Bulldogs 44 - 0 Civil Service Barbarians
This was our first game of the season and one that is always a huge test of all the admin and systems….the shirts had not been collected from the launderette since the tour game in April …would they still be there after 5months or just festering away?
Will the pitch be OK and has the groundsmen remembered that we booked it and not The Thamesians? And so it goes on
I arrived at the ground after giving my apologies to the launderette man and then a fierce looking Saffa said have I picked up the post protectors? The post protectors are stored in the garage of the pub and it normally takes a couple of players to manhandle then and stuff them on a car roof! I chose my reply carefully to Saffa
Saturday morning I spent working out the team ..A bit complicated as we only had two props and one only wanted to play half a game anyway
However, in the changing room players started to appear…some had brought a few guests with them and I think we finished up with about 22 players. At the same time as checking and sorting out the team we had a new system of collecting the match fee before the game . All adds to the confusion
Opposition turned up…always a plus factor and looked quite smart and fit apart from one player who was a compliment to the fast food industry!
Well we managed to get a side out but the scrum half was late due to leaving his mouth guard at home ..went back for it but forgot his kit. Full marks to Dom for buying a brand new set of kit …that shows commitment…and he made it in time for the second half.
The game kicked off with a full 15 on the pitch that included a number of guest and new players.
It was quite devastating!
The first try came from a startled martin who found a loose maul a few yards from the try line and like a whippet he picked the ball up and went over for our first try. This was great start to the game
Conversion was attempted but due to the new dimples on the ball our kicker drew a blank on that one.
Our scrum looked good and the front five with one new prop and a guest with Rupert 11 hooking proved to be quite a formidable force and good ball came back to enable Ben at 10 to complete one of his darting runs through the opposition defence to put in our second try. Again the dimples and ball pressure resulted in the try not being converted.
The ball was whipped around the park and our handling of the ball was superb. The back up support was always evident and the forwards were obviously on a high and quickly on to the ball. You will see from the team photos the action of the game and the hint of a grimace as Dave U is hoisted up in the line out.
The line out is aways a bagatelle and with Tinks…..used to be Rupert 11….throwing the ball in fresh from his usual late night wet end clubbing it was an ideal challenge for the jumpers!
Following good drive up the park and a quick back row movement the ball was flicked out to Ben who went over for yet another try and this time the the conversion was made.
Game restarted and it was great to see the forwards under the ball taking the game right to the opposition who were totally bemussedby the constant driving by our forwards and of such a mobile pack hunting as a single unit . The pressure was too much and in mid filed Andy one of our new players made a mid field break and he was away to bang down another try
The high light of the game could well have been two tries that Farrian pulled in from running the length of the pitch TWICE have a look at Tony’s photos an you will see a frame by frame of one of Farrian runs
Just for good measure Aussie Brad forced himslelf over for a well worked try and Andy our new centre player put in some good tackles and collected a well passed try down the line to go over in then corner. He was the Man of the Match award winner
Simon finished off the day manking yet another try over from a loos maul
Our final total 44 points to nil AND A FANTASTIC START TO THE SEASON
We then retired dto the riverside terrace bar of The White Swan to celebrate rather well and then of course watching the big game and England beating France to the woos of a few English speaking French supporters!!
Cheers
Colin
P.S.
PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR AVAILABILTY BY WED !!!