London Exiles vs. Mayfair Occasionals: 12/02/22

On an idle winter’s day for rugby, bright and with a bit of a breeze blowing down the pitch, the Exiles took on the Mayfair Occasionals, which from a size perspective seemed quite a serious undertaking. Exiles were lucky to start rapidly out the gates, and with some flowing attacking rugby from the backs punctuated with some quick forward play around the rucks, they were able to start the game with three tries, from second row Dan Finnamore, fullback Rob and hooker Niall Smith, with two conversion from James Warcup. Taking their foot off the gas after this however would see the Occasionals pull themselves back into the fight, scoring three of their own, to pull into a 2 point lead, converting their tries. Regrouping under the posts, with 10 minutes left in the first half, Exiles came out playing attacking rugby into the wind, utilising low kicks to get a 50:22 from Oliver Bevan and gain good territory at the end of the second half, capitalising with a penalty to bring Exiles back into a one point lead at the break, 22-21.

The second half began as the first half ended, with Exiles taking advantage of the wind this time, with multiple 50:22s providing a strong foundation for a forward attack. With more expansive play and forwards spread across the backline, second row Dan Gordon was able to hit a line break and crash over for a try. But no sooner had the Exiles laid down a marker, the Occasionals stepped up their game. Disrupting the lineout at times and not allowing the Exiles clean ball that they had been seeing in the first half, the Occasionals began punishing the Exiles for lapses in concentration, scoring and converting two tries, stretching into a 31-29 lead over the Exiles. Forced to regather themselves again under the posts, the Exiles came out with a renewed aggression, feistily competing at the breakdown and utilising their kicking game again, saw progress down the pitch and the Exiles playing in the attack part of the pitch. This pressure then finally paid off with Jack Read making a line break and scoring a try under the posts for the Exiles, making the outhalf’s job that bit easier. With the score at 36-31 to the Exiles, the Occasionals piled on the pressure, but the Exiles were able to hold out for a well earned and hard fought victory, to make it two on the bounce and a great start to 2022.