City League Rugby - RICS take on PwC in East London

On a cold spring night, the intense heat of competition between these two competitive City League’s teams produced a warm glow for the spectators to bask in at East London on Wednesday night. RICS looking to retain their unbeaten season and PwC battling for a place in the final. The result was a 24-12 win for RICS and now PwC must await other results to see if they make either the Cup or Plate final in May.

PwC got the game underway, but n ot in a good way, their kick off was not 10 so offering immediate attacking options for RICS in the middle of the pitch however, after a few hit-ups by the forwards, the ball was span wide only to be knocked-on giving PwC a scrum near the halfway line and an opportunity to take the game to RICS however, RICS are always up for the fight and gained a penalty for not releasing the ball, where they took the quick tap pressurised the PwC 22m line resulting in another penalty for not rolling away and duly kick for the corner gaining a 5m lineout.?Things don’t go to plan and they lose the lineout allowing PwC to clear the pressure. RICS then launch a series of attacks trying to go round, over or under the PwC defence, but they hold firm. Eventually the pressure tells and from a chip over the defence RICS, winger Elliot Swallow out jumps the fullback and scores under the posts, converting his try to make it 7-0 to RICS after 10 minutes.

PwC restart and RICS tighthead catches the ball and charges forward like a rhino on heat smashing through the PwC defensive line and onto their 10m line before being felled. He has unfortunately run so fast his support is lacking and concedes a penalty for holding on. PwC take the quick tap and run it back at RICS before a knock on ends their attack. The game sways back and forth, end to end, for the next 20 minutes with defences holding out. RICS then get the ball wide to their winger with the No 9 shirt (very confusing) Swallow who runs a beautiful weaving run down the left-hand side of the pitch only to be stopped in his tracks by a superb cover tackle 5 meters short of the line but it’s now the turn of the forwards to batter the PwC defence which holds out until the inevitable happens and No.7 Charlie Spilsbury goes over to the left of the posts and No.13 Tom O’Rourke makes the conversion. 14-0 to RICS after 30 minutes gone.

PwC restart again needing to close the gap before half time. PwC press hard from the kick-off and force a turnover 1m out but their attack is met by a RICS defiance, eventually giving away a penalty under the posts where PwC opt for the scrum to tie in the pack. The PwC captain No. 8 Josh Glanville picks-up but is stopped short however, the follow-up from the quick ruck is good and at last the RICS defence is breached, and the try is scored under the posts by No. 4 Jacob Leigh setting up an easy conversion. The PwC kicker, Dan O’Rourke no relation to the RICS kicker Tom O’Rourke I am told, doesn’t like doing things the easy way it would appear, when his kick hits the cross bar then the left-hand post before going over. Odds could be heard being discussed as he re-joined the team regarding if he could do that again if he tried. 14 -7 RICS 33 mins gone. The half ends shortly after with no further score. A tense half of tight defence in marked difference to other games this season where attack was everything.

RICS start proceedings in the second half and PwC come at them but knock on. RICS however lose the ball at the first ruck from the scrum and PwC bash up the middle a few times before the quick blitz defence of RICS get a penalty for PwC holding midfield. Ref adds 10 for a bit of backchat. Now deep into the PwC half, RICS go wide on the open side from the tap but the left wing drops it. The attack though goes on as PwC were offside, so the ref brings play back for the penalty. RICS quickly move the ball to the PwC 5m line and bash left and over the line, but the defence is strong and the ball is held-up so it’s a goaline drop out to PwC. RICS catch the ball start their attack passing the ball wide, then kick. The ball is knocked-on by the PwC defender, so scrum down to RICS inside the PwC 22 near the right hand touchline. The ball is shipped along the line to Swallow who uses the large openside to arc round the PwC defence, then run down the left touchline before stepping in past the fullback to score to the left of the posts, a lovely individual try. The conversion is missed but RICS have restored their 2-score lead. 19-7 44 minutes gone.

The score remains the same for 25 minutes before the next try. There was plenty of action in-between though, following the pattern of the first half, with defences in top form. The stalemate was eventually broken by PwC when, from a quick tap penalty on their own 10m line managed to carve through the RICS defence and Chris Crick recycle fast ball and burst over the line 10m to the left of the posts. Dan O’Rourke was unsuccessful with the conversion so it’s 19-12 with 10 minutes to go.

From the kick-off, PwC knock-on but the man in front picks up so the ref awards a penalty to RICS, who spin the ball wide?and slowly work the ball down the wing to the 5m line, this time No 6 Cameron Coulson dives over the try line 5m in for the left-hand touchline. The conversion is unsuccessful, and the final few minutes are played out.

Final score 25-12 to RICS in an enthralling encounter. PwC gave it everything, but RICS were just that bit better and must be favourites to retain the Cup.

If your company would like to join the City League Rugby next season or you would like to be added to our player pool, please DM @paulvolley