Guildford Rugby Club
Match report, Winchester v Guildford 19 October 2024
Winchester 57 – 12 Guildford
19th October 2024
Another Difficult Outing for Guildford in Winchester
Team: 1 Paddy Wood, 2 Ed Pasfield, 3 Jon Karimian, 4 George Angel, 5 Alex Burrill, 6 Ollie Millward, 7 Tom Devereaux, 8 Joe Garner 9 Charlie Cuervo, 10 Joe Gwyther, 11 Liam Driscoll, 12 Tyler Pickford, 13 Alex Jordan, 14 Solomon Poole*, 15 Rob Voller (c)
Replacements: 16, Jacob Jones, 17 Matt Poole, 18 Charlie Hamilton
(*Debut)
Scorers: Try: Pasfield, Millward Cons: Voller (1)
Guildford's tough start to the season continued on Saturday as they were outclassed by a strong Winchester side, succumbing to a 57-12 defeat at North Walls Park. The visitors, still searching for their first win of the campaign, struggled to keep pace with their opponents despite moments of promise.
In contrast to the miserable weather forecast that followed a night of torrential rain, the day turned out to be warm and sunny, with the pitch soft and slightly wet. These conditions seemed to suit the hosts, who took full advantage of Guildford's mistakes.
The Guildford lineup saw a few enforced changes. In the forwards, the same pack that impressed last week against Totts was largely retained, with only George Angel stepping up from the bench to replace the injured Jordan Brodly. Brodly’s absence was felt, though Guildford are hopeful he will return next week. In the backs, Joe Gwyther returned at fly-half, while Liam Driscoll made his season debut in the unfamiliar role of winger. Solomon Poole, impressing for the Blues in recent matches, was rewarded with his first start on the opposite wing, while Alex Jordan shifted to outside centre in place of the injured Ollie Fielder. Sadly, it looks like Ollie will be out for several weeks after sustaining an injury in training earlier in the week. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Despite these changes, the Guildford players approached the match with determination. Their pre-match preparations showed a focus and intensity that suggested they were ready to break their winless streak. For much of the first half, the match was evenly contested. Guildford’s defence held firm, and their scrum and lineout were solid. However, as has been the story of their season so far, errors proved costly.
It wasn’t until deep into the first half that Winchester broke the deadlock, scoring a try through a well-executed driving maul. Although the hosts gradually began to dominate, Guildford remained competitive and struck back with a try of their own through hooker Ed Pasfield. Unfortunately, Rob Voller, who has been very consistent from the tee this season, was unable to convert, leaving the score at 21-5.
Guildford’s hopes of building momentum were repeatedly dashed by their own mistakes. Winchester were ruthless in capitalising on these errors, quickly transitioning into attack and scoring another converted try to extend their lead to 28-5.
The visitors did show flashes of their potential, and a well-worked move from right to left resulted in a try for Ollie Millward in the corner. Normal service was resumed and Voller landed a fine conversion from the touchline to bring the score to 28-12.
Winchester resumed control of the match and added a penalty just before the half-time whistle, leaving the visitors trailing 31-12 at the break.
The second half was a one-sided affair, as Winchester ran in four unanswered tries. Guildford battled hard to get back into the game but continued to be hampered by handling errors and turnovers. Winchester’s clinical finishing ensured there would be no way back for the visitors.
For Guildford, the defeat highlighted ongoing issues with consistency and player availability. Frequent changes in the backline have made it difficult to build the cohesion required at this level. The forward pack has shown promise, but the squad’s ability to gel as a unit remains a work in progress.
Next week’s fixture at home to Newbury, another side struggling at the bottom of the table, is shaping up to be a crucial encounter. Both teams will be desperate for a victory, and Guildford will need to find a way to cut out the errors and deliver a complete performance if they are to secure their first win of the season. I am certain that the lads would welcome a full balcony cheering them on to the first win of the season. Come on Gs!
Full-Time: Winchester 57 – 12 Guildford
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