We set a goal of starting strong which the lads did from a West from the kick off. First tackle from Dan followed by Toddy for JLS to take Horden out to touch from the off which was a great start.
Some great play from West linking up nicely from the backs saw Sam and Imran just shy of the line. Some great pressure and scrummaging from West. This led to some great phases for Charlie Caswell to bag himself a try from a crisp line under the post for an easier conversation for Zac. 7 - 0
Horden kick off. Lots of pressure, tackles winning the contact and work around the ruck. Great kick from Zac 50 -22. West line out. Taken from Jay. Driving maul but were pinged for truck and trailer. Shame as all the parts were in place other than the final product which was a theme at times. Big tackles from Jay and Toddy and JLS. Unfortunately we couldn’t catch the winger with some serious wheels for a converted try. 7 - 7 fruity
West right back at it though and kept their heads high. Taken from Sam Knight deep in our 22 and passed to Zac for Beauty 50/22 again. West line out. Taken from Tyo and worked up the field for a sprightly Jon Wray to drop over the line (the TMO may have said otherwise. Horden got the ball back through West holding on and cleared.
Some big hits going in from JLS and Sam leading to a great pinch from Lewis muscling his way in. Zac dick of the day worthy kick off the toe also while a Horden player had a hold of his planted foot. I am no kicker but seemed taking the contact may have been a better option. Brought back for a scrum and clearance kick redeemed, man of the match still on the cards.
Sam Knight off for Dom Cox due to a fly in his eye from running too quickly. Lots of great phase play still.
Horden line out. Not straight. West scrum. Lots of great pressure. High on JLS. GOOD BREAK UP THE WING unfortunate to not get over the white wash. Caz off for Crazy.
Kick from Zac. Great. West line out. Not straight. Horden scrum. Good defense from Jay and Bagey. Also spud making mash potato out of Horden in his hits. Some great play from both teams but better defence from both sides..
HT 7-7
Loads and loads of changes at first time (magical team paper lost so please accept my apologise for this). Horden scrum turned over from Wests fresh pack and our own physio Gez causing the injuries rather than fixing them.
West line out taken from Tyo but given for not straight. Horden scrum with some good open play but pinched and taken up the wing by our new player Andy showing his pace. Some textbook tackling from Clergy checking out some shoe laces and chopping some ankles down.
Game turning a bit scrappy and heated some high tackles in from both sides resulting in Toddy taking the yellow for the team and a 10 minute rest. His first ever card, but he only mentioned it once unlike Cam Mould away at Rovers…
Pikey putting in some great shots and showing no fear. JLS off with injury and Sam Knight back on.
Great pick up from Clurgy from the scrum. Lots of good pressure from West. Toddy back on after his rest.
West scrum Clurgy pick and offload to Zac for a fruity converted try. 14 - 7
Taken from Tyo from the kick off. Big run from Lewy, Jelly and Clurgy. Outstanding run from Jelly rolling back the years and puts a much younger Sam Knight in. Must have been his Friday night mixed grill and Guinness. Zac converted from the corner. 21 - 7
Good tackling from Nathan and some good defence, but a High Tackle and Charlie Kay resulting in a yellow card. Horden making use of of the 14 men who had taken their feet off the gas a touch for an unconverted try. 21 - 12
Tommy Powell making his senior debut (above) and Webby on for Tyo and Nathan. Gez and Horden tight head reviving some stern words regarding the black magical wizardry that was going on. Ah scrummaging. Dom Cox off for a refreshed JLS.
Good work from Quinny off the ball and more tackles from Clurgy. Tommy making a great start to senior rugby with some great tackles.
Horden using the wind well pushing West into their own 22 and resulting in pressure and another unconverted try for their efforts.
21 - 17
Clurgy, Tommy and JLS putting some great shots in. Some good counter rucking from Webby but Horden gaining position again. West a bit asleep with not working back and even with Sam making 2 great hits it didn’t allow enough time for West to get back and defend.
Final score 21 - 22
Lots of positives to take into next week the main being the amount of players available. And lots of things to keep building on. Life is about the journey not the destination people keep working!
Man of the match, Zac for his points scored and great kicking. Kicks that were unfortunate to not be turned into more points.
Post match grub and the kitchen having to work their magic to feed the 50 + players, an option of either chicken or steak pie with roasts potatoes to die for. Gravy too, ohhhhhh go on then.