Streatham travelled to Ewell this week to take on league strugglers Old Glynonians. The almost perfect playing conditions completely dictated by a very strong wind blowing down the length of the pitch meaning that the team playing against it were always going to be at a disadvantage clearing their defensive lines. And as such the game was clearly a game of two halves. The final piece of the jigsaw was the very firm pitch meaning the ball was always going to bounce. Old Glyn decided to play with the wind advantage in the first half.

The decision seemed to benefit them early as they choose to kick two penalties to take an early lead. Those decisions to kick the penalties clearly the difference in the thinking of the two sides, as Streatham have become a side that now more interested in scoring tries and back themselves to do so.

The early encounter saw Streatham panic a little and some poor decision making allowed OG's to keep the pressure on, before Michael James Parker, moonlighting in the centres for a week, forced a good turnover, which then saw the ball spin a backline mixed with backs and forwards, each comfortable with what they were doing. The ball ended in the hands of Vinny Auguiste who showed the opposition a clean pair of heals to score under the posts with a 50 metre run. Ed Williams stepped up to convert the kick, it what would be the only kickable attempt he would have all day.

Unfortunately Streatham then conceded a try after OG's again applied the pressure but for some great last line defence from Captain Kai Cassemis and Tim Perry probably should have had more than a single try for their efforts. The half ended 11 points to 7 in favour of Old Glyn. Whilst they had the advantage of the weather in the first half OG's were guilty of wasting that by kicking the ball dead 4 or 5 times often with the resulting scrum taking place on or in their 22.

The half time team talk for Streatham was about doing the simple things well and getting the ball out wide to give our backs more of an opportunity to run the ball and making sure that the team didn't waste the wind advantage with some poor kicking. And to their credit the boys responded with some great attacking play.

Some neat work down the middle of the field saw Ed Williams break clear for the first try of the second half barely minutes from the start. And then the force of the strong Streatham pack started to really take effect with a series strong scrummages on the opposition 5 metre line saw the ball touched down over the line by a long stretch from Full Back Tim Perry. During that period Streatham did waste a couple of opportunities by not taking penalties and free kicks thru the mark or even managing to make the first pass a forward pass.......

And then the game changed after a serious concussion to the opposition tighthead saw the scrums go to an uncontested affair. This allowed Old Glyn an opportunity to get a foothold in the second half after a 20 minute period where they looked all but dead and buried in the match. To Streatham's credit they stood their ground before they worked another break in which Jordan Staples broke clear to score his debut try of the season for the first team.

And then the uncontested scrums started to allow Old Glyn to gain field position and they crashed over for a well earned score after Streatham dealt with the kick off poorly. Streatham's final try came from a good line break from Opeyemi Odelusi which saw him give a great off load to set winger Vinny Auguiste down the sidelines. A good tackle saw Streatham recycle the ball in field with a couple neat off loads allowing Ed Williams to score his second try of the day.

The game finished with Streatham camped on their own 5 metre line showing the great defensive capabilities that have become a hallmark of this team's season, and the way the team repelled a number of Number 8 pick and go's before the big man Opeyemi Odelusi managed to get his big paws on the ball carrier and get the ball held up in a ruck to turn the ball over for Streatham, the resulting scrum saw the boys clear their lines and close out the game. The defensive performance was optimised by the work of Man of the Match Jonnie Korcz, but that said there were a number of players who were putting their hands up for the award this week.

Next Saturday brings a rest week for the 1s before they welcome Old Rutlishians down to Frant Rd for their final Home match of the season. With 3 games to play promotion is finally out of reach mathematically but the team are in 6th place but only 4 points behind 3rd place. With a little bit of luck and a bit more consistency with team selection Streatham have a great opportunity to finish the season in a spot deserving of the way they have performed this season.

The other competition that seems to have hotted up is the race to be the club's top points scorer, with Kai Cassemis on 68 points, but new goalkicker Ed Williams closing him down on 51 points and surprisingly the club's top try scorer Elvin Grant on 40 points. Whether Cassemis can retain the Top Points scorer trophy for another season seems to be up for debate. With 3 games left it is going to be interesting to see what the outcome is.