With both sides losing their carded fixtures, this was a hasty piece of fixture improvisation by Richard Ewence, the club's Fixture Sec; or perhaps because he has spent much of the last 2 seasons turning out for the 4s instead of the Vets, it was a cunning plan to put one over on his old team mates!!!

 

A combative 4th team started strongly with the benefit of the elements and it was a good 10 minutes before the Vets were able to get into their stride and begin to play the game at their pace.  Despite the experienced old heads of Richard Ewence, Steve Norton and particularly 1st XV Coach John Whitehead bolstering the 4s; the Vets were able to apply the majority of the pressure in key areas.  It was midway through the first half that they posted their first score with John Brooker going over to give the Vets a 5-point advantage.  This was followed towards the end of the half when the forwards were able to drive over the 4ths line with Ian Crickmore surfacing to claim the score, Keith Coomber added the 2 points to take the Vets into a 12-0 lead at the mid point break.

 

The second half saw the 4ths raise their game and although a lot of the play was in midfield it was obvious that whatever the advice John Whitehead had imparted during the interval, it was having some effect.  This led to a period of concerted pressure with good "on the shoulder" support play which saw the 4ths run in two tries in quick succession, to tie the scores.  It was becoming apparent that if the Vets didn't start to regain their composure and cohesion, this game could slip from their grasp.  Prodded back into action they began to take the game back to the 4ths and a period of pressure led to a penalty in midfield just outside the 22m, Coomber was able to take the 3 points on offer to regain the lead.

 

The Vets continued to apply pressure and should have put the game beyond the 4s reach, but were guilty of failing to convert some "gold plated" opportunities in the closing 10 minutes.  They were able to hold on and ran out more comfortable winners than the  15 -12 scoreline implies against a 4th XV that seems to be very much "on the up".