With grassroots rugby in Oxfordshire still suffering from the pernicious echoes of the pandemic and with numbers playing the sport in the area struggling to return to anything near healthy, Saturday represented a superb day for Gosford All Blacks, as they were able to field three full-strength teams across the county, writes Timothy Hudson Price.

On the main pitch at Gosford’s home ground, Stratfield Brake, Gosford All Blacks 1st XV hosted Abingdon in an entertaining contest that featured acrobatic flips, muscular mauls, and electric feet in heavy underfoot conditions.

With the previous match at Abingdon being a close-run affair, tensions were high as both teams ran out to first observe a minute’s silence for an Oxford player, Tommy Pritchard, who had sadly lost his life earlier in the week.

Gosford kicked off the match with the initial segment of the first half consisting of a cycle of both sides being awarded penalties- kicking to touch – and eventually losing the ball in a testing dual of discipline and accuracy.

During these opening salvos, the Gosford full-back George Pamenter and his wingers were bombarded by raking kicks yet were able to stay connected, fielding each effort with composure.

Young Gosford winger Joe Beesley was the first to break the deadlock, scoring a searing try following some well-timed draw and pass play orchestrated by consummate All Blacks stalwarts Harry Sutton, Elliot Newell, and Jake Townsend. Full Back George Pamenter had his attempt at the following conversion charged down by an incredibly determined Abingdon player, leaving Gosford 5-0 up.

Abingdon, however, were quick to riposte following a poorly judged pass from a line-out from Gosford scrum-half Tim Price, which landed not in the safe hands of his trusted outside half but in the breadbasket of the fleetfooted Abingdon flanker, who sprinted away to score in the corner. With the conversion pushed to the left of the uprights, the game was tied at 5-5.

Following a run of excellent set-pieces by Gosford, particularly the scrums, which proved solid and unwavering throughout the match, Gosford found themselves in the Abingdon red zone a few minutes before half-time.

At this juncture, Gosford’s formidable inside centre Jake Townsend took it upon himself to run an excellent line, taking a short ball from the Gosford nine. In this jousting thrust, Townsend managed to scatter the Abingdon players like so many bowling pins on the whitewash, precipitating a wonderful strike-try hybrid. A sweetly struck conversion from Gosford 15 George Pamenter saw the All Blacks extend their lead to 12-5 at half-time.

Reinvigorated by the break and some rousing words from their coach, Abingdon came out in the second half with greater vigour, constantly putting Gosford under pressure with some tremendous carries and some delicate decoy play in the backs. Gosford were, however, able to weather this storm thanks to some indefatigable defending from mobile backrowers Alex Jackowski, Rhys Andrews, and the incomparable Daniel Hughes, not to mention the unceasingly accurate and effective hits from second-rower Luke Burbidge.

This defensive set eventually gave way to an offensive sequence of play, seeing the Gosford wingers use their blistering pace and clairvoyant chemistry to put the decidedly svelte (un-portly) James Groves in the corner to score in a scintillating 60m effort. George Pamenter (despite his depleted hamstrings) was once again able to add the extras, rendering the score 19-5 to Gosford.

Again, Abingdon were strong in the fight after this score, threatening with their own forays down the flanks and punches through the middle, yet they were unable to convert these efforts into scoreboard pressure despite some excellent play.

The final score of the game came after the ball was lost on the floor by Abingdon and scooped up by Gosford, eventually reaching the hands of winger Joe Beesley who sprinted downfield only to be tackled in an incredibly dramatic fashion. The low and powerful tackle (which is worth noting was without malice) saw Joe perform a fiercely abrupt and complete rotation that would be more at home in the Cirque du Soleil.

Quick recycled ball then saw turn-over king Sam Malton later in the play charging towards the try-line only to be stopped by a high tackle agonizingly close to the try-line. Judged to be a cynical and illegal tackle preventing a try-scoring opportunity, the referee awarded a penalty try to Gosford and sent the offending Abingdon player to the bin for ten.

A well-marshalled defence and many excellent kicks to touch by Harry Sutton kept the pressure on Abingdon and saw Gosford finish the game 26-5 winners.

Special mentions need to be given to the Gosford front-row players – Liam Donnelly, Myles Selvey, Tom Heydon, and Nathan Parsons – for providing an excellent scrummaging platform and continuing to offer many carries throughout the game. Furthermore, it was wonderful to see the return of Patrick Mackenzie after a long injury rehabilitation whose literal immediate impact off the bench made everyone simultaneously wince and smile.

A final recognition needs to be given to George Pamenter for his faithful reconstruction of the most poignant moment in the military classic Platoon, dropping to his knees having given everything for his team in the middle of the park.

Tap Social Man of the Match: Shared between Alex Jackowski and Joe Beesley.

Scorers:
Joe Beesley 1T
Jake Townsend 1T
George Pamenter 2C
James Groves 1T
Penalty Try 1T