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England Deaf 39 vs. Japan Deaf 14
England power to win over lively Japanese visitors
Report by Howard Gilbert

When England Deaf Rugby Union played Japan Deaf Rugby Club at Maidstone Football Club it was no great surprise to find perceptions matching reality with bigger England rugby players, willing to use size and weight to cross the gain line, meeting Japanese players who were nimble footed and of smaller stature, but able to run evasively and tackle bravely.

England were looking to use their big pack to dominate possession whereas Japan full of guile and fast running were always seeking to stretch the England cover. Japan started well from the kick off and rocked England back with a series of quick turn-overs which saw them pressing the try line. However, these early forays were thwarted when England No8 Mathew Gilbert snatched up a loose ball to sprint from inside his own 22 metre line, and shrug off the Japanese defence to score England's first try which went unconverted.

Although stunned, Japan came back with two converted penalties by outside half Ikki Konaka, to take the lead 5-6. Both sides were guilty of over eagerness by giving away penalties for holding the ball in the tackle or infringing offside. This gave England outside-half Gavin Jackson a penalty to take the score to 8-6. The England forwards, driven on by hooker turned scrum half Tim Sawyer, were all working well with Captain Richard Jackson and fellow lock Daniel McAllister always in the thick of the action, with hooker Brett Pruce also getting through loads of hard work to win the ball. Japan was not to be overawed and their mobile forwards were able to give the pacy and inventive back line plenty of possession by using innovative lineout ploys and well drilled rucking and mauling. The Japanese were hampered when they lost a forward to the sin-bin six minutes before half-time for some over-robust play in front of Referee Hall. However, England capitalized on having the extra player to stretch Japan's defence and give Gilbert a second try following a fine passing move involving backs and forwards.

Half- time England 13 Japan 6

The interval saw both coaches making substitutions with power prop Nick Todd making way for Rob Hill in the England front row. Japan also had a reshuffle for injuries and replacements but continued the second half always looking for the dangerous counter attack. Good back play from Sawyer with the back row in support saw outside centre Josef Baines score close to the posts for an easy conversion by G Jackson (20-6). This was followed by another England try for ever present flanker Danny Piesley which was also converted to give a score line of 27-6.

Japan were not going to roll over and give the game up, so an exciting period of play saw quick recycling of the ball by the Japanese forwards to create width for winger Hidenori Harashige to score a well deserved try following a penetrating step inside by full back Takayuki Ochiai. (27-11). A penalty to Japan increased their score to 27-14 before England responded with a fine backs try that saw centre Craig Phinn crash over for the points (32-14). Finally Gavin Jackson sealed the outcome with another good try which he converted to give England a match winning score of 39-14.

At the final whistle the Japanese Squad were warmly applauded by the large crowd at the Old Mote Ground. They had playing stylish attacking rugby on this their first visit to the British Isles. Without doubt they have made many friends on this tour, both in the Deaf community and the wider rugby world and will certainly return home following further fixtures against Wales and Scotland as a stronger, more experienced team.

Full - time England 39 Japan 14

Man of the match: Tim Sawyer England and West Hartlepool RFC

Venue: Maidstone Football Club, Kent

England Squad:

15 Piet Everett – Sidcup RFC
14 Ben Warner – Hayle RFC
13 Josef Baines – Henley RFC
12 Craig Phinn – Blackheath RFC
11 Charlie James – Huntingdon RFC
10 Gavin Jackson – Knottingley RFC
9 Tim Sawyer – West Hartlepool RFC
8 Mathew Gilbert – Dover RFC
7 Danny Piesley – Old Halesonians RFC
6 Darron Hall – Stourbridge RFC (Vice Capt)
5 Daniel McAllister – Luton RFC
4 Richard Jackson – Hove RFC (Capt)
3 Tony Stoyles - Northampton Mensown RFC
2 Brett Pruce – Aylestone St James RFC
1 Nick Todd – Petersfield RFC

Replacements (all used)

Robert Hill – Chinnor RFC
Andrew Millership – Boston RFC
Craig Pothecray – Handsworth RFC
Brett Hanratty – Ryton RFC
Nick McKen – Burnham On Sea RFC
Gareth Waterfield – Burnham On Sea RFC
Michael Keeling - Unattached

Japan Squad:

15 Takayuki Ochiai
14 Kosei Samejima
13 Shoei Yoshida
12 Yasuhisa Kawakami
11 Hindenori Harashigie (Vice Capt)
10 Ikki Konaka
9. Susumu Shibatni (Capt)
1. Hiroshi Ito
2 Yoshinori Kuroda
3 Hideki Nonaka
4 Atsuhiro Hino
5Takeshi Isaka
6 Satoshi Tashiro
7 Naoy Nagasak
8 Eiji Chiba

Replacements:

Mitsuru Motte
Kota Kudo
Yoshinori Ishi
Masahiro Kimino
Kota Oso
Nobuyuki Sasaki
Takahiro Saeki
Takahiro Kataoka
Eikoh Inoue

Match Officials:

Referee: Terry Hall (RFU & Kent Society)

Assistants: Graeme Charters & John Dennison (Kent Society)

Joint 4th Officials: Barry Monk and Claire Warner (Kent Society)