On Saturday Lymington Mariners welcomed Deepings rugby club on tour from Peterborough. This was to be the Mariners’ last game of the club’s first season since forming last summer. Being an historic day for the club 26 players took their chance to wear the Mariner shirt over the course of the game.
Having left their shirts in Peterborough Deepings took to the field looking an untidy bunch but this was unfortunately no reflection of their rugby. Their forwards provided a good match for the strong Lymington pack who have been superb all season and their backs were full of pace and the organisation which comes with a line up that had obviously played together for quite a while.
It was this pace in their backs which led to the first score of the game, an individual try by the quickest of the Deepings players from distance. However the home side rallied and soon after took play deep in to their favourite spot on the field, ‘Mariner Corner’. Dom Ellis, the ever reliable goliath at second row cleanly won the line-out and the pack set the maul to drive towards the line. Then stepped up titan Owen Cavell, hooker, to make an explosive burst down the blind side. Resistance as always was futile and Owen scored his third try in the last 5 matches.
The Mariners’ backs then started to display some class of their own as Bryn Darbyshire, Jamie Bolwell, debutant Clint Stevenson and Juan Herrera all made penetrating runs through the opposition defence, orchestrated by man of the match fly-half Steve Green. Lymington came close to a second score when Bryn collected his own high kick over the Deepings defence and released speedster Mike Jenner on the wing. Tackled just short of the line Mike popped the ball to Dom Ellis who, with no-one to beat and despite having several opportunities failed to catch the ball, knocked on and gave the defence a chance to muster. With only a few minutes remaining, and the scores tied at 5-5 the Deepings fly-half, deep in Mariner territory, sent a high cross field kick for his winger who claimed their second try.
9 Lymington substitutes came on in the second half but despite this disruption, colossus Phil Jenner at inside centre levelled the scores early on. Receiving the pass around the opposition’s 22 meter line Phil brushed off a number of tackles as he cut a line through the middle of the park to score between the posts. The extra two were taken by Bryn and Lymington took the lead for the first time. Unfortunately the lead didn’t last long as Deepings scored a converted try of their own.
Again Mariners managed to level the score as they battled towards the opposition’s line. Effervescent flanker, John West, so often thwarted by the try line this season, again got within inches of his first score for the club only to be tackled. Luckily the ball popped free and Jason Bolwell aka ‘Captain Amaretto’ flew through the air like a large immobile rock, engulfed the ball and landed over the whitewash to score.
With only minutes left and the game tightly balanced the next score was always likely to be decisive. To the crowd’s disappointment it was Deepings who, again with their sharp running backs, managed to find one more try and the game ended 17-22 handing Mariners’ the first defeat in five matches.
Although ending on a low in terms of the score line the season for Mariners’ has ended on a high beyond the expectations of all those that were there in it’s embryonic days last summer:
11 games played, 7 victories, 4 defeats, 235 points scored, 152 conceded, close to 50 players representing the town’s new team and an enthusiasm and ambition to take the club up a gear next season as it joins Division two of the Hampshire Merit League.
This achievement is down to everyone that’s been involved in the club – the players, the supporters, NFTS Building Contractors our sponsors, The Chequers Inn who has provided our makeshift ‘clubhouse’ and the post match food, Lymington Town Council for their support in providing the pitch and facilities at Woodside Park and Chris Fisher who is too modest to want the details shared. Recently the club has also benefited from coaching sessions generously given by Peter Allen. To all of them the club owes a great deal of gratitude and appreciation.
We would also like to thank Waitrose and Tesco as well as all the other individuals of Lymington who donated the refreshments for the crowd and players on saturday
However the last words and most thanks must surely go to Jason Ludlow, Rob Douthwaite and Ian Wood as well as Jason Bolwell and Owen Cavell who between them started the club and provided the impetus to sustain its development through the season. With such backing next year will certainly be one to look forward to for this club
Note: The club will be holding its AGM on Saturday 8th May at 7pm at the Chequers Inn. If you’d like to hear and contribute to the discussions of how the club can move forward next year and how we might better represent and serve the town please feel welcome to join us. It will also be holding its end of season dinner that evening so if you are a supporter of the club and want more details or to book a place call Lee Thomas on 07917 556 863.
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