U11 are Mustard in Tewkesbury

This week Tewkesbury requested that we field a 12 man side and play their rules (old RFU) to help them prepare for the county cup. Sounded like a laugh which we jumped at. So we found ourselves stood in the wind by a big pitch, staring down the prospect of competitive 5 man scrums and line outs with six of our most experienced players either on vacation or in speedos and rubber hats at some swimming thing or other.

After some hasty instruction on who stands where for a lineout and who puts who’s head where and what you grab and what you don’t as a second row, Evesham had 14 players more or less ready for four 15 minute quarters. Like Christmas morning for some, and a first interview for others and with Mrs’ Stone and Witheford in attendance, the lads were in no doubt things just got real.

It has to be said from the outset that everyone stepped up today, irrespective of experience or which of our sides they usually feature in, and JB and 20 could not have been more proud of each of them. It was a day for experience, for trying something new and perhaps learning a thing or two along the way.

Between all the excitement and dealing with the various knocks, injuries and ice packs, the games seemed to merge into each other. Two games against Tewkesbury A and two against an A/Dev mix, we came a close second in both games facing the A’s and won both games against the mix. It would have been a delicious prospect to pitch our full A side and see what happened – perhaps another day.

Tewkesbury is in Gloucestershire, so they are all farmers boys and play rugby with an agricultural physicality – I have never before seen Aimee or Bretty leave a field of play to trouble the ice packs for example. The Evesham lads seemed to relish the challenge however and grew into the game with every passing moment. Noteworthy performances across the board:-

Geordy, Jake and Jack for strenuous endeavour against a front row that pushed back. Tom Davis and Ben Smith who put in a shift at second row despite awaking that morning blissfully aware that such a thing existed. Aimee and Josh, twins off the pitch and timeshare scrum half on. Tom Stone for kicking like a mule, Bretty and Slippery for some much needed go-forward-ery in the centres and Indie for robust running belying his short time in shorts. Jack (Russell) Witheford for living up to his terrier credentials with some fierce tackles, Matt for pace on the wing and George for getting stuck right in and for his scrupulously fair sense of play.

Try scorers this week were Jake (2), JSD (1) and Bretty (3) none of which would have been possible without a solid performance from everyone in maroon and blue. Parents, coaches and most importantly players all enjoyed the experience enormously – thanks to Mark for refereeing and Brian for hosting us today.

Man of the match this week was Olly ‘Slippery’ Wycherley for doing the hard yards going forward and more than his share of hard tackles in reverse. His mum was THRILLED.

Thanks to ‘20’, ‘Gramps’ and ‘Bov’ for their help in the preparations – good work chaps, much appreciated as always.

No training on Wednesday, have a day off, I even negotiated with Ed to drop the press-ups homework. Old Hals Away on Sunday 2nd November – back to 9 a side.

JB