31/3/08
Old Whitgiftians 18 – 22 Old Caterhamians
Centre Wade Turney bundled over in the final minute of this dramatic encounter to not only give Old Cats the win but in all likelihood secure their Surrey One status.
Struggling through injuries and a loss of form and confidence, Cats pulled together a display of immeasurable character aptly led by heroic skipper Jon Delicata.
It was quite possibly the No8’s finest game in an Old Cats shirt as he inspired his team in the last ten minutes towards the vital score with a series of bullocking charges upfield.
With the away side staring down the barrel of yet another defeat at 18-
With arms waving he cajoled his team into one last effort and spurned an easy to three point penalty, bravely opting to run the ball at the heart of the Whitgiftian defence himself.
Backed by the impressive Cats pack, they charged towards the line, only for the herculian captain to be hauled down a yard short.
Centre Turney, who had joined the driving maul, picked and dotted down to secure a memorable and priceless win.
He dusted himself off to convert the winning score before letting the home fans, who had unsportingly booed every penalty kick, know exactly who had won the game.
A win next week against Battersea Ironsides will make sure Cats play in Surrey One next season.
Cats had charged into an early lead with returning hooker Tim Simms finishing a fine move involving both backs and forwards.
A Wade Turney penalty was added before Old Whits crossed the line to make the score
8-
Delicata scored again for Old Cats, before the home team responded with two penalties before the most controversial moment in the game.
Fly half Alex Rayment was being prevented from taking a quick lineout, so threw the ball at an Old Whitgiftian player standing a yard away from him.
Rayment expected the referee to blow for a penalty as the ball was not allowed to travel 5m.
Instead, as the Cats players looked on in utter disbelief, the referee allowed play to continue and the Whitgift player to stroll in unopposed between the posts for a seven point score.
The character shown to put the referee’s howler behind them and go on to win the game was outstanding.
“It was such a great feeling to get that winning score,” said Turney. “I always enjoy playing here and we always seem to win.
“The effort we showed today was immense. It was great to silence their crowd at the end.”
It was a case of deja-
Head coach Paul Loader, who is leaving to join Crawley next season, said: “That is exactly what I love about this club. When everything was against us, we refused to give in.
“All the players were fantastic today.”
Prop forward Andrew Mackie, making his first team debut, impressed as did Dan Pollard and Reece Williams upfront while flanker Sam Thomas made a real impact from the bench.
Wing Alex Skinner also produced another electric display.
Please ring captain Jon Delicata (07725269435) below for further comment.