Sandra saves the day!

All to rarely a game comes along that is both played in good spirits and humour but it also hard hitting and fast paced....and today both the Gannets and Darts played their part in an entertaining friendly fixture.

With Tunbridge Wells pulling out midweek captain Ben pulled the proverbial rabbit out of the hat in the form of Old Dartfordians.The game very nearly didn't take place at all due to an oversight in arranging a ref until....Sandra.

There she came,All in slow motion,running gracefully across the muddy fields looking radiant in her two tone blue refs kit and it was game on.

Well it was for the hosts at least as Perris opening kick-off didn't travel the required distance.Rather than tackle the ball carrier the Gannets elected to simply watch as he cantered downfield to score in the corner.No probs,It's a tricky kick in tricky conditions but alas,the Darts kicker slotted it as he did for their two other tries on the day.

Now ordinarily the Gannets would use their superior timber in the forwards to control the game (by this I mean slow it down).But as we had a game with uncontested scrums that wasn't an option and played right into the hosts hands as they moved the ball quickly downfield with a combination of youth and strength to quickly double their tally.

The shellshocked Gannets finally got their act together and started making inroads into opposition territory with their reward coming when the Predator stole over from close range to touch down.

The Gees penalty count however was far too high and not even Mayhems silver tongue could curry any favour with our Sandra or 'Miss' as some players called her,causing her to retort that she wasn't a school teacher.

With the Darts knocking on the door once again towards the end of the half the Gannets tackled heroically on their goalline only for inevitable gap to appear and was three tries to the hosts.

The second half was,to honest,a bit mental.Line breaks aplenty from both sides,lots of kicking up and down the field,a bit of slicing the ball sideways across the field,Steve Wootton,lots of turnovers,lots of tackling and it was generally an entertaining game to watch for the casual observer.What mattered though was that the Gannets stood firm.

The Darts however,also stood firm right until the final play of the game when with the Abbottoir heading towards the goal line,they said f#ck it and threw bodies into the driving maul and eased him over the line.

With this being a friendly it was only fitting that Mayhem should take the kick at goal.
And he toe punted it like he was wearing his size 11 stillies that he keeps hidden in boot of his car.

So a good time was had by all in the cold,rain and mud and despite the loss,it was a decent performance (in the end ) against a Dartfordians XV that had youth,experience,pace and power.And of course a special mention should go to the ref who officiated straight down the line with good humour and to be honest,was probably one of the best refs we've had this season.

And then they were off to the Dartfordians impressive clubhouse so they could all coo over the posh changing rooms and gym (I remember going to a gym once)

The showers were shit though.

Until next time....