Fri 25 Oct 2024, 19:30
Friday 25 October 2024, KO 19:30
12 noon and I take my first look at an unchanged back line up this Friday evening and with three changes to the starting forwards, seeing Jake Whatley recovered and a welcome return for Vinnie Jones in the boiler and Rhys Matthews at hooker both bringing some first team experience with them, it’s starting to feel like there’s some consistency to selection.
While I’m on the subject of Rhys can I just clarify, particularly for the likes of Gareth Rees-Ellis, that despite his uncanny appearance to a South Pacific Islander making him look like Fatai Koloi’s brother he is in fact the spawn of two white British parents. True it’s a mixed marriage the lovely Yvonne hails from the land of druids and hairy toed hobbits, although in fairness she does keep her toes well shaven and tends not to wear the white sheets anymore. This was all something I was blissfully unaware of until I arrived at church some 26 years ago. It became all to clear what was going on with half the church sat in stove pipe bonnets or pit helmets holding their favourite canaries. Anyway it was to late I couldn’t back out and half an hour later was hitched, I will say the singing was lovely. Three years later Rhys arrived and started to grow, possible hasn’t stopped. He did display a Mongolian Blue Spot at the base of his spine and his parenthood was quizzed immediately as this is something more associated with those born nearer the equator and it’s been that way ever since. As soon as the clocks change in the spring, Rhys steps outside and like a pair of reactive sunglasses changes colour immediately. Rhys if this is all a bit to much information and you’re feeling a bit uncomfortable, great, my job as a parent is done.
The bench is further showing signs of consistency and nice to welcome both Mudiwa Hakunavanhu and Kyron Pearce for what will be United debuts. Mudiwa is new to Weston RFC recently signed from Cardiff University where he’s studying ballroom dancing and cake decoration, Kyron on the other hand has played through the junior section before heading off to join the Royal Marines, hello sailor. Having successfully passed the arduous training and then taking part in active duty, you can ask him about it and he’ll tell you, but will have to kill you after, he now finds himself based in North Devon and hopefully the opportunity to pull the blue Weston jersey on and build a few caps for the club as a senior. In his spare time he likes to wear women’s lingerie and create topiary, not sure if he does it concurrently.
Further more and what’s really exciting is that we had a 1st and United squad training and running at each other on Thursday evening. Sat here starting this write up and, it is several hours before kick off so I have no idea which way it will go, what I do know is as a group of players you are now starting to give yourselves the best opportunity to win. Training or rather being at training has been a constant theme in these reports so wonderful to see it start to happen, go well lads.
19:00 and warm up is well underway, and as always last minute changes to the advertise squad see Harry “Molotov Cocktail, Paprikash” Nash stuck in traffic, Sam light promoted to first team duty, which allows Ryan Donegan and Mudiwa to start with Trueman Currie and Simon Hudson shoring up the bench.
19:30 and kick off and my renewed confidence in the side seems to be well placed and the United introduce themselves immediately and put our guest under pressure. Within the first minute Walker crosses the try line and Garrett steps up to collect the extras, a fine start.
United 7-0 Hornets
The kick off sees the hornets take the advantage and some hard talking from the United is required. 5 mins in and Huw Matthews pops a shoulder and Kyron Pearce is on, a little earlier than he’d expected. Some where here while sorting the casualty, luckily he has a chocolate shoulder and it popped back in, Hornets pick up a penalty.
United 7-3 Hornets United now push again and the increased pressure results in a yellow card for Hornets and the United have a man advantage.
Rowan Bird breaks in space with a snipping run, checking this way and that carves the Hornets defence gliding in under the posts, a bit early for the finger in the air scoring Rowan but well done. Garrett collects the extras.
United 14-3 Hornets,
21 min played. Hornets awarded another penalty soon after the restart and close the gap on 25 mins. United 14-6 Hornets United are off again and the forwards are battling well, Rhodri is back at it working hard along side Walker and Blackborow but as Ryan Donegan grows in confidence he is a crowd pleaser on the hoof crunching through tackles and spilling defenders like skittles, great work Donny. Matthews is good with the arrows and the line out is functioning well.
It’s also good to see a bit of niggle has well with neither team taking a step back and enjoying the confrontation, it clearly means something to both teams to be in this local derby. Burns provides the change in pace, jumping into the 10 position he perfectly chips through from midfield to the corner.
It’s not an easy run in and Hawken has got work to do but rises to the challenge hunting for the ball between defenders to finally dive on the ball, Nick’s first try for the United this season and great reward for the hard work.
United 19-6 Hornets,
37 mins As we approach half time the United are holding fast, there’s been some injury time but the ref isn’t looking at his watch. Hawken is replaced by Currie who is soon into the action. Finally half time and I think an extra 11mins added on, exciting stuff and the crowd is enjoying it.
Half Time United 19-6 Hornets
The second half starts and Hornets have some work to do and set about putting the United under pressure. There’s a great defensive display from the United and the score board isn’t moving.
We are possibly in danger of losing grip on the game as injuries mount and replacements are spent. There’s long clearing kicks from Garrett as the United continue to repel the attacks. Just to run through it, in a matter of minutes we see Blackborrow off Westlake on.
Closely followed by Cook off for Ollie Martin and then both Walker and Jones off, Blackborrow back on with Hudson all with 50 mins on the clock.
Despite the pressure it’s the United to change the score board first in the second half. Battling and inching back up the field its Mudiwa to make the final break and cross the try line on his debut.
A fine effort and someone wants to make him man of the match, that’s a load of bollocks for Premiership and Junior rugby, grow up this is about a team and twenty wonderfully angry men playing for each other. Garrett collects the extras.
United 26-6 Hornets,
64 mins Pearce is off and Cook returns to the fray and there’s no let up in the Hornets intensity and the desire to score. United again clear their lines and Martin makes an almighty tackle on the half way smashing the collecting Hornet player. Currie collects the loose ball and rips down the wing inching ahead of two closing defenders, smashing try fellas.
United 31-6 Hornets, 7
9 mins As we enter the final minutes Hornets are rewarded. Yellow card for Rhodri, hacking the ball at the ruck, Hornets move the resulting penalty wide and finally cross the white wash. United 31-11 Hornets, 86 mins.
Full Time United 31-11 Hornets 3rds
Thank you to our guest this evening for a very competitive and entertaining game, we look forward to our trip to Hutton Moor later in the season.
Congratulations to the United, 2 wins on the bounce, but more importantly, some consistency in the selection and above all else personnel were at training, this is the start, it was clear the effort was being put in. Training is the answer, married to a bit of dog in everyone, it was a huge relief to me to see 20 angry men on the pitch this evening with passion and a desire to back each other. All deserve a mention but of note our Lena Zavaroni look-a-like front row that went the full 80 mins. Thank you.
Backs Rowan Bird, Huw Matthews, Josh Cook, Sam Garrett, Darren Burns, Nick Hawken, Ethan Horn
Forwards Ryan Donegan, Jake Whatley, Rhys Matthews, Mudiwa Hakunavanhu, Vinnie Jones, Rob Blackborrow, Rhodri Williams, Mark Walker
Reps (all used) Ethan Westlake, Simon Hudson, Trueman Currie, Ollie Martin, Kyron Pearce
Mark Mongo Matthews
