Sunday saw the ISRFC Lambs play their second game of the season as they travelled to the Richmond Athletic Ground to take on London Scottish.
Having lost their opening fixture 46-24 to Irish Exiles, it was an important game for the Lambs to get their confidence and ‘Fast And Free’ style going strong for the season ahead.
They did so magnificently, securing a 60-12 victory on a crisp winter’s day to really kick start their season.
The Lambs began the game with their leadership group of captain Owen Jones and vice captains Tyler Tomlinson and Jack Trundley on the bench, thus asking those on the field to step into those roles, and the side selected did not let them down.
Within five minutes the Lambs had scored through Taunton School’s William Perry, starting on the left wing, before Churcher’s College blindside doubled the lead to 10-0 a couple of minutes later.
His schoolmate, fullback Zac Rodber, was instrumental in the build up to the Lambs’ third try, releasing fly half Alfred Garside (Norwich) with a sumptuous offload. Framlingham College’s Harry Bureau converted for a 17-0 lead just a quarter of an hour in.
Five minutes later Bureau’s centre colleague Daichi Budiman of Exeter School crossed for a perfectly judged set piece try before The Oratory’s William Bruce Vanderpuye extended the advantage with a try from the bench, Wisbech Grammar’s Jack Trundley converting for 29-0 having also come on.
As half time beckoned Trundley’s fellow vice captain, Tyler Tomlinson of Felsted, also scored, having come off the bench too. However it was London Scottish that would have the last say of the half as they blasted over with a great line from the set piece to leave the half time score at 36-7 in the Lambs’ favour.
The Lambs were right back on it for the start of the second half though, Budiman crossing for his second after seven minutes before Caterham openside Tyler Norwood battled over for their second of the half. Trundley converting for 48-7.
Scottish hit back though, scoring a ‘Lambs-esque’ try of their own, once again through their magnificent inside centre. However the irrepressible Norwood stopped any whiff of a rally as he scored his second on the hour mark for a 53-12 lead.
There was still time for one more try though, and it fell, deservingly, to Trent College scrum half Harry Finney, who closed the game out for a quite sensational 60-12 victory.
Looking Forward
The Lambs have a couple of weeks off now before they travel to Methyr RFC on Saturday 9th February to take on Crawshay’s Welsh XV. It’s Welsh opposition again a week later but this time in Rutland at Oakham RFC, with Boys Club of Wales the visitors.
There is then a bit of a break ahead of the Tour of South Africa, which departs on Thursday 4th April, taking in four games before returning on Monday 15th.
ISRFC Lambs XV:
15 Zac Rodber (Churcher’s College), 14 Archie Nicholson (St Edward’s, Oxford), 13 Harry Bureau (Framlingham College), 12 Daichi Budiman (Exeter School), 11 William Perry (Taunton), 10 Alfred Garside (Norwich), 9 Harry Finney (Trent College), 1 Alex Smith (Millfield), 2 Henry Hoyles (Wisbech Grammar), 3 Alfie Gibson (Millfield), 4 Louis Fielden (Wellingborough), 5 Max Robertson (Ipswich), 6 Tom Bloomer (Churcher’s College), 7 Tyler Norwood (Caterham), 8 Thomas Walsh (Taunton).
Replacements: 16 Joseph Sawdon (Queen Ethelburga’s), 17 Dudley Lochlan (Stamford), 18 Will Cooper (New Hall), 19 Tyler Tomlinson (Felsted, vc), 20 Owen Jones (King’s Macclesfield, captain), 21 Alexandar Sharam (Cheltenham College), 22 Rhys Jones (Reed’s), 23 William Bruce Vanderpuye (The Oratory), 24 Jack Trundley (Wisbech Grammar, vc).
ISRFC Lambs Season Schedule:
Sunday 13th January – Lambs 24-46 Irish Exiles
Sunday 20th January – Lambs v London Scottish (RAG, 12.15pm)
Saturday 9th February – Lambs v Crawshays Welsh (Methyr RFC, 1.30pm)
Sunday 17th February – Lambs v Boys Club of Wales (Oakham RFC, 1pm)
Thursday 4th April – Tour Departs
Saturday 6th April – Lambs v Festival 1 (Kingswood College)
Monday 8th April – Lambs v Festival 2 (Kingswood College)
Wednesday 10th April – Lambs v Festival 3 (Kingswood College)
Saturday 13th April – Lambs v Western Province
Monday 15th April – Tour Returns
