England Deaf beat Wales 14-11
by Howard Gilbert

The England Deaf Rugby team, sponsored in their Four Nations campaign by American Express and Terex, kicked off their home tie against World Champions Wales at Newbury RFC in a match supported by Monitor Risk Management Ltd.
This was the proverbial game of two halves with a confident first half Welsh performance faltering when England finally settled to play with greater fluidity and reliability to gain a fine win.

The Wales start showed an experienced, well-organised team with feisty forwards providing good opportunities for attacking backs. England conceded an early penalty for encroaching and Mark Withey converted a simple opportunity in front of the posts. Wales continued this early pressure as England's nerves produced handling errors and a tendency to kick away hard won possession.

A foray into Welsh territory led to a penalty for full back Gavin Jackson, but at 3-3 it was still Wales dominating much of the play and with their large second row stealing England lineout ball stout defence was called for from the England pack. Captain Richard Jackson, leading by example from No 8, was well supported by hooker Tim Sawyer and flanker Mathew Gilbert made a try stopping tackle on the Welsh winger at the corner flag, following England's loss of possession in midfield.

However, Wales still had the majority of the attacking opportunities and a forward drive and maul saw Wales work the ball from midfield to create a huge overlap for their backs, and crisp handling produced a try by Nigel Francis in the corner. This was unconverted so Wales led 8-3 and this was later followed by a further penalty to give Wales an 11-3 lead at half time.

Motivated by Head Coach Geoff Atkinson's pep talk, and a few tactical switches that saw Richard Jackson moving to second row to replace Steve Bloxham and Gilbert now at No 8, England took to the field with fresh determination. Other substitutions followed and these fresh players helped to win turnover ball. Sawyer had some charging runs supported by Danny Piesley, whilst Gilbert and scrum half Peit Everett combined well to take England into Welsh territory. This new confidence saw Wales concede a further penalty bringing the score to 6-11.

Wales were now making mistakes and referee O’hara yellow carded Joe Jones for handling the ball in a ruck with England in front of the posts. Gavin Jackson again obliged with the penalty kick to take the score to England 9 Wales 11.

From an England lineout on the Welsh 10 metre line the forwards drove The maul before Everett released it through the swift hands of Toby Borradaile and Nick Doyle moved it quickly down the back line where Gilbert popped up to create an overlap. The loose forward then sucked in both Welsh centre and wing before releasing flying winger Ben Warner to score by the flag for England's first international try. Jackson's conversion attempt came off the post but England were leading 14-11 with less than 10 minutes to play.

Forwards Taylor, Millard and Pothecary fought it out up front to secure possession from a Welsh side determined not to lose. With Wales seizing every opportunity, this pressure led to an England sin binning as Gilbert played the ball from an offside position to deny Wales possession. In all the Welsh team were awarded three penalty attempts but on each occasion, kicking into a tricky wind, Francis failed to find the target and equalise the scores.

So England won their first International 14-11 in front of an appreciative crowd of 700. They had held their nerve against a confident Welsh side in the first half, and played with greater authority in the second to win their first Four Nations match.
Craig Crowley, Chairman of UK Deaf Sport, awarded the Man of the Match trophy to England's Mathew Gilbert, Duke of York's Royal Military School and Dover RFC

Quotes

Steve Wherry, Secretary of England Deaf Rugby Union - "I am still too emotional to talk about the game! Full credit to all players, management, officials, the RFU, UK Deaf Sport, Newbury RFC, sponsors, advertisers, volunteers and supporters - without them, this great deaf sporting event would not have happened! Well done!"

Richard Jackson, England Deaf Rugby Captain – “It’s not every day you beat the reigning world champions and by eck it feels good!

“The whole squad from the playing and coaching to the management staff came together to enable us to pull off not just a great win on the pitch but also a victory for the whole organisation structure. We should never forget the effort that the back room staff put in to enable us to go out on to the pitch to play the game.
Once the whistle goes it is the turn of the players to show their capabilities, and what a good job we did there. From France in October we as a squad and team have moved on 400%. Players came to the fore at Newbury and really showed their mettle. Mat Gilbert 18!, what a talent. Mat can play in the forwards or the backs and showed that he could do this with equal talent. He deserved his man of the match award just for the ground he covered. Lets not forget the Welsh who fought us all the way and made it such a great game.

“Both our forwards and the backs didn't really start to gel until the second half, not that we were not up to the battle but after just one competitive match since October we took time to get to know each other and start putting our moves together. In the second half our set pieces became solid and open play fluid which gave us the platform that we required to come back at the Welsh. A great example of our determination was shown with the last tackle of the game that led to the last Welsh minute missed penalty, as the welsh fullback broke through 3 players tackled back some 20 yards to foil him.

“This is a great springboard for our next game against France in Lille and also a step in the right direction in our aim towards competing at next years world cup.

“An overall impressive performance, well done lads!”

James Evans, Wales Deaf Rugby Captain – ‘I felt very proud at leading the side out against England and I'm gutted at losing. Overall we had a game-plan and we didn’t play it, it is a big disappointment because the game-plan may have won the game for us. Full credit must go to England and congratulations on their win.’

Richard Jones, Chair of Wales Deaf Rugby Union – ‘I was very disappointed for Wales Deaf team losing against England Deaf team but was encouraged with England as this means Wales v England Deaf rugby match will become a regular event.’

Craig Crowley, Chairman of UK Deaf Sport – “We at UK Deaf Sport have been impressed at the way both England and Wales Deaf rugby teams have grown in strength over the past few years and that is down to the support and recognition by their own Governing Bodies.

“They have set positive examples for other Deaf hopefuls to go through the stages irrespective of their communication differences – it’s all about inclusion.”