The starting fifteen comprising the usual Pillars of Hercules in Shannon "Stepmeister" Killarney & Bill "Bilbo" Burrows, with Mark "Gethin" Baldwin keeping them apart at hooker; with the Freds, Andy Killarney & stunt skipper John Lonie in the boiler room, and in the back row Roger "the Dodger" Lazenby at eight, and the two tackle twins Marcus "Shark" Hope & Nick "Assassin" Levey on the flanks.
Half backs Phil "the General" Evans & Ian "Nev" Neville, in the centres Nick "Barrel" Palmer & Lee "Lethal" Coates, Phil "Horse" Watson on one wing, Sean "Bean" Byrne on the other, with the Chairman Tony "Fitz" Fitzgerald tidying up at the back.
A four strong bench in the often later than never Phil "Tigger" Gouldbourn, and Mike "Nearly" Neary and two promising youngsters in the shape of Steve "Monkey Hanger" Cunningham & Mark "Banjo" Banyard.
A real short match report thankfully, due a failure in digital technology & it being too bl**dy cold to write.
So despite some early pressure by Kings Norton, and occasional rallies throughout the game we scored fairly freely when the referee permitted it; our opening try scored by the Shark wide out right following some good interplay and he had to run a bit too. Our second was scored by Coatesy following a "searing" break by Barrel who gave the pass on our ten & Lee ghosted in to go under the posts, and as no one was anywhere near him he also added the conversion for a 12-0 halftime lead.
Couple of changes at half time Roger & Steve swapping places, as did John & big Phil. Mike Neary swapping shirts and coming onto the wing in place of Horse, and Banjo swapping sides with Nick.
Mike Neary scored our third shortly after halftime taking a cross field "kick pass" (from Coatesy I think), though Mike admits to being a trifle lucky with the decision. Coatesy getting our fourth try not longer after, converted by Nev. With about ten minutes to go Mike scored a second to put the game to bed, again converted by Nev for a 31-0 lead before Kings Norton scored a streaky drive over try right at the death which they converted, so one dodgy try a piece.
Final score 31-7
Couple of notable points in the game (I know it's important to hookers, although you never hear the props crowing about it) at least two scrums against the head, think in fairness we had their eight in all sorts of bother throughout the game in the set pieces. I lost count how many times in the first half the ball squirted out the side for Nick to fly hack it on, three at least and each time the ref brought it back. The sight of Lee with the line at his mercy but being under instructions to do it the hard way and having to run round trying find someone to pass to....how that must've hurt with a hat trick begging. Barrel running over Chicken, and finally Mike for cunningly dropping his jug sorry ball with only the line to beat.
Finally a big thanks to Mark Banyard, Mike Neary, Nick Levey, John Lonie & Dave Hanson for helping Kings Norton out at various stages of the game, without whom it wouldn't have been a contest.
You know chaps, I'm beginning to think we associate the dark with scary adolescent memories of training, as we don't seem to enjoy these night-time encounters with Kings Norton, certainly had this been a normal Saturday affair I think we'd have put this lot to the sword a touch more quickly & clinically. But that said, five tries, in a shortened game is excellent.
This week weather permitting the return game against the Chocolate Boys at Tilehouse Lane.
A note for your diaries, the Vandals do Christmas on the 18th December, following the Sils game, venue to be advised.
Slow