This was one of those games when Vigo decided that they would not roll over and have their collective belly tickled by a superior force. Instead, they snarled and fought their visitors to almost a standstill. Eventually, Sidcup did enough to win the match, but they knew they had been in a dogfight with a team who just refused to quit.
But it all started ominously. As usual, Vigo were without a whole coterie of what we would call 1st team regulars – in fact, they have used 40 different players this season – but today, every player stood up and were counted. Apart from the first five minutes. In that first five minutes, the alarm bells were ringing so loud, Vigo’s supporters thought they had tinnitus. Sidcup had come out flying, Vigo thrust back with ease, as Sidcup spread the ball about as if they were on the training pitch. They soon won a penalty. Kick to the corner, catch and drive, try for the giant prop, Dave Fawole. George Bird chipped over the conversion. Vigo kicked off, poorly it has to be said, Connor MacDonald gathered stepped a couple of times, sped through some half-hearted tackles, chipped through and won the race to the line. Bird added the extras. 5 minutes – 14 points. Not exactly an inspiring start. Those with 70+ points in the Points Draw were beginning to lick their lips with anticipation of a big pay out.
But this is Vigo. Never underestimate them . In fact, this season never overestimate them. Anything can happen, and, boy oh boy, it did. Vigo kicked off, a decent kick off this time, and they competed well for the ball, Sidcup knocked on. Scrum time. A rapid unscheduled disassembly occurred to the Sidcup scrum, and Vigo were going forward. Another scrum, and a penalty as Sidcup’s scrum was again dismantled. ‘’That’s all they got, boys’’ came the cry from Sidcup’s captain. Well, actually, no. Dom Carslaw chipped the ball into touch, Vigo won the ball and set up a meaty drive towards the line. From the swirl of bodies, cries of triumph. The excellent referee, Mr. Whittingham, was perfectly placed to see Kieran Hall, safely over the line for his first try of the season. Carslaw knocked over the conversion with some style. ‘’That’s all they got, boys, scrum and lineout. Oh, and a driving maul’’, I called.
Anyway, that inspired both sides. Sidcup knew that Vigo were not to be trifled with, Vigo had the adrenalin jolt. And back they came, although there might have been a sliver of good fortune. An attempted clearance kick by Vigo was pretty awful, but perhaps because it was so awful Sidcup couldn’t deal with it. It might have been because they were laughing so much, but Vigo seized the ball and sped off upfield. Nothing immediately came of it, but Vigo had now woken up the crowd. Every small victory was cheered, every thunderous Kieran Hall or Connor Huane tackle, every steal by the inspired Dom Mickelburgh. And of course, the scrum, disparaged by Sidcup perhaps, but a very effective weapon, drawing more than a handful of penalties. One of which supplied the opening for Vigo’s next try, when Carslaw tapped and went catching Sidcup asleep. Ben Carter, who had a marvellous game, carried on the move before transferring to Nick McPherson in a great run of form, powered through to score.
Discombobulated Sidcup might have been, but they are a quality side and that shone through as they moved the ball across the pitch with accurate and swift passing. They really should have scored but managed to drop the pass a few feet from Vigo’s line. Sidcup remained on the front foot and attacked Vigo. Hall again put in a couple of hefty tackles, but Sidcup retained possession and a good kick into the corner by Enrico Rolfo brought reward, The ball, being an odd shape, bounced all over the place, away from a couple of pairs of Vigo hands but straight into the hands of George Bird who promptly scored in the last play of the half, 5 minutes into added time.
So, a decent half for Vigo, it has to be said. After some heavy defeats and knowing they were relegated, they had come with their bloody-mindedness, their cussedness to the fore, and had given Sidcup a game.
But would it last into the second period?
