pennells, intercepts a long pass and kicks ahead but he is taken out as he charges after the ball and Deepings are given a penalty which results in a line out in the Brackley 22.

Deepings maul the ball and get a penalty for it be bought down, they kick for touch again just metres from the Brackley line but they lose the line out and Brackley clear the ball to the mid field. In the resulting scramble for the loose ball Brackley get a scrum and come wide spreading across the field, Deepings tackle well and slow the Brackley attack. Corrigan steals a loose ball and is bought down just before the 22, Deepings get given a penalty for the Brackley tackler not releasing and go for the posts. Cunningham makes it one from three with the successful kick. (13-00)

The restart gets kicked back to half way and Brackley knock the ball on. From the scrum the ball goes wide but Deepings get pinged holding on in a ruck. Dan Young is up fast as the ball comes out of the scrum and intercepts the ball, he’s run out of space and opts to kick ahead which is received by the Brackley wing and they run straight back, with a stream of missed tackles they finally get stopped 2 metres out. The ruck is secured and Brackley attack again moving across the field, Deepings defence is strong and the tackles rain in until Deepings are caught offside. Brackley tap and go but are bought down quickly Corrigan is swifter than the ruck formation and steals the ball, his clearance is chased by No11, David Robertson who slams the Brackley receiver and holds the play at half way. The referee decides that is a good time to call half time.

Cunningham restarts and Brackley set up a ruck, Deepings get caught with hands on the ball and Brackley scrummage and use the set piece to free the rather pacey fullback, Deepings defence can’t catch him and scores just short of the posts. The conversion is good. (13-07)

The Deepings restart ends in a Brackley lineout on the halfway it’s pinched by Corrigan and he sends the ball down the advancing Deepings line, at the next ruck Deepings are awarded a scrum but it’s stolen by Brackley. The scrum dissolves and the Brackley No5 makes a massive break into the Deepings half. He’s bought down at the 22 and the Deepings tackles lay down an impenetrable wall, Brackley opt to chip the defensive line but the kicks too strong and the balls bobbles dead.

The 22 drop out that follows is caught and run back, there’s a ruck and a squabble erupts which results in a penalty awarded to Brackley. They kick for touch and the line out is inside the 22. They catch and maul and the Deepings No7., Jack Rogers, is a little too over exuberant in his defence and receives a yellow card. Brackley go for the posts with the resulting penalty and strike cleanly. (13-10)

The restart is over kicked and goes straight out, Brackley use the play from the back of the scrum to pile up the pitch back to the Deepings line. A little too enthusiastic and they get caught crossing. The clearance penalty kick pushes play back to the Deepings 22 but Deepings loose the line out. Brackley fumble a pass and knock on, the scrum is set in the Deepings 22. Deepings are caught at the back of the scrum and Brackley steal the ball only to fumble it again, advantage is played when Deepings secure the forward rolling ball and pass it out for the clearance, the ball stays in play and with the advantage over Brackley run straight back and with the Deepings defence in disarray they score out wide, the conversion is out of range and the kicks missed (13-15)

Deepings make a substitution and No.8 Michael Harrison is replaced with the more mature Darren Theakston. Brackley knock the restart on but Deepings loose the scrum, Brackley chip the ball and Cunningham fumbles for another scrum. Jack Rogers returns to the field after his 10 minute absence.

Deepings are held at the half way, talked hard until they are isolated and penalised for holding on. Brackley kick for a lineout at the Deeping 22. They secure and the ball comes into the middle of the pitch before it’s knocked on by a Brackley hand.

Edwards is hassled at the back of the scrum and Brackley steal the ball but their No9 goes to ground isolated and is penalised for holding on, the penalty kick doesn’t make touch and Brackley gather breaking the Deeping line in the 22 and score in the corner. It’s out of range though for the kick. (13-20)

Deepings make a shuffle and bring on Felix Cunningham, ignores drinks that are bought for him, for Richard Harding, Michael Harrison returns and Jack Rogers comes off.

The restart is caught cleanly but Deepings are there with tackles raining in Brackley get pinged for holding on. Deepings go quick and progress to the Brackley 22, moving the ball wide they set a ruck and the forwards take the ball on building some phases but Brackley turn it over and the clearance kick gets them back to the half way Cunningham is talked and turned over after the catch.

The Deepings No5, Oli Peacock, is there to intercept as the ball is passed down the Brackley line. He skips two tackles and makes the 22 before the fullback brings him down. Unfortunately he’s on his own such was the surprise at seeing him run and the ball is taken and cleared back to halfway.

Young takes the catch and makes the 10 meter before being closed down he chips the ball but it’s into the 22 and Brackley call for the Mark. The kick is taken by Harrison, who gets the offload to Corrigan who crashes up to the 22 but losses the ball before the ruck but Brackley knock it forward as they steal it and Deepings get the scrum on the 22.

Spun wide through hands of the back the ball moves from the scrum to the other side of the pitch but the final pass is poor and winger, Pennells, is unable to receive the ball as it sails past him and into touch killing the Deepings attack just outside the Brackley 22.

Brackley take the lineout and send the ball back to the halfway where it fumbled again by the No10 and Clears to half way we knock on halfway. Peacock, still not recovered from his run leaves the park to be replaced by Jack Rogers. Deepings take the ball in the scrum and send it forward, Brackley gather a run back but there’s a forward pass and another scrum back at the halfway.

The balls fired back the Deepings line as it comes out of the scrum but then it’s a Deepings forward pass that holts things again in the midfield.

Though it’s a massive Deepings shove Brackley retain control of the ball and their set piece unwraps the Deepings defence, they break wide and the 14 is quite quick and scores in the corner again. It’s a long kick again and it’s a long way short. (13-25)

Brackley return the restart for a line out at half way. Deepings gather the throw and Gilbert breaks the line. His powerful runs takes Deepings up to the 22 but in the ruck the ball’s turned over and kicked to the halfway again where the Deepings Captain, Silverwood, is waiting. Setting of on a trademark trundle it takes an immense amount of Brackley players to stop him, like a pack of lions on the back of a lowly gazelle he’s bought down and striped of the ball. Brackley are all too aware of the time and kick the ball over the heads of the crowd for the referee to call time on the match.

With a final score of 13 – 25, Steven Corrigan is awarded the Man of the Match.