The previous encounter between the two sides had seen Tadley take their worst drubbing of the year but with a rebuilt forward pack that has been out-muscling the bigger league sides of late, Tadley travelled with hopes that an upset might just be possible.
Tadley made a number of personnel changes from the side that narrowly lost to Cheltenham two weeks previously, with Paul Collins, Duncan Harris and Darren Staley returning to the starting line-up in the pack and wingers Gareth Cripps-Jones and Nick Curtin slotting into a rejigged back line-up that saw Gavin Dampies starting at outside centre.
Swanage started the game at an impressive pace that would be characteristic of their style of play throughout the afternoon and soon set the scoreboard moving as their inside centre capitalised on some quality ball from the solid Swanage pack and some weak tackling from the visitors to cross under the posts.
In fact it was not until the visitors had conceded two converted tries that they actually managed to get their hands on the ball and play some rugby on their own terms. When this was possible, Tadley showed what they can do and were rewarded with a try through the ever-rapid Gavin Dampies.
Unfortunately this was to be an all too brief passage of play as Swanage were able to dominate both in the line-out and in the loose, their excellent half backs providing swift service to a clinical set of backs who ran in a further 3 tries before the half time break.
Down to 14-men following Darren Staley’s sinbinning, Tadley started the second half with more aggression and greater control in the set piece. Gavin Dampies was able to add a second try as Tadley re-opened the scoring before settling into a period of dominance that belied the state of the game and their lowly league position.
Unfortunately, as has too frequently been the case this season, Tadley’s period of pressure did not yield the points that it deserved. They scored no further points in the half and the home side, who had played intelligently but without any great flair, were able to run in a number of further tries, leaving the scoreline looking rather heavily weighted towards Swanage.
A disappointing result for Tadley, not least because their already ugly-looking points difference took an unhelpful battering on a weekend when 2 of the bottom 4 side managed victories.
The game was not without signs of the quality that the side possesses but served to highlight that periods of pressure need to be converted to points and that even the slightest mistakes and areas of weakness will be punished by the better-drilled sides in this league.
Tadley are left with 4 league games against the 4 sides also embroiled in the race to escape relegation. The task ahead is clear: Tadley must win these games. The team know that this is possible but that if this is to be achieved, it will require full commitment and a team effort equal to and in excess of the remarkable run that Tadley put together at the end of the 06/07 season in order to reach this league. The challenge is there; the outcome of the season is still in the hands of the players. |
