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Crewkerne  17  vs   Ivel 2XV   15    Saturday 24th October 2009
 
Pictures from Dave Fowler
 

After last weeks loss at home, Ivel travelled the short distance to Crewkerne determined to gain some points. The day didn’t start very well with, yet again, a lack of players forcing Coach Martin Cole into some last minute telephone calls.

The game didn’t start well for Ivel and they soon found themselves behind as Crewkerne scored a drop-goal. Ivel fought back and put the hosts under pressure. Then, just as they were inching towards the try-line, a loose pass was intercepted and, following a run for three-quarters of the pitch, Crewkerne scored a try. The conversion was successful. This caused Ivel to buckle down and work harder, losing hooker Joe Johnson didn’t help matters but Simon Burrows stepped in and dedicated himself to the task despite carrying a rib injury. Just before half-time Ivel managed to work some good possession through positive handling. This allowed wing for the day Neil Coram to score in the corner. Emlyn Kuhn added the conversion from a tight angle and against the wind.

Half-time       Crewkerne 1XV  10    Ivel Barbarians 2XV  7

Ivel started the second-half in a positive mood, despite losing scrum-half Matt Egan to a head injury. A quick shuffle of players didn’t help matters and, despite spending long periods of time in the opposition half couldn’t convert them into points. Eventually Ivel secured a penalty following more killing of the ball by Crewkerne and Kuhn added the points. 10-10 and the game was getting interesting – and tense! There were a few incidents of frayed tempers from both sides but rugby cam back. Unfortunately for Ivel it was another loose pass that changed the game. Again it led to an intercepted try with conversion. With time running out Ivel put some more phases of play together, winning penalties and tries with David Clegg touching down. Kuhn had the chance to level matters with what turned out to be the last kick of the match. Unfortunately the ball went just to the side of the post.

Final score    Crewkerne 1XV  17   Ivel Barbarians 2XV  15

Coach Martin Cole said: “This was a game we could, and should, have won. It was down to some frustrating and basic errors that we lost this match. We should have taken the opportunity of a penalty when the game was at 10-10, but the lineout option was taken, leading to the second interception try. Having said all that, the team played right through to the end, determined to try and draw if not win. Cleggies try, right on time showed how determined the lads were. We have got to start winning, and quickly. Next week’s game will be tough, but we stand every chance of getting the points.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
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2XV  0  vs  Crewkerne  43  -  Saturday 13th February 2010
 
 

As Ivel lined up for the start of this match there were a few quizzical looks as players were getting used to teamates they had not played with before. And some of this unfamiliarity showed when, ten minutes after the start, Crewkerne had scored in the corner. They used their greater team play to create an overlap on Ivel’s wing and touched down. The conversion was missed. Two minutes later and the visitors scored again. This time the conversion was scored. Six minutes later and Ivel tried to play out of danger in their own 22. A tap penalty was passed under the posts, there then followed a missed pass, missed tackle and try. The next try came from a tap penalty, for Ivel, but possession was lost and Crewkerne scored. The conversion was scored and, with a quarter of the game gone, the match was taking on uphill proportions for the home side. After 22 minutes Ivel were forced into making a blood replacement when James New came on to replace hooker Joe Johnson. Joe didn’t return to the field after having the blood flow stemmed, as he was suffering from dizzy spells. The re-shuffle in the front row caused some disruption for Ivel. But it took Crewkerne another ten minutes before they scored. Ivel committed a foul at the breakdown, a quick tap penalty was taken (whilst the referee was still reprimanding Ivel) and the try was scored under the posts. The conversion was scored. The next score was a disaster for Ivel. A tap penalty was passed under the posts, it was intercepted, a tackle missed and try scored. The conversion was scored and brought the half to a close.

Half time:   Ivel Barbarians 2XV   0    Crewkerne 1XV   33

The second half started well for Ivel. Following on from some straight talking at half time from the Captain they came out ready to front up. They showed more commitment and clearer thinking. Half time replacement Andrew Cook showed how experienced he is for such a young player. He was putting his body on the line time and again. With scrum-half Barry Law leading from the front they started to put more pressure on the opposition than they had shown in the entire first half. Ivel suffered a set-back when centre James Cook was sin-binned for, according to the referee, repeated fouls at the breakdown. Having sin-binned the Ivel player the referee then awarded the penalty to Ivel..??   Ivel had to work harder than ever now, and they did, pinning Crewkerne back for periods and denying them point scoring opportunities. The efforts of Andrew Cook with a drop goal attempt came to nothing for Ivel. In fact it was not until fifteen minutes after the sin-binning, and when Ivel were back up to their full compliment, that Crewkerne crossed the try line again. They won turn-over ball, moved it out wide and scored in the corner, despite the tackling efforts of Simon Taylor in defence. The conversion was missed. It was not until three minutes from time that the final score of the game came. Crewkerne took a quick tap penalty (again, while the referee was still lecturing Ivel and explaining his decision). They moved the ball across the pitch and scored. The conversion was missed.

Full time:   Ivel Barbarians 2XV   0    Crewkerne 1XV   43

An Ivel spokesman said: “Whilst it was good to have a full squad today, our lack of training together and match practise gave us away. There were some impressive performances out there today from the likes of Andrew Cook, Jack Barrow and Man of the Match Barry Law. There were also good debuts for Luke Thomas and Christian Pipe. However, this does not get away from the fact that we simply weren’t good enough, in the first half, with our decision making. We forgot the basics, tackling and passing, and trying too hard to do something special. Next week’s match (away to Weston-Super-Mare) will be tough. But if we play for the whole match like we did in the second half this week then we stand a very good chance.”