Weston super-Mare RFC United v Castle Cary RFC Saturday 7 September 2024, KO 15:00
It’s here, first Saturday of the new season and I couldn’t wait. I know it’s not about me, although I suspect these ramblings will contain a great deal about me in the coming weeks, my pre game preparation was spot on. Fish n chip supper several pints of Otter and a single malt chaser or two to finish off. Stood in the rugby club on the Friday evening having watched the Athletic succumb to Burnham, Huw imparted a useful commentary on the state of society today. During a heated debate he pointed out that “Facts don't matter its all about feelings”.
On that note I feel that the earth is flat, aware that I walk on two legs have a roughly mammalian appearance I feel like I’m a dolphin and here’s the best bit, writing this report a day or so later I have now decided that I feel like we won, we didn’t. Apologies if I’ve now ruined the write up but I’m pretty sure we all knew the result by 17:30 Saturday afternoon and right now you should be doing something more useful.
With the Athletic suffering at the hands of Burnham Friday night a shout out to those fellas joining the United today and pulling the shirt on again. There are also a number of debuts including Jamie Meadan, Adam Lee, Ryan Donegan and Jon Richards, who all played their part.
On arriving at the Rec my first sight was that of the behemoth Ryan Donegan warming up sporting a spray on t-shirt and casting a shadow equal to his father’s. Note to self, add Cornish pasty to a the medical bag, smelling salts will have no effect on this 20 stone of well chewed bubble gum.
Welcoming Castle Cary to the Rec today the first time in many years it was great to see Joe Pullen at the helm having played for Weston for a number of seasons before heading to Portsmouth. Fantastic that he’s returned to Cary where he started.
Warm up was going well, hands were accurate in the team runs and Moley even uttered “I’ll hit that all day” referring the salmon like Meadan being lifted at the rear of the line. Time may tell a different story but for now team spirit was high and attitudes positive.
United receive kick off and move straight into attack but Cary are solid well drilled and repelled each foray. United are pushed back into their own half and penalised for holding on. Cary take the advantage and covert the penalty.
3 mins United 0-3 Castle Cary Early work from forwards and backs was terrific Walker forcing penalty advantage to Weston and Blyth clashing well repeating the tackle technic displayed in the warm up fixture against Frampton Cotterell. United continue to compete well and taking the game into the Cary half but the phase ends with Hunt and Donegan needing a moment.
Great seeing Hunt back after 7 years, back is clearly no better and I suspect he’s having problems moving on Sunday. Matthews at 10 was linking well with Cooke and putting Hawkin into space against a well drilled defence. Hawkin was making line breaks but was isolated with some players rusty and decision making not where it should be. Cary win the ball in their own half and kick long, Blyth fields with an excellent catch but is isolated with three Cary on him and no blue shirts in sight.
The ball pops out in contact and Cary score. United 0-8 Castle Cary Great pressure again from the kick off, storming run from Donny but penalised for holding on. Dorrington off and Mark Young on 28 minutes played. Another kick against the run of play, Blyth and Bridgman fail to field it, never have two players ever wished so much that a rugby ball was round as the elusive bobbling bar of soap glides into the path of Cary. United 0-13 Castle Cary The revival is on, for a moment, forward and backs linking well, sustained forward pressure and Hudson is in, Hawkin collects the extras. United 8-13 Castle Cary It’s short lived and United under pressure again and it’s our own mistakes letting a better organised Cary take advantage and we concede again and it could be worse if the Cary kicker had his feet on the right way round. United 8- 18 Castlecary Ethan Westlake into the back row at 35 mins, Fisher up to hooker and Moley to prop sees Donny rested, “where’s my pasty?”.
Blyth working hard covering the full back but Cary have his card marked, the kick through isn’t secured and Cary score again, Blyth snaps, handbags are thrown and Huw moves in to tell everyone and joke and calm it down. Half Time United 7-25 Caslte Cary (kicker found some form, he was in front the posts mind). Some good analysis at half time, we are making mistakes and they are taking advantage we also losing our heads on the attack in their half and need to slow the attack down and maintain control. We didn’t put this into action in the second half and continued to provide the opportunities for Cary to capitalise. Donnie reintroduced himself for Hudson, Dorrington relieved Cooke and Lee made way for Cooke before returning for Hawkin. Cary kept the score card ticking over, 7-32, 7- 39 and 7-46. In the final minutes of the game Jon Richards replaced Donnie for his debut and within 2 minutes crossed the whitewash, great for Jon and good for the United whose heads didn’t dip throughout. Full Time United 12-46 Castle Cary Congratulations to Castle Cary we look forward to the away fixture.
Players of note today were Jamie Meadan who had a workman like debut and was always keen to carry, Fisher for an aggressive all round game, Huw, taking the 10 shirt and working well on communication, and Nick great at inside centre. There was further contributions across the team and although the result remains disappointing the attitude and heart was terrific.
Ability is not always with you but in the words of Po (Simon Hudson, Kung Foo Master) the greatest ability is availability and you all had that.
Training is the way forward and works best as a club so that your transition between teams is easier and understood, we need to be playing the same game.
Can’t wait for next week,
cheers, Backs Jack Bridgman, Adam Lee, Tom Blyth, Clayton Dorrington, Nick Hawkin, Huw Matthews, Joshua Cooke Forwards Ryan Donegan, Tom Wheatly, Will Hunt, Rob Blackborrow, Simon Hudson, Adam Fisher, Jamie Meadan, Mark Walker
Reps (all used) Mark Young, Ethan Westlake, Jon Richards, Chris Ashworth,
Mark Mongo Matthews
