This was a full-on, back & forth ding -dong, so frantic that at one point the ref called to confer on the score and had it 35-38, we subsequently scored a try and a converted try to win the game. Those of you of a strong mathematical bent may notice that it's tricky to see how we got to 35. On reflection I have it at 31 & a further 12, but not entirely sure....I was a bit busy.

The teams were on the pitch on time, although Barbars only had 13. And so began the other mathematical conundrum of the day- at the Oppo's behest by turns we played: 13-a-side, 14-a-side, 15-a-side, 14-a-side & finally 15-a-side I think but am not entirely sure I was a bit...well...busy.

The sun shone in blue skies with a stiff sou-west breeze blowing cross-pitch throughout, the ground was very dry but not too hard. This and the brief chat with some of their pack ahead of time influenced our tactics which seem to have worked! As it was going to be contested, our pack did a brief "getting to know you" on the scrum-machine for 5mins most having never packed down together: Mr Pape at tight head, Gaucho at loose head, Danny hook in', myself and Big Chris ( more of whom anon) at lock, Alex blind, introducing Chato at open (he seemed to enjoy it) & Tony at 8. We were up against a much heavier, better drilled pack and boy did Chris and I pay for it ( I'm sure f-row found it challenging too). Being pushed back as a lock every scrum can dent the confidence but we gave it a go and gave it a go for the full 80. This was Chris's 1st full game and he flourished- two blistering runs in each half were particularly gratifying to witness grown men bouncing off him like pinballs as he charged up the pitch and significantly the second led to the try which put us ahead for the first time late in 2nd half. Gaucho seemed totally comfortable in broken play making and receiving pop passes, handing off and generally getting in there. Chato scored and provided the assist for Mr Back to take the slightly belligerent decision of smashing into the last defender to score as oppose to stepping around....but I'm getting ahead of myself time to go back to the backs.

We kicked-off and Barbars responded swiftly with a convincing try duly converted. They were probably blissfully unaware that this was Cookie's 1st Snr game, Cookie wasn't though and replied fairly swiftly thereafter narrowly missing the conversion, which given in total He's down for 3 tries and 4 conversions I think the lapse can be excused. It seemed like he enjoyed himself playing inside centre with good feed from Fab and James In second half. Able support also from Murph' playing outside' with Hodgey ( later Clyde) and Glen on the wing. Murray marshalled for 70mins at 9, at which point I thought Santi (our errant Argentine centre)'was coming on however it turned out to be a fleeting appearance from Mr T Marshall. The full-back was Mr Convery, who scored at least twice with blistering place into space and his final score sublime and eerily mimicked by a Mr C Wade not 24 hrs late ( plagiarism?)-
2 mins to go, Chris has scored and Cookie converted and we're ahead and saying "just keep it in hand", turned over straight away and drilled down field by their full-back. How does our full-back respond? Catches cleanly, steps around two, boots along the touch, approaching more defenders, boots again, runs past them and grounds to score a try that will have your reporter smiling wryly from now until the journey's end. A great day out and a brilliant team performance.

Thanks also to those assisting on the sidelines particularly Tony as medic and Xav and the young boys for water bearing.

Club match 21st March, tournament 18th April.

Photos located here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ya2kc0ioxfeyy99/AADR341x8Xph_zaJMxxCQAh6a?dl=0
Sent from Justin's ipad