Match Report 2011-2012/ 22

OLD COVENTRIANS 3’s – 17th MARCH 2012

So far this Season we had played Old Coventrian’s 3’s twice.  The first, a League game on 15th October 2011, where we lost heavily, 63 to 10, against essentially a mixture of their 2’s and 3’s with some 1st teamers.  The second, a friendly on 25th February where we won, heavily, 54 to 12, against what looked to me to be a proper 3XV.

This time around we gathered a good, strong squad of 20, mostly the usual 3’s, but with three of the 2’s, keen to get a game, theirs having been called off.

With Dave Blackburn, Graham Ballinger and Ross Lowthian in the Front Row, Tim Hunt (1st half - back from safari), Sam Flowers and Ed Hart (2nd Half) in the Second Row and Rick Homer (1st 20mins), Martin Howel, HoHo, Ed Hart (2nd 20mins) and Jack Phillips (2nd half) in the Back Row, we competed well up front, generally winning our own ball, and a few of theirs at the scrummage and dominating in the lineout, with our Back Row harrying their opposition all over the park.
Our backline of Ciaran Bailey, Paddy, James (Dave’s mate from Kettering by Richmond), Jimmy Middleton, Adam Turner, Nick Peppitt, Richard Hall competed very well, all putting in some great tackles, but particularly James (Dave’s mate from Kettering by Richmond), Jimmy Middleton and Richard Hall, and making some great breaks, cutting through their lines. On several occasions in the first half we broke through, with great support from the Back Row and got it over their line at least 3times, but with the Ref. unable to see the ball grounded.  We lost the ball at the subsequent 5m scrums, the ball cleared back.  On at least 3 other occasions, the backs passing it along the line, went over, only to stumble or fumble the ball.  Welcome back Adam, we missed you XXX.

All in all we ended the 1st half, just behind (10pts to 7), but confident that we could turn it around in the 2nd half.

Old Coventrians were also obviously confident that we were going to turn it around in the second half, with several 1st and second teamers, arriving to watch the 6Nations games, pressed into service, to arrive on the pitch at various points during the 2nd half.  Did anyone count how many changes?  May be the Ref did?  They’re only allowed a max. of 5 on the bench.  Naah, if they’re that desperate for a win, then let’s be charitable.

The most important thing, was that we played as a team and played hard, to the end, even when the deck was stacked.  Some motley crew of old-pharts and last minute recruits. The score settled at 32 to 24 in favour of Old Coventrian’s.  Our scorers were Ross Lowthian (1try), Adam Turner (2try’s and 3submissions) and Paddy (1try and 2conversions).

A special mention for James (Dave’s mate from Kettering by Richmond), a tackling master class, who injured both shoulders in the process.

Next week we have Shipston 2’s at Home. Meet at 1.30 to 2.00 for a 3.00pm KO.  Our last meeting resulted in a heavy loss so we need to get our best possible squad out for the last game before Tour. 

Simon Bladon