Bulldogs 40 - 3 Uxbridge
I must congratulate Lord Lenthall on his superb coaching, team selection, game plan, strategy and fixture selection ….apart from one fixture mis-match
We have now played six games and only lost one! This must say something not only for the players but how well the team has been managed with a degree of TLC!!
Saturday our game against Uxbridge showed exactly the teamwork that has brought about such a change to the side…..not one player but a team united and playing good rugby. The importance of pre-match work on positions, lineout and to create that Bulldog motivation and spirit just before kick off is an important aspect of our game.
The weather was fine, overcast but dry and the pitch firm…a slight wind (quite a lot in the second row!) but just enough to rustle the touch line markers, the wooden bench was carefully placed half way along the touchline, spectators from 4 year olds to granddads, dog walkers, Bulldog Bunnies, and of course our faithful band of locals that always seem to turn up each week.
The ref checked the boots of players and that put Farren out of the game before we started….too high heeled and off he went to replace the studs. The Bulldogs have always had a reputation for studs!!!
The Bulldogs huddled in a circle for a last minute adrenaline fix and then burst onto the pitch with all system go.
The whistle blew the oppo kicked off and with precision catching Big Jonathan made a fine catch and set off up the field closely followed and supported by our mobile forwards and with Scotty, also freshly back fro recovering from a broken finger, No idea what these forwards are getting up to in the loose but fingers are gettiomg broken and dislocated every week…we have now lost a scrum half with a broken finger!
We had a good team out but due to the fact that Matt and Saffa got ratted Friday evening the pack did not really get out of first gear for at least 15 mins…..have a look at the photos of Matt ( flat pack) and Saffa …look at the faces and body language ..it is all there
However, Simon , and Big John D backed up by Johno and our Boar hunting Tinlks and legs Andrew soon started to make inroads into the Uxbridge forwards…they had one very large forward that always seem to be in the way and did cause problem in the front row.
The first scrum was a tester for our highly intelligent and mobile young front row, to the Uxbridge front row of bags of experience and big lumps. Tinks playing at prop for the second time went down only to find an arm straight across his neck…he dismissed this as a new form of binding
Jamie neatly placed he ball at the feet of “legs” Andrew and a good heel took place but due to the Friday night boozing the push was late coming and the scrum started to move back. Jamie at scrum half was more or less forced to go into the second row to get the ball to avoid loosing the scrum. The Uxbridge forwards had a weight advantage and we needed to have quick ball.
Jamie 9 flicked a long pass to Ben at 10 and with his usual style he side stepped his way passed a few players and then slipped the ball to Kiwi Dave (did not want to go home after the WorlCup) at 12 and then with a good delicate run he weaved his way throwing the odd dummy and with a change of pace went over for our first try….Ben calmly converted and we were on the board
From kick off Simon latched onto the ball and in his usual Bulldog style head down and charged at the oncoming Uxbridge forwards…a loose maul ensued and from the photos you will see the various pile ups that took place with some very determined Bulldogs…Matt and Saffa were always close to the play and making inroads. Andrew came away from a loose maul and fended off two players and then tied up with Dave and Stuart ( Doris) who from the photos looked surprised and concerned at having the ball…off he went and down he went but Johno is usually around playing more like a back row man than a prop and tidies up .
The lineout was a tester as Ugly from Uxbriddge always seemed to be spoiling the ball and they also jumped well at No 2.
We did well and Big John D managed to reach the ball but it was a tough one and he could most of the time only tap it back to Jamie 9 who managed together ball away to Ben to get the line moving.
Time and time again we went over the gain line and our outsides had god ball and Ben went back into the forwards and then found Kiwi Dave who was brought down just short of the line.
Uxbridge moved the ball on a number of times down the line but good tackling and counter moves by both our wingers Trevor and Martin kept the game tight
Half time approached and we needed fresh lags on the park and the second part of our game plan was put into action.
We maintained our front row with the help of advice from Malcolm on how to deal with the Uxbridge “lump”
Michael came into the second row with Simon and Tom and Dom kept Big JOHn D Company in the back row
The outside line was changed with Hugh (fresh and a welcome return from Iraq) playiomg outside Ben and Dave with Liam on the wing and Farren on the other one.
In the second half we roared with Ben , scoring and a fantastic determined charge by Simon to get what must have been the try of the month!
We finished up with a good win of 40 point to 3 and retired to The White Swan for a good après session
Cheers
Touchline reporter