Gs Conquer Colfes

The day started with 21 players turning up, all chomping at the bit to get at Old Colfeians, some known from school, some from Kent. The boys jogged over to the Grammar School pitch and started their trademark warm up under the sticks. The whole team agreed upon 10 minute rolling subs to make it fair on the whole squad before kick off. A very mature and web-based decision. What is happening we ask ourselves? The dawn of a new age in teenagers maybe?(parents hmmmm....no such luck!). The starting 15 took to the field and the subs stayed warm and ready for the changes to come.

Old Vs won the toss and started the game, drop-kicking the ball straight into the safe arms of Jacob S, who took it straight into the charging OCs. Straight from the off, the Gs forwards ploughed over, securing their own ball. Out to Zac, who tried a chip on, but was called back for a penalty, for an offside decision against the Gs midfield. Within 2 minutes, OCs were turned over, after Josh S took the ball from his own 10m line and dart, snake and dodge all the way through to put the ball down between the sticks, leaving an easy conversion for Tye. 3 minutes played, Gs 7-0! OCs restarted and got the ball through their hands to the wing, who was going for gold, only to be driven out by a solid Gs defence...1-0 Gs wingers! Let's not take anything away from OCs, as their pressure saw them get a penalty 8m from the Gs line. In the event, it was to be turned over due to indecision and taking too long in the tap and go. Scrum down Gs, who won it and passed the ball to Zac, who kicked clear. Gs turned the pressure back on OCs, with Connor almost again doing his trademark rip of the ball, but alas, was driven off it. This led to Ben D putting in a massive tackle, as OCs put more pressure back down the lines....2-0 Gs wingers! More errors saw OCs win a line out 8m out, but again massive tackles, this time from Josh S, saw OCs driven back once more. Time to catch a breath with only 10m gone and subs to be made. OCs kept testing our defence, but we managed to put in the tackles when needed and kick clear when there were no options. Gs got a penalty for OCs infringements in the scrum. A quick tap and go, ball to Zac, who was on the front foot and in true style, he was in from his own 20m line, converted again by Tye. Gs 14-0! Immediately from the OCs restart, we were at it again! The ball was recovered by Gs and opened up by Jo B, offloaded to Tye, who slotted it home in the corner. 19-0! The tough conversion was missed, so off we go again. A cheeky, but bold move by OCs, saw them switch the restart, unfortunately for them, the ball landing in the sticky arms of Jacob O, who ran it straight and hard, tackled they thought......wrong!, he hit, span and made more ground, much to the annoyance of the OCs coaches, who I can still hear now! Sadly the ball was knocked on....OCs scrum. More changes were made. OCs scored themselves, following an uncharacteristic period of indecision, that saw bad ball to Jo B, knocked on, Scrum OCs. This allowed quick ball to the OCs winger, who scored in the corner a quick and well deserved try, which proved too tricky to convert. 19-5. Tye restarted and it resulted in an OCs lineout, but was turned over for having a foot in 5? Confused, yes, so am I, but rules is rules! Harry G went for a quick tap, which saw the ball out to Josh, but this ball was turned over and the OCs set up a good driving maul, which was pulled down, Penalty OCs. This set up a fine run by the OCs winger, down the 5m channel, only to be driven out by Ben D with another fine tackle. There followed a scrappy period of play, with both sides trying to make the most of scrappy ball. OCs won a scrum, but as their number 8 tried a pick and go, he was hit with a Nathan, who we know, NEVER let's anyone go through him. OCs managed to recycle, only to be tackled by the smallest, quietest man on the pitch!! Yep, Luke, who hit like a demon. OCs tried kicking clear, Tye gathered and made ground but was tackled and driven out. Half time, Gs 19-5 up.

More changes were made at halftime. Zac kicked the restart, which was recycled to the OCs winger, who was again rapid down the right side, only to be tackled, trucked over and the ball spun away from our own 10m line to Jo B, who opened it up, offloaded to Zac, then to Ben D, who scored under the posts, converted by Tye 26-5. OCs restarted, kicking to touch, which was taken in, but a penalty given away and resulted in an OCs lineout 10m from our tryline. This was taken in by OCs, rucked over and hard work by Zac and Tye though saw it knocked on, Scrum OCs. More changes made. Scrum Gs 20m out, saw Ben M pick and go, only to get unceremoniously dumped by OCs massive 2nd row, but Ben shook it off and carried on, OCs lineout. This then led to a nail-biting period for Gs, as OCs were pressing constantly. Phase after phase were cleared again and again, eventually resulting in a Gs lineout, stolen by OCs, but foolishly kicked into the arms of Nathan, who opened them up by smashing through and cutting through the middle of the pitch. Penalty to Gs in front of the sticks, for diving over blind(we think), only for Tye to say "yep, thanks, that's what I thought", running blind into the corner and after missing his own conversion, Gs were safe at 31-5. The next phases of play saw Gs going forward, always forward, with Ben M now playing 8, picking and going and linking with Harry G, putting more pressure on OCs. Sam going forward, Jacob S taking it on, but only getting repelled at the last moment every time. Espen was put under pressure, but took the ball high. Ben C was constantly putting pressure on anyone in his path, resulting in a knock on pick up and go, but alas, once more, held off of the line. Fair play to OCs, they did not give in, no matter what Gs threw at them. They made their way to Gs 10m line in injury time and saw a great driving maul get them the try they so richly deserved, converted, the score stood at 31-12. Ben C chased down the restart putting more pressure on, but amazingly turned over by OCs to see more pace by their winger, who thought he was through, only to be tackled by Luke, 3-0 me thinks.

Full-time blown Gs 31 OCs 12.

Men of the match, Scotty (Captain), Luke (backs), Ben Mayhem (forwards). Gs still unbeaten at home and a privilege to watch and record, but Mr Finnegan, it's back to you Sir. Well done everyone again for a fantastic day. Point of note, Old Cs won the drink off! Plenty of dry heaving all round.....boys need to man up there me thinks.

Until next time......"who are we?.........Gs!"

MAYHEM