Moles 3 London Ambulance Service XV 12

Moles 3 London Ambulance Service XV 12

On a gloriously wet day made for rugby, the Moleys welcomed back Mole Big Bri’s work team from the London Ambulance Service to Rectory Field for the first Moles fixture of 2015.

Ambulance sirens may go ‘woo woo’ these days as opposed to ‘ring ring’ but the LAS had no shortage of familiar faced ringers in their ranks in lieu of Canterbury 'pulling' the Gannets’ fixture earlier in week. Messrs Grant, Pollard and Baker all cited getting their First Aid badge in the Cub Scouts as their credentials for donning the new ambulance-livery themed yellow and green shirts.

Paramedic winger Pete Stone is technically not a ringer but nonetheless deserves abuse for showing off scrum half skills this writer has never seen before in a black and white shirt. And then of course, there was that grass roots rugby mercenary that is Richard ‘Mayhem’ Mayhew who qualifies to play for the LAS XV on count of the Rab C Nesbitt style head bandage he is often seen playing in. A veritable pest throughout the day’s proceedings, as can always be relied upon from the Mayhem, many observed from the edges that it was about time he debuted for the Moles: M&Y Coach ü , Has kids playing M&Y rugby at Gravesend x Likes a beer x Useful player x……….. hmmmm, but could we rely on someone who has more clubs than Tiger Woods to be available? Watch this space……

Anyway back to the match. Even now, over 48 hours later it’s still difficult to figure out how the Moles lost this one. Maybe it was a degree of complacency after claiming victory in the fixture between these two sides earlier in the season? Maybe it was the strong squad that had assembled featuring international 2G Mole Tom Weeks and fellow spawn of dad Squeeksy’s loins, Martin Weeks and skipper Mick Terry’s common law son-in-law Ginger George of current GRFC 2nd team skipper fame, that lulled the Moles into a false sense of security? Who knows? But what transpired in early on in a physical first half was typical Moles fayre of late: plenty of possession but a lack of killer instinct in the final third of the field.

This familiar situation led to a decision for Ginger George to kick a penalty for goal from 25 metres to get points on the board. The Moles pressed on from this to venture once again into a useful position in LAS territory. This proved to be the catalyst for what everyone had been waiting for: a Mole running a great line and injecting some real excitement into proceedings. Unfortunately that came from Big Bri who as previously mentioned, was playing for the opposition today! A burst of pace from the big fella over 15 metres set up the LAS number 7 to step past three tackle attempts and race away through the length of the Moles half to score between the posts.

Half Time 3 – 7

Sadly, half time or an incident shortly beforehand saw the LAS’ loose-head leave the field with the first reported case of concussion seemingly caused from asking the ref to look out for something different at every scrum! If you talk loads of rubbish it eventually destroys the mind; for proof, join the Moles in the club lounge for FAF any given Friday between 5 and 7pm. Without replacements of any description, never mind front row fatties, Moles’ first half props Bobjit and Elvis shared second half loosehead duties for LAS.

Notwithstanding the challenges of making 10 changes at half-time, the second half Moles XV today looked a useful outfitwith added physicality in the pack through Market, Neil Martin, Russ Turley, Hair Bear, Big Bob, Oily, Sam Holden and Tom Weeks to link up with a handy looking back line featuring Andy Dadson, Darren Oram, Toks and Squeeksy. But it just wasn’t happening; not least due to some excellent defending by LAS who were evidently prepared for the threat posed by Weeks the younger, stopping or at least holding him with two or three defenders at a time, rugby league style!

Garry ‘Hair Bear’ Hodges’ first bout of attention seeking since the last Moles tour involved a dislocated hip midway through the second half. His timing was impeccable though considering the amount of medical expertise immediately at hand to snap him back together like two pieces of Lego! First half Lock Velcro re-joined the fray to replace Garry and carried on his recent spell of good form getting stuck in where it hurts across the pitch.

Shortly after the break for the injury, the Moles found themselves putting pressure on the LAS by forcing their full back, Ben Baker, to side foot the ball into touch from the dead ball area. The resulting line out and subsequent phases saw the LAS defending valiantly on their own tryline. From out of nowhere, the LAS 8 stole the ball out of a ruck to break away and feed the pacey 7 to run even further this time and score his second try of the afternoon.

And that was that. Final Score 3-12. Not a great afternoon for the Moles but there was no questioning the levels of commitment as usual. Today’s opposition defended well, took their chances and were ultimately deserving of their win. Alongside the performance of the 7 and 8, GRFC’s Pete Stone had great game at scrum half, Ben Baker similarly at 15 and Mayhem was an effective ‘pest’ all over the pitch.

In the bar afterwards, the Weeks family stood on chairs and downed pints for crimes long since forgotten about alongside 'Mole of the Match' Toks; still blushing from slipping over after calling the mark early in the second half!

The Greenhithe posse of Shotgun and Lloydy along with skipper Mick Terry demonstrated their usual post-match stamina to celebrate being the last Moles standing yet again by soaking up one or two pints with a kebab! Proof once again that the Moles is something much much more than just a rugby team!

Line up: Elvis, El Tel, Bobjit, Shotgun, Velcro, Posty, Ork, Ginge, Nod, Andy Dadson, Darren Oram, Toks, Lloydy, Mick Terry, Gav, Russ Turley, Market, Neil Martin, Big Bob, Hair Bear, Oily, Sam Holden, Squeeksy, Tom Weeks, Martin Weeks

Referee: Dave Norman