Sargents major balls up costs Gannets dear..

It was so close they could almost touch it.

A sunny afternoon on the banana pitch..kids,wives,girlfriends and some unemployed Swans cheering the brave Gannets on to victory against Vigo on the last game of the season..and then it happened.The curse which has blighted the Gees fourth team all season.The withdrawal.The lads were devastated.The wind was gone from their sails.The jam had been taken from their doughnut.Their chips had well and truly been pi...you get the picture.Once again,Ben was on the case in a flash and a trip up the A2 to Charlton Park was on the cards.

With this now being a friendly,the player withdrawals started.Most notable of these was the Predator who,in a Mayhew-esque move,decided that undercooked sausages took precedence over a game of rugby.Others had more legitimate excuses.Ian Shuttlewood (camping it up),Perce (running around Ireland),Paddy (mourning the loss of his beard) and Vid (Lithuanian business).And then an hour before kick off Ben got the call that Mitch had broke down,leaving them a prop short.It couldn't end like this.With uncontested scrums...the shame! But with a shrug of his massive shoulders,Craig Duvana agreed to step into the void and give it a go on the front row.But who would take Craigs place on the back row?
Luckily Ben had his secret weapon.Ben had Lloydy!

The game started well enough with a strong scrum providing a steady stream of quality ball for the backs to work with and when they had the ball in hand,they ran hard and ran straight.Steve was smashing it up the middle and Jetski was pinballing his way across the park in typical fashion.All was good.It wasn't long before the ball found its way through the hands to Matt Clarke who had just enough to get around the corner to score.Ben added the tricky conversion and the Gannets were up and running.

Ben was next to go over,taking the ball from the base of the ruck and finding the gap to under next to the posts.A somewhat easier conversion was missed but there was no need to panic.Was there?

With halftime approaching,Charlton took a tap penalty just inside their own half and caught the Gannets not so much sleeping but more comatose as they tore through the defence to score.Again,just a blip.But back came the hosts from the kickoff and only a dropped ball in front of the posts prevented a further score.

Half time 5-12.

After the traditional pep talk,the Gannets started the second period and were immediately under pressure.In a mirror image of the first half,their tackling had deserted them,they were second best at the breakdown and balls were being dropped.It was no surprise when Park went over soon after.

Rare excursions into the Charlton 22 were met with long kicks back downfield.One such kick resulted in a footrace between Pete and the Charlton winger.Alas,Pete is training for the London Marathon,not the 100 metres and despite his valiant effort,was just beaten to the ball by his younger opponent.Although along with most of the Gannets,the ref was halfway down the field and in no position to give the try,the Gees sportingly confirmed it had been scored.

A pair of breakaway tries through a tired Gannets defence followed before the visitors finally got their act together and threatened the Chartlton line once more.Sargey made a break,crossed the goal line and then dropped the ball when it seemed easier to score.Then Ollie seemed certain to go over before a clothesline stopped him on the 5.A penalty try would surely have been a fair decision but it mattered not when Martin Taylor crossed the line shortly after.The shaggy haired scrum half going alone from the scrum and forcing his way between a couple of defenders.

By the way,he's got pickup truck for sale.Only £3500.Electric windows,windscreen wipers,stereo cassette.All the mod cons.

And that was that really.The Gannets were out on their feet and with H injured and unable to,continue,the ref brought the game to a close.

Firstly,we have to say a big thanks to Charlton Park for hosting us.A great bunch of lads and they saved the Gannets from a frustrating,rugbyless end of season.

So that's the season over.An ultimately frustrating season blighted by teams dropping out of the league and matches being cancelled.Only 6 league games were played since the turn of the year and that undoubtably had an affect on the Gannets fitness and overall play towards the end of the season.Or maybe it's just that most of us are getting on a bit and like our grub a bit too much.Naming no names obviously.

Next on the calendar for the mighty Gannets it's the players supper.Their final chance to piss the kitty up the wall instead of spending it on new shirts and then...nothing until September.How will they cope?

Until next season....