Old Wheats 4 tries - 5 tries SOB’s
Its raining, men! Hell-al-luha!
After a summer of hammering, tyre pushing, debating shirt designs, bbq’g & trying not to get too fat, the tigress wheats looked forward to the 1st game of the season. The game the previous week had to be cancelled due Lucy & Dan’s wedding (& some players got a bit scared of the message on the Covents site: “Old wheats next week, they ent got a chance!! Lets give em Hell”).
The summer break also gave some encouragement with the signing / return of some key players. Andy Lewis trained over the summer after a long term injury (luckily no £1 coins involved) and looks set to be back playing regular within a couple of months, along with Adam Mason also returning from injury the side will have 2 experienced leaders & quality players back in the ranks. Dan Scott will also be returning after a self imposed exile from the game for 2 years – a 1st class prop to steady the scrum & offer further ball carrying ability (likes a juice too!). Absolute quality players Ben Hands, Joe Loach-Smith & Ryan Birch also put pen to paper over the summer, surely the Wheats must have 3 of the most talented young players in the city on the books now. They had a 4th for a brief time also, with Brett Chatwin signing from Nuneaton 1st XV, only to leave 2 weeks later, make your own judgements ….. (still love you Brett!). Big man Adam James has come over from OLRFC after a short break from the game , at last a big 2nd row! Club Stalwart Kev Smith also finally agreed to signs forms after 30 years of playing – if had said all it would cost was ½ marstons he should have mentioned it earlier! Other signings are close … watch this space!!
The weather was unbelievable – but wheats passion is hard! The game had to moved to the school pitch (thanks to them for this, sort of!). In a freezing cold pouring rain the wheats were glad to accommodate themselves to the conditions when the referee took 15mins to explain the ELV;s to them before the game. Whoever said “no we don’t know them” when asked by the ref gets DOTD for the entire season, the laminated 20 page list was a true pleasure to listen to.
Crowd nrs were increasing by the minute (total 3, Alan Scott, Ben Hands & Mrs) – where were you all!
The game got underway in typical Wheats fashion – lets see what they got! Never again! Stoke started well with the forwards aggressive and the 10 kicking superbly to control the game. They scored through an inside ball from the talented 10. Thank goodness we didn’t score 1st! The recorded a 2nd not long after with Wheats applauding some good team play, their pre-season games had obviously gone well. Finally the wheats woke up, forwards starting do what forwards are supposed to do and gave the backs a platform. Rich Drury was looking electric (slightly like he had taken some of Ben Hands special ingredients over the summer), he out gassed several after some good hands in the backs to score in the corner – he really is too good looking to play rugby, - just ask Anne Robinson. New captain, Tit-head (or Titan) JK was next up, luckily more bulk than pace was required to dot down. The side were delighted to be without Skipper Pig. Yet further good work from the now dominant pack and somke great hands from Beast, JK & Brad gave Drury another opportunity to show his pace may have finally returned & the side went in to the break 3-2 up.
All the players were getting a bit wet & miserable & the rotational system was not doing much to steady the side, but Stoke came back in the 2nd half to score 3 good tries. The Wheats got a consolation when Drury broke again, lobbed the ball when he was about to get tackled & rampaging Aitkins got on the end, skipped a couple, gassed & couple & went in under the posts. Brad is certainly looking more dangerous than ever after a summer playing kiss chase with Casper in the park.
Overall a fair result, but some encouraging parts (& some not so encouraging!). It really is the season to man-up, everyone needs to be available as often as possible, this is make or break year. Lets play some good, hard & enjoyable rugby!
Next week, 1’s in the pool & 2’s away to AEI.
Week after – 1st league game v Cov Tech – couldn’t be much tougher buts lets give it 100%.
Training every Tuesday now. Be ready to go at 7.
MOTM: tough call, but boy-band Drury was dangerous throughout.
DOTD: whoever said, please explain the ELV’s. Or new VC Ross for going off injured so early?
- Andy H: the man gets younger, not older!
- Trussy: always gives the forwards some leadership & gets them on front foot.
- Carl D: total commitment, played on with injury – great heart.
- Ross: superb ball in the lineout & led from the front.
- Haddo: another ageless Wheats player & made biggest hit of the day.
- Gillam: floppy. (love you!)
- Casper: mad.
- Joe L: a def future in the 8 shirt. In his 1st game at 8, put the pigs performances too shame!
- Dean: briefly ¾ stone lighter over the summer (after a messy time on the wc, will get it back down).
- Easty: as relaxed & commanding as ever. Put his body on the line to stop a try – only to be denied by the ref – kept back his annoyance quiet well
- Jas W: the barrel was ill but still the best looking man on the field (sorry Drury!).
- JK: if he keeps injury free, will cause attack & defence problems all season
- Aitkins: made some great chase & bosh manoeuvres. Pace is well & truly back
- Drury: doubled his tally from last season, lets hope (& beg) that he keeps playing.
- Browny: great game at 15 – covered everything & kicked well. Still a bead though.
- McShame: a delight to see back from overseas smuggling. The best a snaffling & disrupting.
- Adam M: proved why he’s been missed, 1st up hits everytjme, and happily helps the referee along during a game.
- Adam J: looked to enjoy his return to the game – bet the joints hurt on Sunday!
- James: – another casper maybe? No fear!
- Greg Weaver: proved that bald people make the best 9’s & enjoyed a game away from the front row! Duracell keeps on going.
- Hasto: managed 15 silk cut in 80mins – top achievement from the day!
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