Chucksbry visit Lower Albert Road

On a beautiful sunny morning, beneath a cloudless blue sky a light pitch frost welcomed every stud as a crème brulee invites a silver spoon. With pitch paced out and players anticipating the physical trials ahead, this timeless scene would be instantly familiar to the club founders of 1883 (minus the Worcester main line and the arse end of Tesco).

Players were asked to report uncharacteristically early, 10am, and did so with aplomb for a surprise presentation of new training tops in a British and Irish Lions style ceremony with plenty of smiles and much hand shaking. I doubt Sir Ian McGeechan presents the Lions shirts from the boot of a BMW on its second lap of the clock, but the kids were delighted non-the-less. Thanks to Ash Neal for securing the sponsors and Ed for arranging the tops, individually initialled no less, which transformed the warm up from looked like a fight in lost property to the admirable uniformity of a proper squad.

Breaking News. It turns out that the age groups ahead of us have a parent rota to fetch the coaches coffee and after a few hints of decreasing subtlety Rob Mullen and OJ distinguished themselves as the first in what has already become a tradition. Who wants their name on t’internet next week I wonder ?

So down to rugby (finally I hear you groan). Tewkesbury is in Gloucestershire and they play the old rules but agreed to play our rules as visitors, and once we had revealed what they are a 30 min warm up ensued for both sides.

Game 1
Blues v Tewkesbury A

Front row of Geordie, JSD and Big Tom Merrall, Max(imus) Aris at 9, Hamish at 10, a welcome first run out in Blue for the unseasonally tanned Tommy at 12, Bretty 13, Tom Stone left wing and Slippery Wycherley on the right wing.
From the get go there was some beautiful rugby on display, passes creating width, pace onto the ball, neat handling and creative support lines with robust tackling as required.

A nice support line saw Tommy over for a try in the left corner early on, a lovely sequence through the hands – Hamish – Tommy – Bretty - Slippery down the right side for a well finished try. In the next phase a loose ball was pounced on and flicked up by Bretty to Big Tom Merrall on the charge to cross the line for Evesham’s third.

A promising charge by Tewkesbury was held up on the line – committed defence chaps – difficult to see specific individuals without a TMO but you know who you were – JSD, Wycherley and possible others.
Tewkesbury endeavour was rewarded by a try closing the half 3:1

Game 2
Maroons v Tewkesbury Dev

Front row George, Tom Davis and Olly Neal, Aimee at 9, Josh at 10, Ben (Smiffy) Smith at 12, Indie at 13, Jack (Russell) Witherford on the left wing and Matt Pearce on the right wing. Will (Mighty) Mullen was super sub.

Development rugby is about trying stuff and mixing it up. In a mid-week strategy meeting at the ERFC U11 Operational Head Quarters and Strategy Think Tank (The Queens in Elmley) it was decided to play George in the front row and let Indie loose in the centres to see what happened. Good things for both apparently with Indie tackling and running hard and George making a proper stop with his shoulder and carrying the ball into contact with determination.

Olly Neal notable for breaking the line at will with ball in hand and a long awaited proper tackle scored 2 and Ben (Smiffy) Smith charging around with the ball like the 11:05 to Malvern in the background bagged himself a couple too. 4:0 to the home side at half time.

Game 3
Blues v Tewkesbury A

Breaks don’t suit the Blues, we see it time and time again. A promising first half of delightful rugby moving the ball down the line, delaying passes to beat defenders and thoughtful support lines reverted to the single pass ‘do-it-all-myself-ery’ of old.

Big Tom Merrall got his second of the day, Tewkesbury got a try so it was all square with a minute to go. A Tewkesbury ruck near the Evesham line was turned over but Evesham were unable to clear the lines and a loose ball was touched down by Tewkesbury on the final whistle. 1:2 to Tewkesbury.

Game 4
Maroons v Tewkesbury Dev

Wingers appeared for Tewkesbury after the first half and were the difference against an unchanged Evesham side in the second half. Smiffy charged one in, Tewkesbury wingers ran in 5 with pure pace as the weapon. That said all Evesham players stuck to the task and learned a lot from the game time. 1:5 to Tewkesbury.

All in all a most enjoyable morning of rugby, 2 games each a fair representation across 4 well matched halves. Thanks to Ed for keeping order.

Man of the Match: For much improved tackling, rummaging the ball from the ruck and direct running, this week’s MOTM was Indie Roberts.

Lost Property: The now weekly haul includes a parker style puffer coat, army camo design with fur trimmed hood – no name (so probably Indie’s) and a suspiciously clean pair of black Kooga rugby gloves, one sized Small Boy, the other sized Medium Boy and both bearing the initials FT. So we are looking for a Fred, Frank or Fin playing in the backs with a right hand bigger than the left ?