What a weekend. I popped down to the Emirates to watch some supreme footballing skills including a hat-trick from RVP and some amazing skill from Cesc. However, what is wigan known for? its pier, its casino and probably its rugby league side, but on what I saw it certainly ain't its football team. As a bonus we had to share a train carriage with some ladies from Wolverhampton. I hope they enjoyed their picnic and I'm sure that they are safe from starvation for another week or two.
'I spy' badges for those of you who have noticed new bus stops outside of the club, allegedly for the S7 bus route. A free drink from Pete Butler for the first person to place the details of this route on the club noticeboard.
First XV v Shipston on Stour
In similar style to last week our boys are now perfecting the art of charitable rugby. Shipston, a more than decent team, didn't really need a 12 point start but that's what we gave them. We think that they had inside information regarding our tactics as they moved off their first team pitch onto a mini-rugby area which made our plan to run the ball wide a lot more difficult to achieve so we had to be a little tighter in our game plan. Anyway to cut a long story short, forward dominance resulted in a lot of pressure and eventually a try for young scrum half Tom Growcott converted by Adam Walker. Even more pressure followed and resulted in a try for back row James O' Donnahue. At 12-12 we camped in their 22 and amazingly there were no more points scored even though a series of attacking 5 meter scrums collapsed. Another interesting scoreline in a league in which, apart from the leaders, all the other sides are capable of beating each other on the day. The question on everyones lips is how many points start will we give Southam in saturday's home league game. Watch this space !
Development XV v Tamworth
More details to follow when our skipper sends his report in. The grapevine suggests that we came in second place but considering the first team injury situation that resulted in the changes to our development squad, the defeat was not a massive surprise. I have a feeling that we will see a much improved display at Alcester on saturday.
Vandals XV v Old Sils
The mean machine grinds on with Sils Saints this week's unlucky opponents. To beat the Sils is never easy but we managed to do so in style with tries coming from Phil Watson x4, young Simon x2 and one each for Alan Arkell and Mick Neary, plus one conversion each for Ralph and Nev for a final score of 44-0. This coming saturday's game is at home to Claverdon. Admission is free but you have to get yourself out of the mud/car park. See longer report below.
Minis and Juniors
The only game last sunday was our under 15s v Five Ways, a team that beat us by 50 odd points earlier in the season. With our new recruits fitting in nicely we managed to turn the tables by winning 32-19 which included two tries by Jack Molloy on his return to action. A big thank you to Mr Tom Power for an excellent display of refereeing.
This coming sunday sees us make the short journey to our friends at Woodrush for matches at under 7/8, under 9/10 and under 15. Under 14s contact your manager/coach to confirm your arrangements..
Vandals v Silhillians main report
Short one this week chaps (thank heavans I hear you all say....mind you want to try typing the detailed thing!)
Game 17 of the season found us up against Silhillian 3rds at leafy Copt Heath, one of the five sides that defeated us last season albeit with the help of their Civil Service friends. Having been pre-warned earlier on in the week of a lack of a competitive front row, it didn't look too promising for the homeside when Sils took to the field with just twelve players.
With Roger "The Dodger" Lazenby & Rick "Swing" Lowe sportingly offering to shore up the Sils front row, our starting fifteen comprised an experienced (read old) front row in loosehead Shannon "Steps" Killarney, Steve "Sid" Sidwell at hooker and Bill "Bilbo" Burrows starting at tight (having sold Gethin to the Development side), the brothers Gouldbourn in the second row, and in the back row the tackle twins Nick "the Assassin" Levey and Marcus "Shark" Hope on the flanks and the combative Rob "Barstool" Bastock at No.8 (the Major apparently being lost in time & space).
The glory boys this week Phil "the General" Evans at scrum half & Ian "Nev " Neville at fly half, with centres Nick "Barrel" Palmer & Tony "Fitz" Fitzgerald; on the wings Phil "Horse" Watson & Simon "Sideways" Singleton with Mike "Nearly" Neary at fullback.
On the couch this week Alan "the Colt" Arkell, Iain "Johnno" Johnson, John "Fingers" Lonie, Dave "Ralph" Rollins and Captain Slow.
Other than a period shortly after half time where the game developed into a forward dog fight (literally at one point, wth Barstool & Sils' Rich Miles swapping handbags) where we found ourselves on the defensive for about ten minutes, we scored fairly frequently throughout, with Horse scoring four, Simon a brace, Mike & Arks one apiece, with Nev & Ralph sharing the two, yes just two conversions.
A logistical nightmare from my point of view, with Arks also having to go on in the first half for Sils following a nasty finger dislocation for one of the Sils youngsters, and then it was all change at half time with Sid & Shannon changing sides with Roger & Rick, similarly Slow finally getting on the park for Sils and swapping places with Arks, before finally getting his Vandal shirt back on in exchange for Simon. The second half also saw the introduction of Lonie, Johnno and Ralph.
Special thanks to Sid, Rick, Shannon, Arks, Simon, Roger for playing for the opposition and to John for slotting at prop and getting sunburnt on his neck.
Final Score 44-0 Final age 653
Our 17th win of the season, a fifth shut out, taking us to 783 points for the campaign, the 1000 point season now well within our grasp. We've scored 132 tries in the process averaging nearly eight a game with Sideways & Horse now tied on 18 apiece hot on the heels of Coatsey with 25 (watch that hamstring improve!)
Next week possibly a tricky one Claverdon Lions 2nds at Fortress Tilehouse then off to Moseley for our postponed Christmas sherry & sherbet I suggest we meet at Weatherspoons 7.30-8pm.
The Vandals go to Rome is now looking likely for Saturday 2nd April, originally the Ashby game, and before you ask in preparation I have asked Tom to look into cancelling the Kings Norton midweek evening game earlier on on the week.
Slow