Gannets overcome game Bromley

When the let's be honest,expected news that Lordswood had forfeited todays league game came through,Captain Ben was faced with the unenviable task of arranging a fixture to satisfy his expectant team.But arrange one he did and Bromleys fourth team made the trip to Gravo to square off against a decent looking Gannets side.And Mayhem.

On their first game on the traditional 'Gannets pitch' for some years,the home side could have been forgiven for thinking it was going to be an easy day at the office when Paddy took the opening kick off at his own 22 an went on a beserking,straight line run all the way to the posts before offloading to Steve Wootton for the score.However the pass was correctly deemed forward.This was only a temporary reprieve though as the Gannets camped out inside the Bromley 22 before their resistance was finally broken by that man Paddy.Ben continued his record of missing ridiculously easy kicks (by his standards) with the ball twatting the posts and going wide.

The Gees were 12-0 nil up after a period of Bromley pressure when Mike Percivals quick thinking led to him taking a tap penalty deep inside Gannets territory and outpacing the defence to score in the corner.This time when faced with an altogether more difficult shot at goal the ball struck the uprights and went the right side of the sticks for a 12-0 lead.

Being a Gannets game you know that they weren't going to press home the advantage and rack up a cricket score.No,they were going to take it easy and allow their oppenents back into the game.With Bromley suddenly being quicker,more aggressive and generally wanting it more all over the park it was no surprise when they scored.Post match highlight being watching Sam Holden getting brushed aside en route to scoring.Honestly,you've got to watch it,It's classic.

So with that wake up call firmly taken on board the Gannets began the second half as they ended the first.Under pressure! The home defence held firm however and soon took the game by scruff of the neck when Mike Percival crashed over for his second score.

To Bromleys (not Dan,he forgot his boots) credit they were soon back knocking on the door with a penalty on the Gannets 5.'No worries,Mayhem's got high,Abbotts got low' they all said to themselves.,,the Bromley forward skipped out of the low and Mayhem swiped at thin air as he ducked under the high to score a try which was nicely converted by drop goal by the Bromley 9.

That was it for the visitors as far as scoring went.Scrums went uncontested when Sargey hurt his knee (u ok hun?) and the Gannets messed around by first putting Perce at centre (oh no,that big fackers out here) then Paddy..As expected,Pad made the required ground before Perri took over and bamboozled Bromley before scoring.Bromley (this is getting confusing) took over the kicking duties and duly missed..Horribly.

With Jetski at 12,his team mates were encouraging him to use his not inconsiderable pace to break to the outside and feed the wiger/fullback.Mainly because his outside centre was too old and heavy to keep up with him.After a couple of false starts he duly obliged and was almost at the line before feeding Mitch Dorsett,the prop inexplicably outpacing his winger to take the ball on and score.This time Perri took over kicking duties and duly showed how a ginge should kick by slotting a tricky conversion,no posts required.

So 31-12 it finished and firstly thanks must go to Bromley not only for coming at such short notice but for making a hard,physical game of it.The scoreline most definitely does not reflect how hard a game this was for the Gannets.

Special mentions must go to Andy Lane for his excellent marshalling of the backs and intelligent kicking under pressure,Ben Baker just for getting the comment 'that 9s massive!' Paddy for being Paddy,Ralph Walpole for the most slow motion side step and offload in history and finally Martin Taylor for looking like Honey G.Playing cricket.

Until next time,muddyfunsters.....