As fine an example of rugby as I've seen for some time, very evenly matched with GRFC having the upper edge in most departments and with outstanding perfomances from Josh Smith and Dave Irvine not forgetting Gary Gray who remembered he has the finest pair of legs in the business and showed the oppo what to do with them as well. Captain Forsyth had probably the best game I have seen from him for a long time and the whole team seemed to gel around his dynamic leadership. Jamie well done, we needed that big boost! After beating Bracknell on the stroke of midnight last week by one point ( incidentally Barry Clements tells me he is suffering from gout this week I can't think why? Nothing to do with the seventy four pints of bitter you drank after the match I suppose?) I thought we might be in for a bit of a kicking given Westcliff's remarkable recovery from their lacklustre start to the season but I am pleased to say that our tactics paid off. Playing into the wind, up the slope, with the low winter sun in our eyes we knew what we were doing and By Jove! we showed 'em and turned round even Stevens only to add another 20 points and gain the very much needed 5 for our league table. I am looking forward to the New Year!
Our two's came home with the glory yesterday against a very strong and competent Colfeians winning 43-17, this was a super effort from a side who have given their all for this half of the year having kept the 1's fuelled with their finest for the best part of six weeks. As I said last blog, the 1st Xv have been beset by injuries from our first match onwards and have relied very heavily on the 2's and 3's and so on down the line and it just goes to show that we DO have it and we CAN call upon it when needed as ably demonstrated yesterday.Thankyou gentlemen and particularly the veteran John Heggs for taking over from Crisis until he can get back to full strength and Les Trois Jims for enthusing and instilling good training, discipline and the GRFC ethos "all for one and one for all". Stuart Harrington and the 3's deserve a mention 'cos they are currently 2nd in their league and look very likely to come out on top, well done Stuart, I know you too have suffered somewhat from the injury list but I also know that you are very resourceful and I am sure that you have made provision for all sorts of eventualities! Keep it up!
Big Richard Mayhew is keeping the Gannets just about flying and I know that he is struggling so he needs all the support he can get to keep his boys up in the air. Well done Richard and as for the Swans well they are floating along as usual with the big OAF cajoling and massaging them into the second half of the season, thanks Mark.
The Moles are surprise, surprise, increasing in strength I hear they had 33 turn up for their game last week but of course some of them played under ground so they all got a game. This enthusiasm is remarkable and I can't believe it's just the Bombardier that keeps them gong so it must be their enigmatic leader! Good work chaps keep digging!
Last but not least the M&Y are doing extremely well and several games have been played on the first team pitch recently which I know they all love to do. Thanks to all of the coaches, managers, mums, dads and anybody and everybody else who makes this happen and especially to all of the youngsters who are involved in the future of GRFC.
Definitely last but by no means least Jason Owen! What a terrific find this young man has been. His enthusiasm and approach to the local schools has already resulted in a fantastic day for over a hundred children and their parents last Saturday on the day of the Tring match when the results and winners of the 'Project TRY Arts' competition were announced. Before the awards the children had several sessions of rugby ably coached by the veteran Gary Theobald and then formed a guard of honour for the 1st Xv. During the half-time break I had the greatest pleasure in handing out all manner of trophies to over forty winners from over four hundred entrants and the look of delight and pleasure on their faces will stay with me forever. I understand that there is now another initiative proposed for the New Year 'Project TACKLE writing' and with the help of Graham Sims Jason's able sidekick I know that this will be a tremendous success as well. The M&Y section will benefit from all of these new players who without Jason's direction, may never have thought about playing rugby.
Thanks Jason, Graham and Gary.
Well, "That's all Folks!" Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year
Chairman.
p.s. Thanks to all of those who turned up for the Cheese and Wine, a great success!
