Hi chaps
Good game last Sat against a reasonably strong Old Hampton Ian side …we could have won this game but with so many guys playing out of position and down to 14 men for the first 10 mins and last five minutes we were at a disadvantage!!
Having said that we played with full effort and commitment led on by a very charasmtic Len who made considerable drives into the oppo on numerous opaccsions and with good support BUT the big backup guys were not around….Matt, Jonathan and Simon and this did leave a big hole …also we missed the speed of Dave U and his knac of being in the right place at the right time!
The game started with one player having to replace his studs so that put us down to 14 men….within the first 10 mins we let in a very soft try with a kick ahead from a knocked on ball and advantage being played. This was a set back so early in the game.
Our line out played worked well and the “borrowed” front row although not mobile gave us a good basic platform for Malcolm at scrum half…Roger came in at No 10 and Andy and Will (both wingers) filled in at centre with Farren on one wing and Mac on the other Martin filled in at fullback and all worked hard at holding our position.
Our forwards with Len, Peter , Dom , Michael and Steve all being very much up on the attack finally brought forward a very good forward drive right on the line and Peter with sharp thinking managed to get his hand on the ball for our first try that Roger neatly converted.
This was our only try and it did take some time to wear the oposition down and quite frankly we did have a few problems with players leaving the pitch to attend to injuries. ( in my days of skippering the team we onky ever had brandy in the first aid box and a bit of sticky plaster) How times have changed….. Also Mathew fresh from his trip to India and just off the plane staring to feel the pace and Mac came in at scrumhalf.
O.H’s came back at a fair rate of knots and punched holes into our hard working pack and outsides…we were getting tired towards the end of the game and this was down to the tremendous effort all players had put into the game .. A great team spirit kept us in the game until towards the last quarter when another soft try went in.
The final result was by no means reflective of the game because we played well with a borrowed old style front row, ( many thanks to these guys) key players away, players out of position and yet we still managed a very good enjoyable game
Long may this great spirit which is so obvious to every spectator continue..
You will find some very good photo sof the game by Tony and the enthusiasm can be seen on players faces and effort put in .
Cheers
Colin Lenthall
Founder,
Spiritual Leader, President, Chairman and Captain (when on the pitch) of
this great Bulldog team