OLD GRAMMARIANS SECOND XV 20 CASUALS 7

What a fantastic win by the Old Boys second XV, which surely ranks as one of the best wins this season. To a man, everybody played extremely well and the win was thoroughly deserved against a side who looked much stronger on paper, looked extremely handy when they were out there training, and I quote m sure were convinced that we were going to be easy meat for them. But without doubt, this was to be the Old Boys afternoon from the first minute to the last. The starting line-up was as follows:

15 Jamie ŒMagic Torch¹ Raines.

14 Gary ŒWhen I¹ m cleaning windows!!!!¹ Thomas.

13 Luke ŒMr Muscle¹ Saunders.

12 Lee ŒMagic¹ Johnson.

11 The ŒBlack Prince¹.

10 Pete ŒSmooth Dude¹ King.

9 Terry ŒF\'85ers¹ Keating.

8 Giles ŒMr. Colossus!!!!¹ Reynolds.

7 Brenda ŒRonnie¹ O¹Sullivan.

6 Nick ŒThe Giant¹ Brown.

5 Martin ŒThe Slickest Surefoot¹ Snow.

4 P.J ŒThe Polish Powerhouse!!!!¹.

3 Ainsley ŒThe Superprop!!!¹ (My arse!!!!).

2 Martin ŒSelf-appointed Director of Rugby and Jim Brannan lookalike!!!!¹

Kirby.

1 Barney!!!¹.

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Subs:.

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ŒPosh¹ Seabass, ŒDangerous¹ Danny Saunders and Dale ŒCaptain Caveman¹

Pearson.

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The game got off to a fast and furious start with casuals applying pressure, but this set the tone for the day as the old Boys defence was aggressive and firm and both sides were putting in plenty of big hits. Within the first 2 minutes, Giles took the ball from the back of the scrum, ran at the defence with the intention of steamrollering his opposite man. Giles has got previous for Œdealing with these issues¹ but he actually got dealt with himself in a bone-crunching tackle!!!! A loud gasp was heard from the sideline, not to mention from the Old Boys. Mr Colossus just got up, dusted himself down as if nothing had happened. In the scrums and lineouts it was evenly contested, but then as the half wore on, the Old Boys began to assert their authority. The main difference was the quality of back play. Casuals forwards were giving their backs a solid platform but, once they attacked, the Old boys defence was firm, particularly from 12 and 13.. It was a different story for the Old boys. The pack were imperious going forwards in the rucks and mauls, and solid in the scrums and this allowed the backs to cut through with some coruscating rugby with some fantastic loops and mis-moves. The ŒBlack Prince¹ managed to get his hands on the ball early doors, and asked questions of their defence and offloaded to ŒMagic torch¹ and ŒMr Muscle¹ on occasions to keep the ball alive. The pressure was beginning to mount and Casuals were doing well keep the Old Boys at bay. But they were not to be outdone, and once again the backs cut loose with a lovely handling move. Mr Muscle passed the ball to The black Prince who took on his much younger opposite man on the outside and beat him for pace. As the cover scrambled across, the winger kicked ahead, and in the race for the ball, the defence kicked it dead which resulted in a 5 metre scrum. the Old Boys did not score from this but minutes later, from the other side of the pitch, the Old Boys were awarded a scrum. "Jim Brannan" hooked the ball with devastating efficiency, and the forwards (who where magnificent all day) applied the pressure. The backs called a scissors move and the ball eventually fell into the hands of powerful centre lee "Magic" Johnson who broke through at least 5 tackles on his way to the try line and under the post, and not surprisingly, was converted by "The Slickest Surefoot!!!!!!"...

So often is the case that the Old Boys then go to sleep, but it was a different story this time, as Casuals came back strongly, but once again, the Old Boys stood firm. The lineouts were going well, and the "Polish Powerhouse" and "The Giant" started to niggle the opposition by nicking their ball which starved them of much-needed possession. They then became frustrated, particularly their fly-half who became argumentative with everyone, but all this did was to make the Old Boys even more determined to play even better. Interplay between backs and forwards was a joy to watch and everything was done at pace which the opposition found hard to live with. Further pressure led to good field position under the posts, and from the ensuing ruck "Mr Colossus" dived under the posts which was also converted by "The Slickest Surefoot". Further pressure led to the opposition making more mistakes, and just to be sure, the old Boys kicked a penalty which meant that casuals would've had to score 3 times - the way the match was going - this was going to be a tall order. Territory and possession was the key, and the Old boys were dominating both of them. The score was 17 - 0 at half time , and it was one of the best 40 minutes the Old boys had played this season - in stark contrast to when the seconds played Swifts Vets a few weeks ago...

The second half started just like the first, ad Casuals definitely had not come to make up the numbers. The dominance up front allowed the back row to excel, and Nik "The Giant " Brown and "Ronnie" were like 2 dogs on heat - chasing and hunting down the opposition ready to sow their wild oats!!! Once again The Old Boys began to dominate. "Posh" came on for Magic Torch and made an impact with his probing touch finds and counter attacking from full-back. It seemed there was no let-up for Casuals and eventually, another penalty was kicked which made the score 20 - 0, and casuals never really looked like scoring. Casuals made a mistake, and winger Mutty fly-hacked the ball downfield, ensnared the full-back and helped to turn over possession. It was drove on a further few phases by the forwards then Terry popped the ball up on the crash to Mutty who had the line beckoning with 10 yards to go but defenders in the way. But he dropped the ball like a twat and everyone took the piss - even the referee!!!! who took great pleasure in reminding him. It just goes to show that all the winger made was one mistake and everyone remembers that - the winger was heard to say that the remarks were of a racist nature!!!!! He has never liked the white folk in the Old Boys!!!!!.

As the game wore on, discipline became a little poor, and the Old Boys started to concede a lot of penalties (possibly the worst this season). They were desperate to stop casuals from scoring but the referees patience was wearing thin, which eventually led to a penalty try being awarded. But by then the game was done, and What a fantastic performance to take into next week against Bugbrooke. No-one should be singled out for individual praise but suffice to say that backs cut some superb lines, forwards were brilliant, and everybody's attitude was second to none..

Just time to mention congratulations to the 3rd team who posted a brilliant victory against Casuals and lets hope that our attitude is just the same for Bugbrooke.