Back after the Christmas break

Having had a 5 week break with a combination of snow, ice and a big fat jolly bloke in a red outfit, it was great to get back to business.

All the coaches wondered what impact the enforced break would have on their respective sides, how would fitness levels stand up? How would the returning injured Hunt & Doughty get on? Would anyone throw up during the match? and how much weight had parents put on over the Christmas break? So many questions. Soon we had all the answers.

It was decided to play 3 x 20 minute matches to enable all players to get sensible game time, with the focus on the non-league squad members to kick things off.

Twickenham 5 Redingensians 5.
Having briefed the players with the normal pearls of wisdom we added a "lets have some fun this morning" to the menu. Our intentions were made clear from the outset when pressure was applied and the home side snuffed out a quick attack down the left flank. Whilst it was nip and tuck in the early close exchanges it wasn't too long before the energy filled 'Ensians forwards were providing some good quick ruck ball with which scrum half Doughty and fly half Eves released their backs. Hunt plunged over for the first score, unconverted. Jones had several trundles, ball in hand.

Cruickshank and Dalton quickly built up a rapport at second row, with Stevens also adding his knowledge, indeed all the forwards played well. That said the restart was allowed to bounce around worryingly when no one took responsibility and Twickenham soon levelled the scores, avoiding the thin carpet of coco-pops left welcomingly by one 'Ensians forward in the in goal area during warm up.

Sadly Cox left the frey after several very promising runs, one of which resulted in him damaging neck muscles. Richardson filled in at full back.

Twickenham 7 Redingensians 10.
Twickenham scored first, just deserts for plenty of endeavour and a positive attitude.

Several changes had been made by both sides some experimental, and some purely like for like positional. This resulted in a performance that was something of a curate's egg, forwards continuing to build a solid foundation, backs still struggling to find the incisive break. Holt has become a complete pain in the bum... For the opposition. Some observers today likening him to a modern Neil Back; plenty of hard graft in the close quarters and cunning when needed. His support work and attitude was rewarded with the games two try's, the latter of which was a solo 40 metre break when he calved the opposition open to score under the posts.

Twickenham 0 Redingansians 20.
With their confidence gently growing it was rewarding to see the squad playing good "heads up" rugby in the final game, mixing their options up and keeping the opposition on the back foot for much of the half. It was great to have captain Hunt back and he opened the scoring in the final game. With half of the opposition watching MacDevitt, who had already caused havoc down the left wing on a number of occasions Hunt looked to pass out before cutting inside to nonchalantly score. Sadly Twickenham lost a second prop and we moved to uncontested (ish) scrums.

The backs got in on the act for the second try when Hunt again proved incisive, calling an inside ball which he took at pace before the ball was spun through the hands of Spiegler and Doughty to reach MacDevitt who scampered over to score. The third followed quick thinking by Sharp who called Wareham in for a quick attacking lineout. Whist there was ground to be made Wareham tucked the ball up his shirt, bowed his head and did what front rows do best; knocked on. Ha, ha, only joking...he ploughed on, through, under, over three defenders to plunge over the whitewash and score.

The final blow came once again from quick thinking by Sharp who took a quick penalty just outside the opposition 22, did a quick Torvill and Dean piroutte, a Richardson bollywood sidestep and a hitchkicky thing, all rolled into one before off loading to MacDevitt to score under the posts.

In our traditional "season of goodwill" sort of way both Lee managed to fluff kicks that Wareham's granny would have converted with both legs tied together!

On a slightly more serious note it was good to see some spirited thinking rugby being played by a side that didn't look as if they had just had a 5 week break.

On the important questions raised in the second paragraph, the answers are; yes they did, it was great to have them both back, yes; coco pops everywhere! very little by the looks of things!

Well done to men of the match; Hunt, Dalton, Holt and Cruickshank.

Many thanks to Twickenham for managing to get the game off the ground. Thanks also to Julie for her medical help.