Sat 16 Nov 2024, 14:30
Saturday16 November 2024,
KO 14:30
“I’m off to Dartmouth with the girls for the weekend, are you going to be all right?” Is the most unnecessary question a wonderful wife could ever ask and the response “REALLY, well what AM I GOING TO DO?” Will never be heard, why doesn't this work the other way round?
Needless to say this is going to be a great weekend, regardless of the rugby at the Rec, away at Whitney or the internationals on the TV, this weekend, relax, enjoy the the lack of interference, minimal noise pollution with only the need to acknowledge odd text messages with a Happy Face emoji or the occasional x.
My perfect Friday, this could be a theme, starts with finishing work early, say 15:00, and hanging around just long enough to appear interested in her weekend to Salcombe. Pull the motorcycle out for a quick spin up Burrington Combe across the top and down Cheddar Gorge with a refreshment stop at the Plume Of Feathers, Rickford or the Castle of Comfort on the top.
A quick shower and round to The Ship, Ireland v Argentina on the telly and a reasonable pint of Guinness in hand now the clocks have gone back. The wife is probably almost at Exmouth by now. The rugby’s entertaining, dinner, pork scratchings superb. Company is great as I enjoy a single malt whiskey with my dad. Single malts are often enhanced with a piece of dark chocolate, so I’m told, but we had no chocolate so chased the malt down with a second.
I glide home, warm in my beer coat and briefly wonder “did she make it safely to Lynmouth” and the thought was gone.
The United are at home this week against Wyvern who are 2 places above them in the table. We have been an improving team and familiarity is present but again there are numerous changes. We welcome a returning Blain Tottle who has found his boots for the first time in many seasons and 17 year old Keiran van Russel for his United debut. Wonderful to see a van Russel on a senior team sheet as its been a while since his father the international spy and model railway enthusiast has played. Keiran certainly looks older than 17 and the part time glove model makes full use of his stature moonlighting as an acrow prop.
It’s a 14:30 kick off at the Rec and Wyvern waste no time getting on the score board, within the first two minutes with a try on the wing.
United 0-5 Wyvern
United respond well and win a penalty in the Wyvern half, Huw M kicks for touch poorly and the ball crosses the dead ball line, out of play. Wyvern take the drop out there’s more errors from the United a knock on scrum to Wyvern.
With both Donegan senior and junior in the front row this week a scrum isn’t the worst part of our set play. A massive scrum against the head sees Walker pick and go. Hawken is in support and the off load comes from Walker and the United even the scores as Hawken crashes into the corner, 6 mins played.
United 5-5 Wyvern
Wyvern put the United under pressure and Blaine T is working hard and although rusty is clearly enjoying the run out. Poor defending and missed tackles finally tell and Wyvern are in under the posts for their second, 14 mins
United 5-12 Wyvern
It’s much the same from the kick off, there’s a nervousness to the backs with silly handling errors creeping in and mobility has suffered in the forwards for a competitive scrum, and tackles are not being completed, Wyvern in again, 16 mins.
United 5-19 Wyvern
Good scrum from the United, but communication is poor, Wyvern clear their lines and attack a fourth time, 24 mins.
United 5-24 Wyvern
Against the run of play United break through Josh Cook who is making a fist of it a scrum half. Josh kicks long and the chase is on for Hawken. He’s got some work to do, Josh and Darren Burns are in support but it’s all under control and Hawken secures his second of the afternoon, with Rich Frost collecting the extras, 33 mins
United 12-24 Wyvern
United had been having the better of it briefly but Wyvern come back hard, a terrific last ditch tap tackle from Burns prevents a certain try but only for a moment as Wyvern recycle and cross the white was for the final time of the half.
United 12-31 Wyvern, Half Time.
Second half Wyvern start where they finished and catch the United sleeping again, 43 mins.
United 12-36 Wyvern
The Ref has gone down now, sniper got him, and everyone gets a rest while the referee has his calf sprayed and fair play to the Coombe Down fella he recovers well. It’s frustrating watching this week and I don’t know what’s worse, missing touch with a hard fought penalty or the line-out not working when we do get there and losing the ball. It’s hard to put a finger on the exact problem but certainly lack of numbers at training is key, I appreciate in the last couple of weeks that has improved on a Thursday and there is some flickers of light at the end of the tunnel, but we need consistency born through hard training sessions and improving communication and confidence across all team members.
United respond well, heads are not dropping and once again, against the run of play the new fella Rhodri W is over for the United, his first United try, in the corner. No extras but the gap is reduced momentarily, 54mins.
United 17-36 Wyvern
Wyvern respond under the posts on the hour 60mins played.
United 17-43 Wyvern The United are playing better and Hawken collects just inside the Wyvern half, breaks for the corner, clears the last defender and rounds between the sticks for his hatrick, well done Nick, and an easy kick for Frost, 63 mins.
United 24-43 Wyvern United have woken up, its much more exciting but we’re chasing to great a lead. The scrum dominance tells for another score for the United, as they drive over from short range and Walker touches down at the base. One for the front row, well done fellas, 70 mins.
United 29-43 Wyvern 14 points a drift, 10 mins to play but it’s to much and Wyvern have the final say with a penalty in front the posts.
United 29-46 Wyvern
In the dying minutes there is a nasty collision between the teams and the Wyvern wing comes off the worst, suffering a fractured cheek bone and eye socket with further damage. The referee blows early, understandably, and our best wishes are with the injured player.
Full Time United 29-46 Wyvern Thank you to our guest Wyvern and we hope your man recovers soon. We look forward to meeting you again in the new year.
Disappointment again for the United but nonetheless there is some great team spirit developing and with with a rest next week we look forward to welcoming Somerstown RFC to the Rec, 30 November 2024.
Backs Josh Cook, Huw Matthews, Kyron Pearce, Truman Currie, Darren Burns, Nick Hawken, Rich Frost
Forwards Charlie Owens, Ryan Donegan, Steve Donegan, Kieran van Russel, Vinnie Jones, Blaine Tottle, Rhodri Williams, Mark Walker
Reps (all used) Ethan Westlake, Simon Hudson
You are welcome, Mark Mongo Matthews
