Keble unlock third division
Keble and Pembroke go head to head during Keble’s promotion-winning victory.
Rugby Third Division
Keble...........................40
Pembroke..................12
A robust Keble side secured their place in the second division next term with a compelling first-half performance on Thursday afternoon at University Parks. The pre-kick-off tension was a testament to the crucial nature of this match, with victory elevating the winner out of the third tier. Keble were determined from the outset and took the game by the scruff off the neck in the early stages, their exceptional forward pack leading the way.
Centre John Lamb bagged Keble’s first points collecting an audacious cross-field kick to touch down in the corner. Rich Massey’s conversion edged them further ahead. Despite Pembroke’s efforts Lamb did not relent, combining with captain Jack Wills superbly to evade four tackles to score magnificently between the posts again with Massey adding the extra two.
With Keble sensing that promotion was within grasp, the forwards bossed the ruck as the Pembroke backs became resigned merely to chasing the sartorially-bizarre striped socks of Wills as he interchanged passes confidently with winger, Alex Fox. This relentless pressure was converted to points on 32 minutes.
The home side won a lineout ten metres from the line, and the Keble front eight again demonstrated their dominance as the maul powered over the line with Massey scoring the try before converting to give a comfortable 21 point advantage. Keble’s right-winger Paul Selvey-Clinton added a simple fourth try, sidestepping Dominic Hammond, the Pembroke fullback, with ease. The sublime pace of both Selvey-Clinton and Fox continued to trouble the Pembroke defence as halftime neared.
The Keble forwards proved their superiority by turning over yet another lineout and a passage of swift, precise passing enabled Selvey-Clinton to go over wide on the right on the stroke of half-time. Massey made it three out of four successes with the boot and at 33-0, the promotion decider looked as good as over at the interval.
The Pembroke XV left the pitch in an understandably dejected manner, whilst Keble skipper Wills was urging his men to add to their points tally and, “show them why we are going up a division”. This buoyed Pembroke and when play resumed, it was evident that the result was not yet a formality. A resurgent Pembroke back line, inspired by the tenacity of Hammond and fly-half Tim Catling, began to dent the Keble defensive line.
Catling’s kicking was accurate and deep, pinning Keble back in their own territory for the first ten minutes of the second period. A slick passing movement culminated in Catling opening Pembroke’a account, touching down near the right touchline. Pembroke’s stylish attacking display continued and they proceeded to score one more in quick succession.
Catling was again involved, popping the ball into the arms of Hammond who negotiated two Keble challenges, running the ball home between the posts. An accurate left-footed Catling conversion made the score 33-12. The boat had been rocked and a Pembroke fight-back defiantly looked on the cards.
However, Keble held strong and resisted, with Selvey-Clinton controversially denied his hattrick for overrunning a deft Lamb kick down the line, but a final converted try was notched up by replacement Bob Pitham. Jubilant at the final whistle, the Keble captain Wills told The Oxford Student, 'We should never have been down in the third division.'
With several promising freshers and a backbone of experience in the side, Keble have laid out their wares as a second division side to be reckoned with in Hilary term.
10th Nov 2005