The auspices weren’t good. Vigo travelling to Kent’s Costa del Geriatrica to face second placed Thanet Wanderers with a team missing so many players that your correspondent was asked if he fancied a game. I know it sounds like a broken record but for the last couple of seasons, Vigo seemed to have been cursed. The toss up was to whether to appoint a physio or an exorcist. Fortunately, we appointed the delightful Marissa (although I did happen to spy a copy of The Exorcist’s Handbook amongst the various bandages, unguents and lotions in her bag.)
But this team astounded everyone with a superb first half, taking the fight to their hosts with an impassioned and committed display. In fact, they could well, possibly should have had a healthy lead by the break, if it hadn’t had been for an absolutely superb defensive effort by Thanet. It sounds a bit crass to say that the Thanet defence won the match. Thanet are a predominantly young team, get plenty of players to training and their fitness was as big a factor as their extraordinary defence.
Vigo started on the back foot, probably most of the players barely recognising each other, and Thanet ominously scored within the first three minutes, when they managed to retrieve the ball from a disintegrating scrum and move the ball wide to the left wing. Adam Fitzgerald stooped that threat but Thanet recycled the ball for Royal Marine Finn White to blast over from short distance. Louis ‘’Sonar’’ Downer added the extras. It all looked a tad ill-boding for the Villagers but with the magnificent front row of James, Rawlings and veteran Cox taking the fight to Thanet, Vigo blazed back into contention. Whitehead, Carslaw and Pattison’s kicking was excellent, continuously finding space, which the pack exploited. A driving maul from a line out deep in Vigo territory brought a penalty which Tony Whitehead pumped deep, and from there Vigo basically set up camp. The callow back row of Gavin Cole, Kieran Hall and Rob Lancaster (who has never played in the pack before let alone at 8, beavered industriously whilst Ben Howe and especially Phil Sewell kept smashing into the Thanet ranks. It was thrilling stuff but Thanet’s tackling was superb, time after time tackling Vigo on the gain line.
It naturally brought a spate of penalties. Vigo opted to go for tries, where the more prosaic kick at goal, might have been the better idea. But such was their dominance in the scrum that adrenaline took over from rationality, and Vigo kept coming. Half the pack drove at various times on the line, agonising inches short, half the backs joined in the fun but they too were stopped with a brick wall of a defence. After a series of penalties in the red zone and a final warning, came another penalty and a final final warning and eventually the sixth penalty on the ten-metre line brought the yellow card for full back Henry Mirans to ‘take one for the team’ and spend 10 minutes on the naughty step. This time Tony Whitehead took the kick to open Vigo’s account. Needless to say, then Vigo lost the ball, Thanet cleared and extracted a penalty which Downer kicked to restore the 7-point advantage. But back came Vigo and smashed into Thanet once more. An excellent move saw Adam Fitzgerald released and he drove over the line only for Nick Herbert to pull off an amazing tackle to hold up the hefty Fitzy over the line. Sam Tye and Lews Pitchell came within inches of latching onto a couple of brilliant Whitehead kicks but Vigo simply could not find a way through. All credit must go to Thanet’s tenacity in the tackle. On another day, against a lesser defence, Vigo might have scored a handful of tries, but might-haves don’t win games. But Vigo must have been pleased with their efforts, the 10-3 scoreline was more than the trusty band of supporters could have dreamed of.
But it all changed in the second half. Whether the home team had received the hair-dryer treatment at half time, Elliot Blackmore (ex-Vigo coach) was rather coy to discuss. Whatever, Thanet came out all guns blazing and were soon extending their lead. A simple move down the backs gave Louis Marshall space and he swept over for an excellent try, Downer converting. Encouraged and inspired Thanet attacked from all angles, and perhaps if they had been a bit less baroque with their passing they might have scored. Eventually they forsook the frills and fripperies and fed Tom O’Callahan on the right wing who scored. A couple of minutes later, Downer made an outstanding break through a maze of Vigo defenders before feeding Callahan for his second, Downer adding the extras. Three tries in 7 minutes simply drained the energy out of the Villagers. The injuries were taking their toll. Sam Tye and the outstanding Harry Lingham were carrying shoulder injuries, which severely restricted their tackling, whilst Adam Fitzgerald and Phil Sewell both limped off. But from somewhere Vigo dredged up some last spark of defiance. They drove hard, and once again set up camp on the Thanet line. Again Cox, James, Rawlings, Carslaw and Barrett were brought down short of the line. If Thanet had relaxed after their scoring spree, their defence hadn’t, again brilliantly stopping the wave of Vigo attacks. But Vigo were not to be denied and one more attack saw Will James burrow over from short distance for a thoroughly well-deserved try.
Thanet seemed rather taken back by Vigo’s impertinence, almost from the kick off worked the ball to Marshall who tore over, with barely a hand laid on him. Now, Thanet began to expand, moving the ball sweetly, and it was Vigo’s turn to be forced to defend. Barrett, as ever, brought off some last-ditch tackles, Lingham defending heroically with basically one arm. Still Vigo held on, but the effort had been to much. The magnificent Will James was down to walking pace, battered into submission, but there was no-one left on the bench. Marshall was again released down the wing, and he had serious gas, outpacing Vigo’s defence to score. Downer again broke through but his pass was grassed, Vigo’s scrum, which was still pretty solid but, for once, and it was the only time, they mis controlled the ball and Nick Herbert was able to steal the ball and drive over, with just a couple of minutes remaining, Vigo virtually on their knees with exhaustion. Downer’s conversion was the coup de grace, the referee mercifully signalling the end of what turned out to be a slaughter. Vigo had given their all.
Vigo team: A.Fitzgerald (rep: B.Carter 50’); L.Pitchell, F.Barrett, T.Whitehead, S.Tye (rep: H.Lingham 5’, rep: Tye 30’); H.Pattison, D.Carslaw; D.Cox, G.Rawlings, W.James; B.Howe, P.Sewell (rep: Lingham 53’); G.Cole, K.Hall; R.Lancaster.
Referee: Mark Shaw (Kent)

Points: Thanet: Tries: White (3’), Marshall (43’,55’,75’), Callahan (45’,50’), Herbert(78’). Cons: Downer (5). Pens: Downer (37’). Vigo: Try: James (53’). Pen: Whitehead (30’)

Man of the Match: Normally the I give the MoM to the winning side, but to ignore Will James would be a travesty, so Will James was MoM. Although Louis Marshall scored three scintillating tries, I thought ‘Sonar’ Downer was outstanding, so , for me, Thanet’s MVP was Lewis Downer.

MOG’s view. Another case of ‘If Only’. Vigo played with passion and commitment but they were, in the end, no match for Thanet’s superior fitness. George Rawlings deserves better, Terry Papworth deserves better, but if the players cannot be bothered to make training, improve their own personal fitness, then Counties 3 Kent beckons. But, what is so annoying, is that Vigo’s pack were immense, the threes showed flashes of excellence, but lack of training showed in the patterns of play not being finalised. Vigo could have, possibly should have scored 3 or 4 tries – against the team 2nd in the League. It is there, but commitment is lacking, fitness is lacking but the never ending list of injuries is even more of a major factor . I was proud of the effort and commitment put in by today’s team. They gave everything.