Well, yes in fact. Both sides flew at each other, Vigo with nothing to lose, Sidcup, missing out on promotion, but playing for their pride, traded blows. It might not have been pretty, but it kept the crowd, some of whom might have been a tad lubricated, in full voice. Sam Tye, in his first full season, and a revelation at full back, was catching everything and finding good touches, Carslaw was using all his experience and quick-wittedness to keep Sidcup on their toes, whilst Carter and Keelam in the centre were keeping Sidcup’s dangerous runners at bay. Sidcup, of course, were giving it some biff , too, their hooker Harry Metcalfe mightily involved, whilst Connor McDonald was always dangerous. So the game ebbed and flowed, Sidcup weaved some pretty patterns, Vigo’s scrum making sure that Vigo had the ability to turn any Sidcup mistake to their advantage.
Mickelburgh broke away from another dominant scrum but Vigo knocked the ball on within sight of the line. Again, Vigo’s scrum won the ball and they poured forward, driving and recycling before getting the ball to Lewis Pitchell o the wing. A superb cover tackle stopped Vigo’s young winger in the corner, but Vigo had a penalty. Of course, they chose a scrum, which they won and smashed into Sidcup again, this time it was McPherson who was stopped by an equally superb cover tackle. But, once again, the referee was playing advantage from yet another penalty. Scrum again, and this time it was successful, as they shoved Sidcup back over their line for Dom Carslaw to score a fully deserved try, converting it himself to level the scores.
Sidcup had had enough of this nonsense and attacked Vigo, moving the ball around. Vigo panicked and gave away a penalty smack in front of the posts which Bird duly kicked to take the lead. Vigo’s restart was awful, in fact that word fails to do it justice – several words sprang to mind but none of them suitable before the watershed – and Sidcup just ran the ball at a totally disorganized Vigo defence. Another kick over the top into the corner and, again the ball eluded Vigo’s grasp. But not McDonald’s as he plunged over in the corner
Vigo emptied their bench, all the replacements immediately immersed in the battle as Vigo came again. Sidcup were clearly rattled, but their defence was excellent, repulsing Vigo’s attacks, but it all got a bit heated. Mcpherson again drove over, only to be brilliantly held up over the line. Vigo were calling for a high tackle and a penalty try, nothing doing, and their frustrations boiled over and a minor war broke out, the referee calmly waiting for the dust to settle before deciding Dom Mickelburgh – who was probably less guilty than a couple of others – needed a ten minute spell in the cooler. That really ruffled Vigo feathers, and they channelled their aggression into an all-out assault on the Sidcup line. Sidcup were driven back, Chris Alford receiving a yellow card for an accumulation of offences in the ‘red zone’. And Vigo kept coming, mainly driven on by their superb scrum. Nick McPherson, by now at 8, I think – everything was a mad kaleidoscope of movement – managed to touch down after another driving scrum, although Sidcup bitterly disputed the score. But it stood, Carslaw missed the conversion but it would have made little difference as the referee blew for time almost immediately. Two teams, just playing for pride, had contributed a thoroughly entertaining game. Well done.
Vigo team: S.Tye; L.Pitchell, S.Keelam, B.Carter, M.Denman (rep: M.Griffiths 63’); N.McPherson, D. Carslaw; W.James, G.Rawlings (capt.), D.Cox; B.Howe, P.Sewell (rep: N.Covill (63’); K.Hall , C.Huane (rep: T.Cox (63’); D.Mickelburgh.

Referee: Alan Whittingham (Kent)
Man of the Match: N.McPherson. For Sidcup, MVP – Connor McDonald

Scorers: Vigo : Hall (12’), McPherson (40’, 79’), Carslaw (59’). Cons : Carslaw (2) Sidcup: Fawole (3’), McDonald (5’, 69’)), Bird (40+5’). Pens: Bird (67’). Cons : Bird (2)

Colin Cooper (Sidcup coach). Really passionate performance by Vigo. I was impressed with their character, and am surprised why they are in such a position in the table.

George Rawlings (Vigo Captain). During the week, I asked the players for an 80 minute performance, and they delivered. What we now need is to carry this attitude and work rate through to our last game against Maidstone in a fortnight’s time. And then on into next season. It ain’t going to be easy in Kent 3 but with this same desire, we can do well.