Covents 8 – 6 Old Wheatleyans
Sic Biscuitus Disintegratum
This bit usually comes after the report, but it is the most important point so this time comes first – a big thank you to Jas W, Benno, Rubes, Gillam, Carl and Haddo who were all there with kit but did not get on to the field. All have played a big part in getting the team to where they are and a toss of the coin almost decides who does / doesn’t play such is the level of playing ability within the club. It would have been understandable for them to be annoyed at not getting on, but all were absolutely superb in their attitude and support. Without these sort of people the club would not exist. Once again, a huge thank-you. Greg Weaver also deserves special praise, this season he has come in and played (against his body’s wishes!) in a position many would not dare!
If it wasn’t for an unusually high amount of injuries and holidays we would almost have had 3 teams on Saturday! A 2nd team is vitally important and something we should look to field once more this year and then every week next season.
The Wheats had been looking forward to playing Covents in the Clayton Flick memorial game for some weeks. They knew it would be a test and a tough game but expectations were high (although we never assumed we would win), winning this game would have meant going into the last game top of the league with automatic promotion a very real possibility. There were some nerves but waking up to beautiful sunshine alleviated this and a great day of running rugby loomed …..
However, at this point, little did we know that despite suggestions of early nights for all, the new generation Wheats players (the heart of the side) had decided to have a small tipple which (apparently) ended with a few “slightly worse for wear” and one getting banged up at 3am in the morning for drunken disorderly! True Wheats! Good passion?!
With JK still suffering with his knee injury, and skipper pig saving his looks for his modelling of swimwear the side were missing two key players. Nevertheless, the starting combo looked more than capable of securing the “W”; Andy H and Big Loachy were joined by Trussy in the front row; Simon Mason & Ross packed down in the row together; Si H, Casper and Greevy formed a balanced back row; Will O continued at 9 and the Beast wore the captains armband with pride at 10; Birchy put some cotton wool on his new tat to play in the centre with Noony; Long Man and the convict were on the wings whilst Brad switched to 15.
Whilst nearly all turned up on time for once, the weather had unfortunately changed somewhat – it was blowing a Gale downfield and the rain was hammering down!
Everybody looked focused and ready come KO.
A minutes silence was held as a mark of respect for former player, Dave Haigh, who sadly passed away during the week. The club sends its condolences and best wishes to Dave’s family.
Playing with the elements after losing the toss the early exchanges were fairly balanced. The Wheats struck first with a long range penalty after a few mins. 0-3. The side were eager to build a good lead in the 1st half but for some reason things were not quite clicking. Casper was certainly firing and had made 10+ tackles within 5mins!
The majority of play was in the Coventrians half during the 1st period, after missing a more difficult chance the score, (with a Covents player in the cage) soon became 0-6. However, crossing the white wash was proving a tricky task as good clean 1st phase ball was hard to produce. Both sides struggled with the wind at the lineout all afternoon and for the last few mins of the half Covents started to dominate the scrum area, again reasons unknown!
The side were unlucky to lose influential players Ross (head injury) and Greevy (blood) before the half time whistle. Ross seeing more than double after his bang to the head.
A 0-6 lead was defendable and the side re-grouped at half time. With Scan already on for Ross, all were pleased to see Ben Hands (complete with numerous injuries) arrive and join the back row – and not surprisingly was 1st to make the hit following the re-start.
The game struggled to flow with the weather, but Covents looked to have given up scoring through their backs as the Wheats back line looked solid and the opposition started to play a forward orientated game. The Wheats pack dealt with this superbly at times, hitting hard and driving them back, but the odd loose tackle allowed Covents to gain too much yardage. The usual aggressive defence around the fringes was good, but not upto the usual ferocious standard that has been set in some games this year.
As all too often, the side let the opposition play their game too much, not competing for turnover and playing our own game (admittedly this would have been difficult in the conditions!)
However, it looked like Covents would not be able to penetrate the defence which was looking reasonably organised, until somehow the opposition 10 found a gap and went through unopposed from the 22 and dived like a monkey to register 5. Conversion missed. 5-6. A disappointing score to give away but this rallied the side.
Will O made a superb break from his own 22 to take play upto the Covents 22 and play remained here for the last 10mins.
