Weekly round-up 6th Feb

Weekly Roundup 6th Feb 2010

RESULTS for 6th Feb

Team	Opposition	H/A		Competition
1st	Sidcup	H	Lost 24-44	London 1 South
2nd/4th	Tonbridge Judds III	H	Won 14-12	Invicta Division I
3rd	Llanishen	H	No Show	Tour match
4th	No fixture	H
5th	Sittingbourne III	H	Drew 17-17	Friendly
Vets	Canterbury IV	A	Lost 27-12	Friendly

Having seen his side concede 4 very good tries to Maidstone on saturday, the Sidcup President was kind enough to wonder aloud how we could have won only one match this season. It was the 44 points conceded by Maidstone to his own excellent team that answered his question. However, for the home team fans it was good to see Maidstone's strike-runners showing their prowess for once, the centre partnership of Mark Ryan and Craig Webb holding much promise for the rest of the season, whilst no one is ever going to relish meeting Neil Graves on the wing. Craig Webb got 2 tries, including a fine chip and chase in the 1st minute, whilst Gareth Hill and Mark Ryan got one apiece, Chunk McClintock converting 2 of them (No First Team match report this week unfortunately as our President and reporter in chief, Trevor Langley, was away) (Photos in Gallery)

It was good to see former 1st team hooker Tom Rogers, who now plays National League Rugby with Canterbury, on the touchline but it was a reminder of the calibre of player that we need to retain in order to be truly competitive in London One. (He was looking very covetously at the new Maidstone Blazer in the club-house afterwards and I think he rather fancied himself in one)

With our 3rds expecting to play Llanishen tourists instead of their scheduled friendly vs TJ3 and both our Mustangs and 4ths having no opposition this week, the neat solutionagreed by TJs, was to play a combination of Mustangs and 4th teamers vs TJ3. It proved to be a very well matched and enjoyable fixture and most importantly, it gave the Mustangs their 1st win of the season, which for many of the players who have taken a pounding week after week this season, was not a moment too soon. Having lost Josh McKenzie to a facial injury in training on thursday, the team still had no hooker until 5 minutesbefore kick off, when Gary Whitehead bravely (or insanely) volunteered to take on the job - which he then performed with nonchalant ease. (The job's yours Gary) From 12 - 0 down, the team showed some character in fighting their way back into contention, firstly from a superb pass from Tom McMulkin that found a limping Tom Harvey in space, where he was still too quick for the cover defence and later from Euan Caborn's 1st try in senior rugby, which he followed up with a conversion that went in off the up-right and won the match for Maidstone.

As for our powerful looking 3rd team, it quickly dawned on them in the bar as they turned up at 1:30, that the only Welsh-man in sight was their very own Dai Price and that the tourists from Llanishen had not only failed to turn up but hadnt bothered to tell anyone that they werent coming either. Blooming frustrating, to say the least.

The 5ths took a large squad to Sittingbourne, where an enjoyable game ensued, Maidstone levelling the game with the last play of the match. Mike Gillies scored 3 tries, his 2nd hat trick of the season & Man Of The Match. Craig Tuffrey Converted the last to bring the scores even. 2 tries were disallowed, 1 for each side (held up for us, forward pass for them). The last 5 minutes were very exciting. The last play of the game was our kick off. Followed up by Big Sam Harrison, we won possession and saw Richard Nunn clattering into the 22. We won a penalty and retained possesion to see a couple of phases held off the lines. Nunn again with the penalty was held off the lines but Gillies secured and thrashed his way across the line. Tuffrey scored the conversion to bring the scores even for what was literally, the last touch of the game. (Narrative courtsey of Steve Quinn - I've edited out the more poetic sections) There is now a full match report available here, courtesy of Sporting Billy

The Vets picked up an away game vs Canterbury IV on the fixture exchange - not without some trepidation, having lost to Canterbury V earlier in the season. In a game that was somewhat spoilt by unfortunate refereeing, the team were pleased to have taken Bob Purfitt with them as he scored the first try and set up the second. Bob normally plies his trade in the 4th team, being part of a hard-core of experienced players who help to hold the fourth team together, so exposing him to the simple pleasures of Vets rugby may prove to have been an error of judgement from a 4th team point of view. eg, we have never seen Pete Gray again, since lending him to the Vets.

Speaking of Pete Gray, one gathers that he turned 40 on saturday - although he must have had a hard paper-round, as he has looked 40 for years. In what must have been the worlds worst kept secret, Rich Foden had organized a strippogram for 7pm in the club-house and somehow one knew that it wasnt going to be a "quality" experience when she was late because the child-minder hadnt turned up. Sure enough, it wasnt - but we did at least get a chance to feast our eyes on Pete's gorgeous body so it wasn't all bad.

Evergreen Cup

The quarter final against Charlton Park has now been confirmed for Sunday 28th Feb at 2:00pm at the Mote. Make a note in your diaries and come and watch what is sure to be a full-blooded encounter.

Fixtures for 13th Feb

Team	Opposition	H/A		Competition
1st	Aylesford	H	Sat 2:30	London 1 South
2nd (Mustangs)	Canterbury II	A	Sat 2:30	Invicta League
3rd	Aylesford II	H	Sat 2:30	Invicta II
4th	Ton Judds IV	A	sat 2:30	Mid Kent A
5th	Hastings & Bexhill III	A	Sat 2:30	Mid Kent C
Vets	Canterbury vets	H	Sat 2:30	Friendly