Match Report 2004

Date: 08/05/2004, 2pm (Norton Playing Fields)

An excellent turn out for the Old Boys this year. A good twenty-something there to play, and a further twenty-something to cheer from the touchline. The Old Boys began the game confidently against a bare 15 for the Current Team. From the starting whistle it was clear that the Old Boys had the advantage of both experience and size. It was only in the disorganised attacking moves that the Old Boys struggled, the Current Team benefiting from a season of playing together.

It wasn't long before the Old Boys began to dominate. Straight up rugby wore the opposition pack down, and if not for handling errors out wide from trying to force passes the score could have been much more embarassing for the Current Team. Determined defending from the aged outfit in 3 back to back sets kept out the Current Team before half time, the Old Boys taking in a 3 try to nil lead, including a memorable 50 yard break from the scrum from Nick Massey.

Struggling to find a way a score, with pack players absent and a number of injuries, the Current Team players where desperate to break through and get points on the board. Their embarassment was spared when sharp thinking hooker, Dan Friend, took a quick tap penalty and put the ball down from a yard out. The breakthrough was made, and the total embarassment of the Current Team spared.

With changes a plently from the amply numbered Old Boys squad holes began to appear as lack of match practice began to show. The Current Team smartly exploited defensive weakpoint Phil (Pilsbury) Barnet, and duely got back in the game with a trio of tries from Matt (Maverick) Barker.

With an earlier impenetrable defense the Old Boys proved the 'game of two halves' theory and looked lost, rattled and on the ropes during the second half. Fortunately for them their experience prevailed and after running home some basic tries from out wide and down the short side the result of the match was sealed in their favour.

Man of the Match

Old Boys: Chris Simm
Current Team: James (Goose) Gosling

Thanks to all those who took part or turned out to support.

Pictures

We have a small number of pictures from the game, from action shots to the actual tackle where Iain Pearson cracks his ribs.