The first game of a new season
for a new team with a lot of potential and a desire to do
big things. Sadly, the problem with this game was that we
were too new...
As we marched out, resplendent in our new
kit, we knew we had the size advantage over the recently
crowned Uruguayan champions, but the question was: would
we have the fitness?!
The ref was ready; they were ready; from
the fire in our eyes there was no doubt that we were ready.
With Ed Kilbee's kick off 10 minutes of rugby was unleashed
that blew the Uruguayans away. Domination in the scrums,
superiority in the air, a ferocity in the rucks that had
to be seen to be believed and beyond the "real rugby" of
the pack, sparks were flying in the backs. Elusive centres,
dynamic wingers and bulldozing props wore down their defence
opening up a tiny crack through which our resident Houdini
(Ed Atkin) scampered to score the opening try. With the ensuing
kick successful, I wish I could stop there. As the half dragged
on the sun got hotter, our legs got heavier and the Uruguayans
flourished filling the field to create the most outrageoous
overlaps. At a time when we needed to stabilise the game
and slow it down the ref had other ideas and it was his
variations of the laws in the ruck that hindered us the
most. It was when we had been stretched out wide twice that
they whisked the ball back the other to a five on two overlap.
An easy conversion followed and the half finished 7 -7.
I would also like to mention John Hawkins'
sensational 40 yard dash (sadly starting 50 yards from
the tryline -Ed.) late in the half which, by the look
on his face in the photographs surprised
him more than anyone else (sorry John but it's true).
With some fresh legs brought on at half time
we regained control but with a faltering line-out and the
ref penalising us at every scrum we failed to break away.
After some frantic passages of pressure we won a penalty
which Ed Kilbee slotted. With seven minutes to go we only
had a little longer to hang on. The next bit pains me to
remember. A botched line-out, a missed tackle, a harsh
call by the ref in our favour (rare), a lost scrum, missed
tackle, missed tackle, swerve, missed tackle, try, conversion...
...14 - 10 down.
The four minutes left were not enough for
a team that had no game-breaking moves or fitness... ...yet.
The whistle went and we all thanked each other for a "bueno
partido" and a good game it certainly had been. It was basic
rugby, simple rugby and hard rugby. A beautiful day had seen
two teams slam head to head, put on an exciting game and
walk off the pitch as best of friends.
Four games to go - I look forward to more
of the same except for the result! |
