Standard Triumph 14 - 60 Old Wheatleyans
or Standard / Barkers / Old Wheats 14 – 60+ Old Wheats “A”
With some players off to a foreign relaxation camp and awarding themselves a week off a mixed Old Wheats squad travelled over to Standard.
It was an all new front row with Ben Baines squeezing into a shirt for the 1st time this year, Paul H manning up at 2 and the Adonis moved in from the wing to prop. The 2nd row was also all change – veteran DH made his 10th come back from retirement, and the club were more than delighted to welcome back Simon Mason following a long lay-off with knee problems. Haddo was back from his 50th holiday this year to play in the back row with Gillam and all were chuffed to see Skipper Pig back playing following a 9 week lay off due to a paper cut. The starting backline consisted of Dean and Easty at 9 and 10, JK made his come back in the centre and was partnered by back row Casper (who is that good he played 13 & 15). Browny was back from servicing his car and played on the wing with 2nd row conversion Long Man starting on the opposite wing.
Simon Hodgkiss, Martin Ward and a couple of others admirably offered to play for the opposition who were struggling for numbers.
The game got underway with all the enthusiasm of a funeral, Standard scored first as the Wheats failed to offer any sort of defence! This woke the side up and JK made his 1st break of the day and a try was scored by somebody.
At this point the referee obviously also decided he didn’t want to be on the pitch and retired with a pulled hamstring – up step a new, different sort of referee. Poppa K, decked out in jeans, trainers and with a fag on the go took the whistle. From the re-start, the Wheats spilled the ball and Martin Ward came onto it like a steaming train and ran through the Wheats forwards to register another score for Standard (K Man had not even had chance to flick his ash!).
From hereon the Wheats took control of the game and scored some good tries, albeit with a severe lack of enthusiasm!
Points worthy of noting (there weren’t many):
- JK doing a length whilst Browny offered some encouragement from the half way line – “you’ll never make it you geriatric cripple”
- Casper hitting the back line from 15 like a seasoned pro in this position.
- Skipper Pig rampaging over the line to record 5 in his come back game.
- Standard mysteriously winning a scrum without the ball going anywhere near the front of second row.
- Martin Ward scoring a further 2 tries – this time in a Wheats shirt. The first Dewi Morris would have been proud of as he took an inside ball from Browny; the second showed the flair of years gone by as he dummied most of the opposition back line to go in under the posts.
- DH & Paul H probably made the most hard yards with ball in hand. A Standard player even pointed out of our silver fox “he’s the oldest player on the park (Kev’s new haircut & beard trim obviously makes him look younger) and he’s running the fastest!”
- Gillam knocking on by the line when all he had to do was fall over.
Far from a memorable game, but well done everyone for turning up. As Skip pointed out afterwards, the pitch was like a morgue!
Standard should also be highly commended for sticking at it, and the Wheats are more than happy to support a local club that is going through a bit of a tough time (as we have done and no doubt will do again at some point!).
MOTM: in the 1st half Simon Hodgkiss (playing for Standard) was probably the best player on the field – everywhere and tackled several if not all of his team mates. Simon Mason added much needed bulk and experience to the pack. Neil H looked to get involved in everything and adds a certain je ne-sais quoi to the pack (his words). JK, Easty, Browny & Long Man all looked sharpish. But the award has to go to Martin Ward who rolled back the years to score a hatrick, playing out of position (or in his new position!) at scrum-half.
K Man also had a good game with the whistle – even with a bad ankle he managed to run the right lines to keep up with play – you can’t teach genius.
DOTD: Brad comes close for not playing; but award goes to Solihull Council for not allowing us to have a beer at the ground.
Player Ratings:
For enthusiasm, majority of players get 2/10.
Everyone who scored or set up a try: 5/10
Everyone who didn’t score: 6/10 (not so selfish so higher mark!)
This weekend we play Cov Tech at home in the 1’s; if everyone puts there hand up for availability we should get a 2nd XV also. So to allow us to plan this please respond on availability immediately!
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