DRAGONS PUFF TO VICTORY
By Shola Adenekan
The Dragons – Westminster’s rugby team - are SESSA Bowl and
league champions.
They thrashed Canterbury’s Christ Church University College 31-5
on Wednesday.
The one-sided encounter at Chiswick Sports ground saw the Dragons’
brilliant fly half, Ernest, scoring a hat trick of tries and taking his
rugby career into a new chapter.
On a rain-drenched pitch, the dragons took the game straight to their
opponents denying them any breathing space in the centre field through
the power of their backs and the dynamism of their hooker.
Christ Church were completely overwhelmed in the scrums and rucks. But
strong defending from their backs prevented the Dragons from touching
down early on.
Much of the first half was spent in and out of Christ Church's 22. But
ten minutes from the end of the half, the Dragon's scrum half, Ali, went
over the line to register his team's first try. The conversion was missed
and the half ended 5 – 0.
Andy Franco, the Dragons’ player-manager, decided to take matters
into his own hands in the second half by coming in for Jamie. “We
are too pumped up for the game,” he said during the half-time pep
talk. “And the adrenaline is not allowing us to concentrate on the
match,” he added.
Franco worked his magic on the team in the second half. The Dragons drained
all the energy from their opponents. The backs stormed the ragged fortress
of Christ Church, setting Ali and Ernest loose to torment their defence.
The Dragons scored again in the 42nd minute through Ernest - with Keeve
converting the ensuing penalty.
Playing with a strong wind at their backs and bolstered by the introduction
of Maynard, the Dragons pummelled Christ Church into total submission
with three successive tries.
The Dragons’ attacks were unrelenting. And it was not until the
79th minute that Christ Church managed to salvage some pride through Dave,
their full-back, who scored a try from a scrum - but the conversion was
missed.
In the end, Westminster not only won the coveted Bowl Cup but also maintained
their unassailable home record - bar one – for the season.
Westminster University: (31)
Medsker, Hamerton, Sihaloho, Roe, Ryan G, Kmirnov, Lee, Grace, Keith
W, Ali M, Magnus M, Newton, Spencer, Maynard O, Sanford, Franco, Knisell,
Jul L, Francis, Koji
Christ Church University College (5):
Wood, Warrison, Don, Andy, Roseberry, Smith, Dave, Rata, Sage,McGavin, Callaby, Davie, Vicar, Aldrin, Stana, Rothwell