On Wednesday 11th February 2009, West Midlands Police RFC travelled to Torquay, to face the highly fancied Devon and Cornwall Police in the regional quarter final of the PSUK. Devon & Cornwall fielded a very strong team, made up of players from across the South West’s top clubs such as Exeter, Plymouth, Cornish Pirates and Launceston, including a number of members of the British Police squad.
Having despatched Metropolitan Police Service 22-10 in the previous round, Devon and Cornwall were motivated and it was apparent that they believed they were going to progress at our expense. With a very vocal NARPO contingent supporting them, the game was set to be a battle with no surrender from either side. WMP travelled with a squad of twenty-six, unheard of you may say, but for once the support was behind all of the players, happy to put their body on the line.
From the kick off Devon and Cornwall threw everything they had at WMP and they camped on our try line for the first fifteen minutes. However with a dogged WMP defence and a desire unseen before, Devon and Cornwall retreated with only three points to show for their efforts.
WMP bounced straight back with 3 points from the ‘golden boot’ of Captain 'Blair' Bennett. The WMP pack then began to excert some muscle up front, with props Cliff ‘only looking after your shirt Sumo’ Tomkinson and Sean Dunne, causing all kinds of trouble for the opposite front row at the set piece. Neil Western and Herman ‘blessed with such height’ Stott, and James ‘where’s my mobile' Rooke began to show their command at the lineout, giving the half backs Toby Handley and Blair Bennett the platform to show off their silky skills.
A couple of early injuries to key players Neil Saunders and Chris Windsor caused a mini reshuffle, but that didn’t appear to make any difference becaise replacements Matt Marsden and Ollie Drew were determined not to let the side down on the pitch as much as Ollie did off it, by failing to wear 'number ones' afterwards in the bar.
British Police and Rugby Lions scrum half Toby Handley began to turn the screw and run the show, with Captain Blair selecting his moment to display a collection of gravity defying drills, pushing the opposition into the corners.
Devon and Cornwall were always a threat, but the WMP three quarters Andy Wood, Mark Marren, Ollie Drew, Adam Keen and Tootsie "I've lost my speed" Turner controlled them with every attack being broken down; only a lapse in concentration allowed them back in for 3 more points.
WMP rallied again and came back even stronger, with Tobias Handley dotting down between the posts, following a mesmerising set play with backs and forwards running together like wild horses, Andy Wood breaking the line with an outrageous dummy, even Tootsie Turner on the wing thought he was getting it, but alas Toby was there as always.
As ever, Blair Bennett finishing the job with his sturdy Adidas Beckenbaur’s seeing WMP 16 – 6 ahead at half time during whch, a rousing team talk by The Management got the everyoneback up and ready to finish the job.
The second half continued in much the same vein, but a 20 minute purple patch for the home team saw them claw back three more points again from a touch of indiscipline on the floor. With a number of replacements on the sideline chomping to show what they had, it was decision time; do we stay with what is working, or do we risk new players? In the end common sense prevailed with only minimal disruption, forced due to injuries, which saw the replacement of the industrious ‘Pinhead’ at back row, who had literally run himself into the ground, by Gareth ‘oh yes I can boogy’ Williams. Cliff Tomkinson, who by this point was heard to say ‘If I get to Mark Linnett and Daz Moore’s age doing this, it will be a miracle,’ was replaced by the legend that is Mark ‘Merlene’ Linnett.
Hooker Aaron Cooke was replaced by Cov Kid Karl Mackley, both turning in excellent performances. Karl was heard to mutter, "Ain’t played for six weeks", whilst breathing heavily into water bottle. This was followed by a piece of open play which saw Karl with his hands on the ball out wide, somewhat confused; he must have been thinking, "Am I a ball handling hooker, or a fat 10?" Either way he knocked on.
A second try by Tobias Handley, skipping through the defence to score under the posts, finally broke the hearts of Devon and Cornwall and, again with the golden boot of captain fantastic, Blair Bennett finished it off.
A number of Devon and Cornwall changes appeared to disrupt their team towards the death, which saw WMP running the ball at every opportunity; ‘Sumo’ Linnett turned back the years and literally threw the scrum half out of the way to get his hands on it and, with a slow motion diving pass, caught it at about 8 feet and managed to get Ollie Drew smashed all the way to Torquay general, (ne nar, ne nar) he won’t do that again!! Stick to scrummaging Mark.
