There is something in the air, it’s warm, it’s sunny, the pitches aren’t flooded, surely this isn’t the last home fixture as Mini’s for the U12s? Along with it being our last fixture, it’s also the end of an era for the Shop, I believe Carol managed to part quite a few of you from your hard earned pounds & the end of life as we know it for the Breakfast club as Michelle moves on to pastures new.
38 ‘Ensians players turned out today, including one player who’d been lost for most of the season, welcome back Reece, good to see that speed hasn’t diminished.

‘Ensians Development vs High Wycombe Bs
The Development team took to the pitch for the first match, anxious to get back on track after last weeks defeat to a strong Tadley A team. The match took on a familiar theme, High Wycombe bossed the scrums & breakdowns & our backs proved that there is no substitute for speed & class. Ryan opened the scoring with a trademark burst down the wing with HW tacklers bouncing off him, he really is awesome once he get going. Max managed to miss the conversion, mainly due to the fact that he took the ball back a good 25 metres, he’ll learn! HW kept up the pressure & our forwards had to work extremely hard just to secure ball. Archie at 9 was on his backfoot at the breakdown but managed to distribute decent ball off either hand. As usual with the DT squad, the distribution from the backs was spot on. Jordan, Charlie S, Damon & Reece all made good ground with the ball & Sam, belying his lack of height put in a couple of great runs & tackles. However it was the pocket rocket known as “Floppy” Daniel who scored the next try following on from great work by his half backs, he skinned the HW defence to dot down after 8 minutes. Max decided to forgo the kicking tee & managed to drop goal the extras. We knew that HW would come back strongly & from the kick off they charged at the Ensian line gaining two quick fire penalties , the second of which they tapped & bundled over the line for a converted try. 12-7 to ‘Ensians at half time.
The second half started badly for the home team, we failed to take control of the kick off & HW piled over the a converted try inside a minute of kick off , 12-14 & all to play for. It was at this point that our forwards decided they’d had enough of being bossed about, lef Jason who seems to have found a new lease of life, they won their own ball at the scrum & drove HW back in a number of mauls. This step up in work rate allowed the backs to prosper by taking the ball on the front foot. After 10 minutes this pressure allowed Daniel to sprint away for his second try, which again was converted by Max, this time off the post & the bar! The forwards continued to fight back against the larger HW pack & the rest of the game was played out without too much concern. Jason, Luke, James T, Daniel L, Richard C, Dom, Cemlyn & the other forwards really stepped up to the mark today, especially during the second half when HW replaced most of their forwards for their 1st team squad.
Final Score – Redingensians Development 19 High Wycombe Bs 14
Ensians 1st Team vs High Wycombe As
The second match of the morning kicked off & it was clear that both sides were “Up for it” so were both sets of parents & coaches  A staccato 5 minutes followed with numerous offences being committed by both sides, however ‘Ensians were bossing the breakdown & taking ball against the head of the HW scrum, it was only a matter of time before Alex Canham showed his class to score the first try, converted by TG. HW found it almost impossible to impregnate the ‘Ensians half & frustration abounded amongst their players & coaches. A number of short penalties followed to ‘Ensians, none of which were converted into tries. The pressure continued from ‘Ensians & Alex Canham eventually crossed the white wash for the second time, again converted by TG. Half time & ‘Ensians were 14-0 to the good.
The second half started with an accidental “Claret” moment for Charlie P. When he received an elbow in the nose, no real problem for the team though as the man of the moment, Jason, stepped onto the pitch, for once he kept his mouth shut unless he talked sense, which worringly he did quite often! Continued pressure from the ‘Ensians forwards was always going to produce tries, first Cheesy spun, swirled, piroretted, danced & fell over the line, then Zac produced a typical drive from 5 metres out......... the touch down was text book, get over the line & spin down, pure class. Both conversions were missed. HW kept their heads up & scored a beauty of a try with two minutes to go, spinning it down the line for a brave dive by the winger. He took a big knock, but happily was last seen in the club house eating a hotdog!
The final play of the day saw Joseph put into space following a great ‘Ensians back move with the ball passing from Alex C at Scum Half, down the line for Jo to spot down. Somehow or other Connor managed to nick the ball from the girlie backs & convert the extras!
Final Score – Ensians 31 High Wycombe 7

Paul Clark