Moles Dig Out Big Win!

On a glorious Autumn Saturday afternoon made for rugby, the clock struck 14:30 hours and some of the world's greatest players braced themselves for another battle full of heart and soul. And while England and the All Blacks farted around with all that at Twickenham, simultaneously 35 miles due east the really rugby business of the day featuring the mighty Moles squad and their most favourite of opponents Footcray Vets set to task on the 'Banana 2' pitch at Rectory Field.

Still hurting from by the early blitzkreig attacks suffered at the hands of Cologne the previous month, the Moles, led as ever by plumber to all the crowned heads of Europe so long as they have a DA12 postcode, Mick Terry, the Moles were quick off the mark and in the faces of their typically wily opponents. To some degree of surprise the Moleys enjoyed much success from the set piece; competing well at the line out and unusually against 'Cray, dominating events in the scrum. Notwithstanding the reliable scrummaging of Moles' regular loosehead Elvis and hooker El Tel in the front row, the Moleys were bouyed today by the presence of former Gravesend 1st XV prop Rob 'Bobjit' Bardell at tight head. Rob's debut for the Moles meant that he has played for every senior GRFC team during his time at the club including no less than an 8th XV back in those black and white days of the early 1980s before Maggie privatised rugby and introduced leagues.

As ever in this fixture, the breakdown was a messy affair with rucks looking like drunken games of Twister you'd imagine Papworth Minor and Co's 3rd XV instigating, and mauls going so far nowhere that both front rows tended to stay well away and save their energy for the inevitable scrum that would ensue. Despite Mole-of-the-Match-elect Jeff 'Nod' Saward's best attempts, all this mess meant a drout in terms of clean ball out to 10, Andy Dadson and Tokunbo 'Toks' Howe at inside centre. Andy and Toks were threatening the gain line with their usual strong running, but without consistent good ball, not frequently enough to make sufficient inroads to seriously threaten the Vets. As is perhaps to be expected between to be expected between two evenly matched sides, it was difficult to predict who would make the breakthrough in the first half. The Moles enjoyed the greater share of posession but as is often the case, were not converting that dominance into points. Frustration at the lack of progress despite posesssion and success in the scrum began to get to the Moles and things started to go a bit quiet on the pitch only to liven up when after being awarded a free kick just outside their 22, the Moles handed the ball immediately back to Footscray by way of not all being behind Andy Dadson as he took the kick. A schoolboy error but not enough to see 'Cray take advantage and break the deadlock. Half-Time, 0-0.

Moles rugby being what it is, there was the usually dearth of replacements at half-time and again, as usual, things were a little shaky immediately after the restart as the fresh legs worked themselves into the game. But to be fair, any loss of momentum was temporary as the new look team started to assert themselves on the game. At the fore of this surge was Gary 'Paddy' Curran still less than a year into his rugby career, but back with the Moley's after his precocious rugby talent has seen service at the dizzy heights
of the 2nd XV earlier in the season. Rising like a salmon to dominate the line out, Paddy was away and more often than not supporting the first breakdown before his front row lifters could readjust their bras! Joining Paddy in the new look back row was Oily; another Mole who has graced the 2s with his presence this season. If you get a spare 4 hours or so, let Oily take you for a pint and talk you through his 20 minutes of glory and particularly his tackle on the Dover centre! Inspiring stuff! (Well what isn't if he's buying??). Completing the second half back row was the ever reliable Gareth Moore at 8. Now well and truly back into his rugby after some time off doing ballet or something like that, Gareth was a heart of a drive that saw the Moles advance up the hill towards town and clear out the ball about 10 metres or so from the Footscray try line. Fanned on the open side was the combined lumpy might of a pod featuring much missed returning second row hero Big Bob, Elvis and versatile tight-five forward Big Bri. However, fly-half Andy Dadson saw something on the blind side which quickly contradicted and stuck two big fingers up to Elvis and Big Bob's 'constructive' initial appraisal of his decision as the ball found Gareth Moore who took it over the line to chalk up the first points of the match. Dadson did well with the subsequent conversion kick from a wide angle but into a strong wind did not manage to slot the ball between the posts. Moles 5 - Footscray 0.

As expected the Vets' did not take going behind lying down and chased after the restart with vigour, immediately putting the Moles under pressure. But the Moles continued to communicate well, organise the defensive line and soon they were on another sortie up the hill. Sensible work in the scrum set up a number of good phases of play where the Moles competed hard at the breakdown without over-committing numbers. Such was the speed and dexterity of these phases, scrum-half Nod, having found himself at the bottom of ruck during one phase, had got up, dusted himself down, seen that all was OK without him at the breakdown and subsequently slotted himself in to the backline. All of a sudden the ball comes out to young Nod and he's away diving to take the ball over an oncoming defender and over the line. Brian Rayner stepped up to take the conversion from the opposite side of the pitch this time, only to see his kick similarly thwarted by the wind as Andy's had been earlier. Moles 10-Footscray 0.

And there it stayed for the remainder of the game. This was a great performance by the Moles and truly a team effort. Every player in the squad gave 110% for their 20, 40 or 80 minutes on the pitch. A truly great day for Moles rugby. Footscray are always a good opponent and it looks as if they've added some useful additions to their team. As ever, this result will be no indicator for the next time.

As is the tradition, the gentlemen of Footscray , many dressed in their wonderful Yellow/Blue blazers stayed into the evening and treated the GRFC patrons to a song or two before heading home; no doubt via the micro-brewery at the George and Deragon in Swanscombe. The Moles versus Footscray is arguably the best fixture on the Moles' calendar and despite the odd bit of 'passionate' behaviour over-flowing from time-to-time, it is always played in the finest spirit and in respect of the values of our great sport. The return at the Footscray club day in April is eagerly anticipated; not least becuase they dished us up a steak meal straight off the barbie after last year's game.

Mole-of-the-Match was awarded to Nod who enjoyed his celebratory pint with son Lewis who has turned out for the 3s earlier in the afternoon. Up on the chair for the shameful crimes of not wearing a tie were Big Bob and Moles debutant full back Gavin.

After a win, the beer tasted good and those who could handle it or didn't have coaching assessments the following day pressed on into the big hall to enjoy and make shapes to the Stax soul sounds of Kit Curtis and the B3s and a set or two from DJ Mole Mick Terry proving yet again that the Moles is something much much more than a rugby team!

Line up of 27 Heroes: Elvis, El Tel, Bobjit, Hair Bear, Big Bri, Posty, Oily, Gareth Moore, Aiden Hamilton, Nod, Andy Dadson, Merv, Ork, Shotgun, Lloydy, Brian Rayner, Big Bob, Adam Jenken,Velcro, Carl Sells, Si Marks, Paddy, Toks, Mick Terry, Paul 'The Hulk', Gavin FullBack, Neil U13s Coach