There then followed a string of key decisions and moments. Joe Loach dotted down after sustained pressure on the Covents line but was deemed to have run into his own player first (probably a fair call, but the Covents man who had 1st tried to tackle Joe dislodged himself from the front of the ruck but was not offside?). from the following 5m scrum Wheats manage a superb charge down in goal, which was fumbled back by a Covents player, then dotted down by a Covents player. From the 22 Wheats regained possession with a lineout – referee asked for it again but told us to bring a man back in who had dropped – then free kick against us for numbers in the lineout? Covents back passes, but it is taken by the wind and goes 10+yards forward – decision – play on the wind took it? Covents scrum, ball out called, Will O tries to compete for ball but is first obstructed then thrown off – decision Covents penalty?
Covents clearance from the penalty went far downfield and got a freakish bounce that took it into touch; from the resulting lineout Covents player was wrapped up by Andy H, who managed to get hands on the ball and break free, forwards pile over to secure ball, Easty clears to touch – victory!!! Nope ….. the tackling Wheats player who stole the ball was deemed off side, resulting in the last kick of the game being a penalty. Covents kicker held his nerve to slot over from just right of the posts and Covents started their celebrations
The referee was strong all afternoon, and wasn’t afraid to impose discipline – which is always good to see. None of us would like to referee and we are grateful to all referees for making it possible to play. It’s sometimes hard to accept the results of important games can often hang on key decisions from the men in the middle, and they cannot be expected to get every decision right, but the pain caused will live with some for a long time!!!!
Covents had big heart and were well up for the game so our congratulations to them on winning back the Clayton Flick Memorial Trophy. The previous Clayton Flick memorial game at Yelverton road ended with Covents drawing level with the last kick of the game – not a good ground for us in last couple of years!!
A big thank you also to all the supporters who came up to watch, especially those that we have not seen for a while. Apologies that the promise of entertaining running rugby was not delivered! Please keep supporting us!
Finally, well done to the 18 players for sticking at it – we were very unlucky.
What Now?
This Saturday (April 5th) – friendly – details tbc – but all please respond asap when contacted.
Saturday April 12th we play Atherstone at home. It will be another tough game, all we can do is go out and play our game, enjoy it and hope other results favour us (we can still finish in the top 2).
After the game on the 12th, is the unofficial gentlemen’s end of season social. All keep free – meet time for this will be early so make sure you are organised and ready for action by 1830hrs. Further details to follow.
MOTM: despite some negativity in the report, everyone manned up and gave 100%, it was just not to be our day! Joe looked to get hands on ball whenever possible and Trussy more than did his job in the 2 shirt and but Casper was once again outstanding in defence, especially during early exchanges.
DOTD: none – all to hold their head high!!!!
- Andy H: for some head scratching reason the big front 5 struggled in the scrum but Andy was his usual reliable and committed self for the whole 85mins. Combatted the rolling maul with his strength..
- Trussy: hooking and throwing in 1st class, got frustrated at times but carried well and defended superbly.
- Loachy: solid with ball in hand and got around the park very well.
- Simon Mason: led the lack from the front and did a lot of the dirty work.
- Ross: was making usual big hits before forced out of action.
- Si H: tackled anything near him – Richard Hill of the Wheats.
- Casper: big early hits a pleasure to watch
- Greevy: better than the Pig!
- Will O: not given much clean ball to work with, but solo break was highlight of the day and gave Wheats territorial advantage that should have sealed the game.
- The Beast: kicking into and with the wind superb. But all backs not given opportunity to show their skills.
- Browny: tut tut……
- Birchy: dealt with his opposite man with ease; couple of half breaks from scrappy ball.
- Noony: not given ball in space once, but rucked out a couple of times with big power.
- Long man: no passes received and little to do defensively …. A bad day to play on the wing!
- Brad: ran ball back a couple of times from deep in his own half but not even the great man could defeat the conditions from that far out. Made some massive tackles which excited the crowd.
- Scan: did all that could be asked of him, great performance.
- Drury: received ball a couple of times but not with any space in which to work his magic.
- Ben Hands: Crazy to play with current injuries but once again a true tackling machine!
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