The conditions were as windy as I’ve known them blowing corner to corner making playing tricky, but very few passes went astray from either side making this a very entertaining game. With our injury battered forwards we tried to play the game with heavy reliance on our sharp backs and it was they who scored all five tries today. However that’s only part of the story as the whole team were well focused on the game and everyone contributed positively.

In the first half we faced in to the wind and the forwards found themselves gaining at least parity with the bigger Thorne pack. Midge and Will in particular were on fire, getting off the line quickly and making tackles ahead of the gain line, often driving the bigger opponents backwards. You two had the best games ive seen you play this season. Despite the wind and our intention to use the backs, I didn’t expect an expansive move in our own 22, but after winning two quick rucks, the ball went through Harry, Ben, Callum finding Tom G on the burst taking it home from 60 yards. Not long after we did a similar thing …. hey why not if it works ….. and Tom G used his Mercury winged boots to take in it in for his second. I don’t normally mention conversions but Ben hit a pearler not far in from touch in to a strong, swirling wind, it hung, swerved left and right like an old cricket ball late on a humid day, making the crossbar by inches.

From the kick off, Swiff, back after a 2 month lay off for badly broken beak, burst on to the ball making a fine break, being hauled down by the last tackler. Callum made another break but seemed to trip over his boot laces when through, new player Adam also made a couple of ground making drives, recycling nicely, before after a some broken play, the ball found Ed who burst powerfully down the right to score. At half time we held what felt like a comfortable lead 17 – 5 with the wind at our backs to come.

However, Thorne to their credit had other ideas and applied pressure to our make shift front row, starving our scrum ball for much of the half. I take my hat off to Charlie, Midge and Will who tried everything, swapping props, nudging early, striking early, Harry feeding but it just wouldn’t come cleanly for our lighter players. The ball we did get led to Callum straightening and cutting beautifully through the centres and his smooth running style enabled him to pull away and score from 70 metres. Our line seemed to take a real pummeling for about 10 mins in what was a huge try line stand, I was knackered just watching it as you repelled drive after powerful Thorne drive, Harry, both Charlie’s, Will, Midge, Adam, Tom H, Dan and Swiff all making never say die tackles, assists, holding up over the line, flipping them on to their backs, it was great to see the commitment. Our best chance of adding to our tally seemed to be making the most of any scraps. Daryl ran the kick overs back with twisting conviction, Charlie G drove hard and applied his big hand off to good effect, Tom H had a couple of speedy bursts and Ed scored his second of the day, this time a purposeful break and run up the middle.

Great resilience from everyone today. Great to have Swiff back from injury and our possession by no coincidence increased by 20%. Midge, Will and Harry all had big tackling days. Well done to everyone.

Old Brodleians RUFC

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