A third try was missed when Richard 'Herman' Stott tripped over his mile long boot laces as he crossed the line, unfortunately knocking on. A lineout at the death on the Devon and Cornwall line, saw Daz Moore scream for a final play to be called, but he was overruled by the scrum half who said he was too tired!!!! Enough said!!!!
The whistle went early due to a couple of nasty Devon and Cornwall injuries, but the business was already done.
Gareth Knowles claimed after the whistle that taking a shirt off a bloodied and injured Adam Keene who had given his soul amounted to a cap. We think not Gareth.
After the match, WMPRFC Secretary, Insp Steve Blake said, "This was a fantastic squad effort where every single player contributed. We have never travelled away with twenty-six players all ready and willing to play; it made selection very difficult. If players did not make the park, they certainly supported those who did. We played well and were fortunate to be able to replace the injured with talent. This is a hugely talented group of players that takes pride in representing West Midlands Police."
A good night was had by all, as you would expect, with the champion of spoons turning out to be Gareth ‘I want some more’ Knowles. (Will someone please teach Rookie how to use a mobile phone in time for the next game?) Many thanks to all of the WMP NARPO travellers who were vocal and thanks to the best referees in the land. Thanks for all of the support from players who didn’t get on the pitch, but who were the 16th man for the duration and lifted the team at every opportunity. Also, thanks to Detective Superintendent Neil Beechey, and Chief Superintendent James Andronov (Chair WMP Rugby) who travelled to give their support and for rousing pre-match speech in the changing room. It all adds to the fantastic team ethos that is flowing through the squad at the moment.
A final thanks to all the bosses who allowed time off in order that we could compete and as you have seen so far, give us a chance and we will compete.
So we are into the Semi finals, a home tie against the winners of Northumbria Police v Lothian and Borders, both serious contenders and previous holders of the cup. Please come along and support us in the semi final at Tally Ho! on Wednesday 4th March 2009, Kick off 2.30pm.
Match report by DAZ MOORE.
Grammar and spelling added by Daz's ghost writer, Fozzy.
The RAF Vultures had flown players in from all over for this game and they had a large squad to assist them in preparation for the Inter-Services cup. WMP used the opportunity to have a look at some new players and with a few players unavailable or injured, this was the perfect chance to steal a place in the hugely contested final squad of twenty-five, for the regioanl semi-final trip to Devon and Cornwall Police in the annual PSUK tournament.
New players were Eion McMahon, Reese Neville, Ian Lowe, Gareth Beynon, and Aaron Cooke.
From the kick off the huge RAF pack were aggressive, committed, and gave everything they had. Every ruck was fierce, and not for the feint hearted!!! To say it was a forwards game to start with, was an understatement. Police lineout was as always top drawer, with Neil Weston and Gareth Williams, stealing at will.
WMP took the punishment, weathered the storm, and turned over ball at every opportunity.
Stand in scrum half Adam Keene did a fantastic job of dealing with scraps on the floor, with boots, and bodies all over him! His new tattoo on his back says ‘Mizuno’.
After twenty minuntes WMP got to grips with the RAF style of play, and started to impose themselves, with Blake Bennett barking at the forwards, and controlling the backs from 10 as usual.
The light was very poor to say the least, and all that was missing on occasions was glow sticks, and a bell in the ball, to assist Blake in finding his own players out wide!!!!
At half time, it was 10-0 to WMP and the second half saw the RAF use about ten replacements, who appeared to make little or no difference.
Blake Bennett began as he had left off and with Chris Windsor hitting up hard at centre, the gaps began to appear. The forwards took control, and began to play a faster game, which totally blew the RAF apart.
Tactical changes to the team, and substitutions, due to injury were made by Manager Steve Blake, saw ‘old war horses’ Mark ‘I’m good for 15 at the end’ Linnett, and Daz ‘my body is broke’ Moore wheeled onto the pitch, which now meant there were 5 props in the team!!
WMP tenacity, determination and above all fitness saw a full blooded final thirty minutes with a number of tries being scored in the final ten.
The RAF fought all the way to the final whistle, literally at times, and never gave up; but in the end, the quality of the West Mids back division and speed of phases came to fruition, resulting in the final score being 00-38.
Man of the match captain Blake ‘I love to moisturise’ Bennett weighed in with 2 tries, 5 conversions and a penalty. Other try scorers were Chris ’Pink boots’ Windsor and Reese Neville and Gareth Baynon on their debuts. A good result in difficult conditions, and as usual with some of the key players unavailable due to operational commitments, we did a good professional job. For the RAF version of events, click this link http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafrugbyunion/teamsites/westmid.cfm
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