Stow....away...

For the first time in living memory it was not raining/snowing and/or blowing a gale when we visited Stow on Sunday, in fact the sun was out !! As the only Youth age group playing at home it was a first opportunity to play on the main pitch with its stunning views, what a location. Half-term holidays had cut into Stows availability, with 24 between us it was agreed that Evesham would loan 4 to make it 12 a side and give everyone a jolly good run.

After Marrick had warmed up the lads, JB presented his training top as the official welcome to the coaching team with a few improvised words about International coaches making such an impact on world rugby, something wise like that, and then we were in shirts and ready for the off.

First Half
Team Sheet: 1. Bretty, 2. Indie, 3. ‘Dick’ Tracey, 4. Big Tom Merrall (Captain), 5. Swing Lowe (or Crunchy Nut as Marrick calls him), no number 8, 9. ‘Mighty’ Mullen, 10: Everall, 11. Ears Pearce 12. Slippery Wycherley, 13. Smiffy, 14. ‘Flying Fin’
On Loan: Olly Smith, Maximus, Tom Davis and ‘Super’ Ted

From the off the Evesham lads were up for the game and playing for each other, forwards securing the ball and backs moving it through the hands and looked full of running. Evesham’s pack is visibly powerful and a turned over scrum on the Stow 22 by the left hand touchline secured the ball and on through the hands to Fin on the right wing to light the afterburners for the first try of the game. Within 5 minutes of that there was a break for Stow by Max, Evesham too polite to tackle one of their own it seems and saw the ball out to the Stow wing to touch down. 5:5, 10 minutes in, glorious.

A break by Bretty held up just short, recycled well by Evesham and through the hands to Olly Wych to score. A Will Lowe break was straightened up by Will Tracey to score Evesham’s 3rd, the boys really warming up into the game. Evesham get a penalty and give it to our reluctant prop Bretty to run it through the traffic 5:20. The second row partnership between Tom Merrall and Will Lowe saw them both rucking and charging well with ball in hand and Indie continuing his impressive development at hooker. There was a magical offload by Mullen, off the ground and in contact which was eventually turned over but deserved more. In the dying moment of the half up pops ‘Super Ted’ for Stow to touchdown in the corner. 10:20, wonderful fun in the sun. Half time oranges, a new and very welcome addition to match day.

Second Half – bit of a change around
Team Sheet: 1. Bretty, 2. Olly Smith, 3. Tom Davis, 4. BTM (Captain), 5. Swing Lowe, no number 8, 9. Max, 10: Everall, 11. Ears Pearce, 12. Slippery Wycherley, 13. Smiffy, 14. Ted
On Loan: Will Tracey, Indie, Fin and Mullen

After a bit of a change around for no other reason than to give the lads a chance to play in their own colours, a break by Max from a scrum on the halfway line saw a solo effort run ‘every which way’ and not require (or between you and me not even look for) the plentiful support available to score, 10:25. A second for Evesham in a pleasing bit of backs interchange, Jamie, James, Olly Wych linking well down the left hand side and finished by Max. Another try for Olly Wych came off a break by Jamie, who later put a cheeky kick in behind the Stow line, looked like it had too much legs but it held in the in goal area for Super Ted to chase and touch down, against competition for his second of the day. Fin put in a great tackle to save a certain Evesham try, Matt also put in a big stop, mostly with his face but it halted the Stow wing and Olly Smith continued to grow into his adopted role of hooker. Jamie got himself a couple in a row, the first off a powerful run to the corner and the second off a lovely bit of footballing skill kicking the ball not once but twice before touching down under pressure by a chasing Stow defence. Bretty got himself a second from a breakdown few yards out and Smiffy sealed the deal in the last play with a good finish off a feed from Jamie.

Big credit to the Stow lads who continued to play, heads held high for every minute despite the score line drifting a bit in the second half and looked lively themselves to test the Evesham defence which required the tackle of the match from Olly Wych to save a certain try.

Mrs Jowett learned the lesson of so many mums before her, live sport is not like Sky, there is no rewind, so you need to pay attention and post-match Nursey had us on a merry old game of hunt the car key before finding it in a coat pocket, parents - they are worse than the kids.

The kitchen volunteers at Stow were keen to complement our lads on their manners, a most aggregable way to end a lovely mornings endeavour at altitude.

Huge thanks to everyone at Stow for such a warm welcome and for hosting the game and hospitality after, we hope there will be an opportunity for another run out this season when availability is not so limited, perhaps when we are in the Avon usually in February.

Man of the Match: For making a notable impact to both sides – Max Aris
Aimee’s award for the most impressive tackle: Wycherley for a tidy try saver
Rucker of the Match: Will Lowe, he can shift ‘em
CCR: Coaches Coffee Run - Rob Mullen - thank you
MEOTD: Most Excited on the Day - Marrick, easily

Training on Wednesday and Claverdon away on Sunday