Hereford Away (Far Away)

Leaving Becky Merrall to celebrate her 30th birthday in peace, and feeling rather like Christopher Columbus and his crew, we bravely set a course on Sunday for the mysterious lands that lie beyond the M5. I like a bit of adventure, watch Bear Grylls all the time, but even he would struggle to know what to pack for this. With promises of top grade cider and warnings of fur-clad celtic savages within rock chuckin’ range, we proceeded with caution.

If anyone else is wondering where Jilly got to on Sunday, some light research revealed the Hereford’s Bulmer’s factory is the largest cider making factory in the world and is home to the world’s largest vat – the stainless steel tank installed in 1975 holds 120 million pints of cider. Well, it did…..

Down to just one celebrity today as Hamish is spending the weekend in Speedos, swimming hopefully, so the autograph hunters and screaming girls are all for Wycherley. Junior not Senior. Obviously. Stage is set - proper rugby weather, relentless rain overnight meant the pitch was heavy-going and the Hereford lads are always up for a physical game with a big pack including a mountain at 8. The Evesham pack looked a bit malnourished without options of Will Tracey, Olly Neal, Tom Davis or Rhino.

Quarter 1
Starting Line Up: 1. Brett, 2. Indie, 3. Gentleman-George, 4. BTM (captain), 5. Crunchy-Nut, 8. Cake 9. Max, 10. Rocco, 11. Serge, 13. Jamie 14. James 15. Slate

Fresh legs: Mullen, Olly Smith, Smiffy, Joel

Pretty even start to the game, both teams testing defences and looking like value for a great morning of rugby. Indie carries into contact, Cake strong in the ruck and clearly enjoying the 8 shirt (great to see him back huh) then the backs send it left out to Serge on the wing and he is off like a bride’s nightie. Try in the left corner. Hereford throwing big forwards and pacey backs our way but the Evesham defence was valiant. Rocco continuing his development at 10, minor confusion about the penalty calls but rewardingly there were no critics amongst the lads, nothing but support, Brothers-Warriors-Friends. Calls are a very simple thing to clarify on Wednesday.

Quarter ended 0:1 to Evesham. Fetch the oranges.

Quarter 2
Bov made some changes that I did not write down, not sure he did, it is all about getting the lads to play. Wise words from Marrick (in new boots), something about a dog, and we are set for phase 2. Marrick takes himself off to the ‘excited corner’ behind our posts.

Hereford penalty kick in own half, Evesham wrestle the ball, good work George and get it to Slippery Wycherley who reaffirms his nickname and proves to be ungraspable despite many attempts and over. Jamie was causing them problems in defence, Slate put in a shift at the back/wing and read the game well. Max and Mullen sharing duties at 9, both eager, enjoying the mudbath and playing with smiles on their faces, frankly all I could see was their teeth 10 minutes in.

Few good runs by Smiffy finding gaps in midfield and retaining the ball. Break by Serge up the left, Evesham retain at the ruck and get the ball to Wycherley and over for his second – Somebody sign him up, oohh yeah, they did. Joel proved that Hereford are not the only ones with farmers boys, some excellent defensive work.

Evesham penalty, short ball to Bretty, no respecter of heavy traffic or his face and over. Hereford over in the right corner but judged to be held up, quickly regain possession and get it left and in at the corner. 1:3 for the quarter. Oranges.

Quarter 3
Preseason fitness training starting to kick in now, Hereford with more subs available so the Evesham lads were digging deep to keep the intensity.

Big Tom Merrall leading from the front in defence and attack, another noteworthy Captains shift encouraging the lads. Olly Smith settling in to the hookers shirt very well and Crunchy-Nut head down on the charge several times – when viewed from behind the posts he looks for all the world like he has been fired from a cannon. James was like tackle, get up, repeat on an endless loop. Nice to see Nursey along, even nicer that she was not required to look at any hurty bits today.

Hereford out of the blocks, loose ball kicked across the Evesham tryline and a couple of Evesham players there first but not clear on what to do, whilst they are thumbing the rule book for inspiration and ignoring Marrick shouting ‘just touch it down wouldya’ Hereford charge in and apply downward pressure for the try. Soft one that lads, we will work on that on Wednesday.

Penalty to Evesham, short to Bretty and over with an oooffffff. Oranges

Quarter 4
Few of the Evesham lads are impossible to distinguish now, Olly Wych and Cake like identical mud monsters their own mothers could not tell apart. Bretty muscled one across the line off good work by the forwards.

Getting a bit spicy out there now, game cut short in our half when Bretty was invited to a ‘who has the biggest handbag competition’ off the back of a ruck. Ref intervened before we got to find out and blew up for time before either side were tempted to explore further.

Final Score Hereford 10 : Evesham 30. Great performance by all the lads, excellent defence which was ‘boots on our own line’ several times but held. To borrow a phrase from Marrick – ‘The lads have more dog than a Korean restaurant’.

Thanks to Hereford for an excellent game and hosting us post-match and special thanks for Toby for refereeing and Jody Tinson for carrying the flag.

CCR: Mrs Brett
Aimee’s award for the most impressive tackle: impossible to single out a player, the lads were tackling their hearts out and so this was rightly a team award this week
Rucker of the Week: Just like the tackler award, Marrick could not separate the lads in such a spirited team performance, to do so would have been unfair
Man of the Match: Again a very tough call with so many to choose from but awarded to Will Brett this week for disrupting the flow of a very capable Hereford side

Photos from Alcester here, thanks Rosie: https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/EveshamRFC/photos/alcester-6th-nov-2016-705095.html

Training on Wednesday 6:15

JB