On International days at Twickers it is always the luck of the draw the mixture of both sides.
Old Islewortins had a mixture from all their sides including fielding a few 1st team guys. For us it was the usual early start problems….and we were missing a prop but had two scrumhalves and seven back rows! Our one prop, Tinks, was also recovering from a strained back….front row did not look too good
However, on meeting the Old Isleworhians captain in the changing rooms he was a bit miffed when I explained our position that we had no front row and even more so when he was told we had no ref!!! Good Bulldog tactics to the start of the game…..He found us a prop but could not help with the ref. Two of our normal props were away
One of our top back row players and in fact Captain of the day agreed to ref the game!
We now had a full front row that included one invalid, a borrowed prop and a confused hooker watched by his Godfather on the touchline!
The team was shaping up…Canadian Gary had his first game since the April tour to Holland last May , the back row had agreed to stay on for a full game this week following their walk of at half time the week before and the coach/manager/chairman was beginning to thank Dave , the judge , for bringing along his hip flask of Sloe Gin.
We manage to get all 15 players on the pitch at the same time which was an achievement in itself as the previous week one of our elderly players never made it before having to stop en route to flush out the old bladder!
The game got underway and the ground was slow and in parts covered in a few puddles. .this made life very difficult for our outsides to get a grip on the game and a number of tackles were missed with players loosing their footing.
Simon , our ref handled he game very well and was being constantly educated and given advice by the oppo’s Captain……however, Our Bulldog ref Simon was more than upto the job and quietly and with authority ref the game to give both sides a good and enjoyable game of rugby.
The match report unfortunately was eaten by the Bulldog club mascot Max prior to publication and we are now motoring on red wine and memories of a very good game.and it is 12;30 in the evening!
Both sides were again more or less evenly matched although we could have done with our usual front row. Andrew hooked well and James at scrum half gave good service to Ben at No 10. The pack kept the pace going in the first half and you will see from the photo report the players that always seem to be in the thick of it and Matt as pack leader had a cracking game and ceraytinly led by example with his forwards not far behind him. Michael had his first game for a few weeks and brought a good determination to the pack. Good line out play brought home good ball to J ames and we really seemed to be settling down well.
Suddenly the oppo centres made a dash down the centre and flicked the ball out but Ian made a great interception and gathered the ball edged up a few gears and went stormming for the line hotly pursued by two of he oppo but his pace took him to the line and a great opportunist try was made under the posts. Roger with his usual calmness and deadly boot made no mistakes and converted the try to put us 7 points ahead.
We were in good position but we were missing key players and slowly the tide started to turn against us when a number of tackles were made but somehow the Old I’s slipped through and the first try went in on the corner. The try was not converted but one more try and a conversion took us up to half time with the score at 12 points to 7 against us.
Not a bad position to be in considering our team make up with guys playing out of position and not 100% fit
Unfortunately the oppo had informed us that they needed their prop back at half as he was going to the game!
We now had uncontested scrums and this certainly did not play in our favour…our scrum and scrimmage had taken its toll on the Old I’s in the first half!
However, this did give us the chance to bring Omar on in the front row…he was fresh from his trip to Chile where he had been making his wedding arrangements …..Wallop! Omar was on the pitch and his first tackle was in his usual style of his American football background….5’9’high x 5’9” wide and all muscle, low centre of gravity travelling at pace he introduced himself to the opposition outsides……he took out the ball carrier who went back a few yards and thought better of getting up for a while!
With an uncontested scrum we were not able to put any pressure on the opposition and their backs were starting to make inroads into our defence….. Ben pushed us back with good clearance kicks and Roger at full back used the same good tactics to take the pressure off.
Our outsides worked hard with Stuart and Andy on the wings making good tackles and Ian and James working well together constantly trying tp push through the defence but it was difficult to turn and twist on sucjh heavy ground and it was a day for the forwards rather than an outside game
Unfortunately, our weakness in getting sucked into loose mauls and not covering wide gave the opposition outsides the inopportunity to find overlaps and gave rise to further tries.
Ben had his usual excellent game commanding the back line but sustained another injury to his hand and had to go of just before the end of play.
Then for some unknown reason the prop we had been given in the first half was suddenly given back to us and we went back to contested scrums with Mathew coming on at scrumhalf and James moving to flanker and Dan coming on at back row …you will see from the photo report the determination we played with
The effort put in by every Bulldog player was superb and it was a game we all enjoyed both as players and supporters.
We came of with the that good feelingthatw had played well, given of our best and having had a good enjoyable game that looked a disaster scenario in the changing room with no ref, injured players and missing positions playing a side with first team players in key positions.
The rest of the afternoon is now history….we went back to The White Swan, some onto the match but all back until way after 10 in the evening when the day got the better of some of us but the Piano Bar got the better of the rest us…we heard tales of getting home and waking up at 3 on the sofa
Great day out and David Jones has asked to mention he will be celebrating the Welsh win on Thursday on Club night at the White Swan and would be pleased tro buy anyone who turms u a pint during Davis’s Happy Hour!
well done David!!
Man of the Match had to be Matt for effort, drive and setting and setting an example to the rest of his forward and team….good thrusting drives, hard tackles and kept going from the off to the last whistle!
Cheers
Colin
P.S.Our thanks to Iron Man Tony for his excellent photo journalism!
P.P.S Ian is chasing Peter, Ben and Michael who did not pay their subs on Sat
FIINAL SCORE 29 POINTS TO 7 AGAINST US