Bulldogs 32 - 7 Chobham
Hi Chaps
Another cracking game on Sat against Chobham!!
It was a good day for playing rugby
Clear, dry day with some sunny spells that brought out a good number of supporters on the touchline..we are getting quite a following nowadays !
Lenny had a new scrum cap but on going down in the second row in the first scrum it slipped over his eyes resulting in Tinks at hooker getting his crown jewels having a work over from a mis-placed hand grip …. Tinks thought his luck had changed!!!
Dave U …the new look has not gone unnoticed …a quite and very conservative chap off he park but give him a Vodka and this part time magistrate goes bannanas…but now have you seen the new No I haircut..take a look at the game photos…also what about that leather jacket he wore last week with the white piping…Harley Davisison here we come ….on the pitch a compete animal chasing everything!!
Matt has confirmed he is now officially on a diet and do not offer him a cigarette as he is trying to give up….respect this chaps efforts lads and don’t offer him a cig!!!
Chobham arrived and two of the forwards obviously had a huge weight problem and had trouble getting through the changing room doors!
We had a good team scheduled for Lenny, Captain of the Day, and some very good subs on the bench. And we all felt confident after last weeks results
Down to the pitch and a pre match workout and fitness check and then Lord Lenthall started the game plan and tactical way the game would be played. Our strength was in every department….good forwards and fast skilled outsides all complemented by Roger ( Nelson ) at fullback with one of the best boots in the business and very testing runs.
Our game plan was very basic…to move the ball wide and to support the ball player and to look for turnover ball and hustle the opposition at all times. We wanted to move ahead right form the whistle and not wait until half time to score points! A lesson we had a few weeks ago when we narrowly won by 28 to 26 points!!
O.K. one last check out on line out play and passing movements by the outsides and we were ready to get underway ..
We had a good referee in Tony Cannings and we were all looking forward to a good game.
The opposition had a good heavy scrum and the two props had problems with shirts and shorts not meeting and various chunks of flesh wallowing around …see photos report attached!
However it was a competent and strong scrum and we were extended a number of times but somehow we managed to get good quick clean ball and Jamie at scrum half gave long swift passes to Ben at No 10 that gave him many options to get the line moving, to make breaks or to kick for position.
The game started to move quickly and The Bulldogs forwards were quick onto the ball with Len, Peter Matt leading the way chasing the loose ball. Matt picked up a loose ball and made a great charge down the centre brushing off and flooring a few players with good hand offs , Len with his new scrum cap found untapped energy and made countless scorching sorties into Chobhams’s half.
Great pressure was being added by Jonathan at No 8 who took the ball to the opposition time and time again and was unlucky to be stopped a few yards from scoring what would have been a well deserved try
The Bulldog forwards were rampaging around the park but Chobham were a pack that gave us a hard game and the tacking and defence on both sides was excellent ….Dave U was again always pressing forward and very much obvious in the loose with Tinks and Andrew always in support and Johno hungry for the ball and making good runs.
With such good ball coming back from the line out and fast ball from the scrum Ben was able to play so many options and he passed many long balls to Ian and Nick at centre..on one occasion the ball game back and was quickly passed along the lines for Chris to run a well worked try and we now stood at 10 points up
Chobhams front row continued to give us problems and Tinks and Andrew swooped over and this seemed to settle the scrum a little.
It is always good to have Tinks and Andrew around as they put in a great deal of behind the scenes work both in the loose and supporting.
With a good forward platform Jamie spun the ball our from a set piece in Chobham’s half and Ben flipped a long ball missing out Nick and finding Ian who then in a very unassuming and laid back fashion decided to change gear and headed for the line and banged down another try..Kelly jumped up and down on the touchline and excitement crept into the touchline!!
We now entered the second half and a half time team talk by Lord Lenthall and Captain Len and forwards guru Malc highlighted both sides strengths and weaknesses
We knew the score although 17 points ahead was still not enough to sit back on.
Len whipped up his forwards and with a change of scrum halves …Tim came in as a sub for Jamie to give Tim a run out.
In the first half the game was an orderly one with no “incidents” or “handbags” but the very first scrum in the second half changed all that …TIim must be all of 5’ and not very big either BUT he played for S.W England rugby league and his opposite number, also a shortish chap was constantly getting caught by Tim…Obviously Tim’s opposite number got well and truly pissed off with this situation and a few handbags took place
Something out of a comedy scene really …we have all heard of “The Battle of the Giants” but this was something else…somehow a few others tried to separate the two and the ref just stood about whistling…… there was no problem just two chaps getting on with it!!
All over and the game went on..Len who had made a great effort throughout the game and inspired his forwards had his due reward and collected a good pass and came out of a loose maul and went powering through the Chobham forwards and made a 20 metre dash for the line and banged down the fourth try ..we now stood at 22 points with none against us!!
We were now minutes towards the end of the game and Farren who came on for Steve who had a good came making multiple tackles and knocking down the opposition started to make good runs down wing.
A few high balls from the opposition tested Roger at fullback but he gathered well and came into the line on a number of occasions causing mayhem with the Chobham defence. Good solid play giving great confidence to the forwards.
With great confidence the ball was being quickly whipped out to Ben who put in another long pass to put Ian away for a long run to the line….the deceptive speed outpaced the opposition defence and he went over for our fifth try…Kelly could be heard getting very excited on the touchline as her man ran in his second try….we are indented to her for giving Ian his nightcap and a good nights sleep on Friday!
With only about 10 mins to go Saffa Pete left the pitch after a good game for the second oldest player on the park and this let Martin 11 in who gave a sparkling display at No 7.
But then we thought it was all over up jumped Johno who scored in most games and sure enough he could be seen exiting from a loose maul and going for the line …another try and we now had 32 points on the board.
A few minute to go and the urgency was to avoid giving away any points to Chobham.
Sure enough a high ball in our own 22 was caught by Ben and a mark called.
Normally one would have seen the ball punted into touch miles down the pitch but due to a misunderstanding and the onset of Alzihmers setting in on our esteem Captain he said “ go for a run” ….right buggers muddle and the result was Chobham scoring under the posts and finishing up with 7 points
Final score of 32 point to The Bulldogs and 7 to Chobham
A very good game with excellent playing standard and good entertainment for the spectators who are increasing every week
My thanks to Len for skippering the team so well and leading from the front….to all players for giving 100% plus and for your understanding that it is not an easy job I have of selection and coaching/managing the team whilst my new leg is being made and a new knee bolted on..to Tony Iron Man for taking our game photos and for Tom for putting our results on the web site
Man of the Match award will start next week.
O.K. chaps onwards to next week…we are playing Ealing at home 2; 30 K.O. please call in.
Colin Lenthall ( still in conflict with various Heralds re: Lordship title!!)
Founder,
Captain, Spiritual Leader and Beneficial Dictator of The Bulldogs RFC