Ripley Rhinos 2XV, Saturday 6^th October, Home, Won 25-3

I'll get the answer to the burning questions out of the way immediately - yes we played on Sat, and yes we won, 25-3.

The fixture for Saturday looked shaky mid-week, with yet another withdrawal from a game by the competing vets team. Undeterred, Warren and Iwan managed get us a fixture against Ripley Rhino 2nd XV - not exactly vets, but from previous experience it seemed like a fair competition. That was until Ripley turned up with half a dozen of their 1st XV in tow, however they promised only to come on in the event of injuries. To be fair, we had a couple of youngsters bolstering our side (thanks to Chris, Alisdair, Kevin and Will) but it was more or less a thoroughbred vets team that took to the pitch. When they eventually took to the pitch.

The Rolls-Royce team arrived anywhere from 11am to 10 seconds before kick-off.....some had valid reasons (like just getting out of work), some hadn't (like boozing until the wee small hours) - you know who you are! This meant we had a hurried warm up with ten minutes to go, which was just enough time for Rich Keen to pull his calf muscle (something he claims happened in the game, but I don't believe him), Scott to re-arrange his vertebrae with some horrible cracking and popping, and me to warm my "hamstrings" which someone pointed out were actually my "quads"....I didn't do biology at school, I don't know all the right names!!

 So with Greg arriving from work, literally just in time to take the kick-off, the team was set. We had a forwards pack of James Gormley, Chris Jarrett and Chris Ellans in the front row, myself and Tom Jenkins in the 2nd row, and a backrow of Rich Keen, Jim Procter and Paul Whitehouse. Phil Tougher and Greg Nadin played scrum-half and fly-half respectively, linking with Eddie Willers and Scott Holland in the centre, with a back three comprising Nigel Calladine, Simon Lawson and Alisdair Craig. A comfortable temperature and little wind meant the weather was spot on for rugby.

The game started in brusque fashion, with Paul Whitehouse getting in the first tackle of the game. Ripley had a set of large forwards and they were clearly going to use them. But good tackling and counter attacking meant the game stayed pretty much in the Ripley half during the opening minutes. That territory soon created a vacant blind side after Scott tackled and wrapped up the Ripley winger, who had just fielded a Rolls-Royce kick. Phil T took advantage as the forwards piled in, picking up from a ruck five metres from the Ripley line and going over for the first try (5-0). The Ripley restart was fielded well and Rolls-Royce combined forward and back play, lead by Eddie W and Scott H, to gain ground. At some stage during the opening quarter, Nige C had managed to get up a head of steam, and as the ball came from another ruck and through quick, silky hands in the centre, Nige found himself going over in the corner for try number two (10-0).

From the restart, the ball was fielded by the Rolls-Royce captain, who immediately looked for someone to charge into....unfortunately he was adjudged to be leading with the elbow into the tackler and a penalty was awarded to Ripley. It was a fair cop. I got so excited about bouncing someone that I didn't get my arm positioned correctly in time! The Rhino's captain promptly slotted 3 points...well done him (10-3). Rolls-Royce responded by pushing up into the Ripley half and being awarded their own penalty, which Phil kicked with ease (13-3). Shortly after that Ripley really turned on the pressure, but the Rolls-Royce defence held firm with some cracking tackles being made on our own try line by Simon L and Chris J to keep Ripley out. Chris E suffered a twisted knee at this stage, and had to be substituted. With a bit of juggling, Jim P went into the front row and Will M came on the back row. I'd like to say that Jim performed admirably as loosehead and thank him again for stepping in.

Rolls-Royce made their way back up field, constantly putting pressure on the Ripley defence. Nige C, yet again, tore up the wing at something approaching the speed of light, onto a pass from me in the centre after I'd "straightened the line" and "rode a tackle"...first time I've done either! Nige went in at the corner, to which Phil T added the conversion (20-3). Half time followed shortly afterwards, with Rick K going off, Alisdair C moving onto the back row Kevin B filling Alisdair's berth on the wing, and Ray now being sober enough to take over from Nigel C on the other wing.

The second half started pretty much as the first, even though Ripley had now brought on a few of their 1st XV subs. The tenacity of our backrow, the solid set piece in the scrum and lineout, and the class of our backs directed masterfully by Greg contained Ripley, making it look unlikely that they'd ever get a try, whilst always looking likely that we could counter attack. Notable highlights included Simon L running from deep time after time and handing off anyone that came near him, which he fitted in around tackling like a demon and kicking like a mule....or something that kicks well...and a pass ruled as forward denying another Rolls-royce try. Everyone stuck at their game, especially Eddie W who picked up an injury in the centre, and eventually the fourth try came. A suicidal decision by Ripley to take a quick throw in saw their player tackled by Scott H, who then freed himself from the ensuing ruck to take a pass from Will M, and do some sort of trip/juggle/belly flop over the line for his try (25-3). Alisdair's youth and pace helped the forward effort hugely in the second half, and Kevin B seems to have enjoyed his first ever game of rugby getting involved and carrying ball whenever he could. Tom J seemed to have narcotics helping him on Sat or I took a blow to the head, because he was absolutely everywhere! Great stuff.

The game wound down then with ten minutes to go. Ripley came close to our try line, but infringed and we subsequently cleared. The final result was a great win for our first outing of the season. Solid play from everyone, individual brilliance, a great team spirit, and terrific determination makes for a superb base to build on.

I'd like to thank Warren for refereeing - he was consistent and talked throughout the whole game. Judging from the number of penalties and scrums no-one listened, but that's down to the players not the ref!

Onto the next game! Can you let me know your availability for our next fixture, which is away to Belper on 3rd Nov?

Thank you to Ripley for picking up this fixture at late notice.

Mark Kerr