Saturday 21st March 2009

Coventrians 1sts 0 - 26 Spartans 1sts (sorry, Springy now assures me this was a 1st XV - so even better then)

Finally online again so a brief report on the game - slightly mis-matched as Spartans sent a 2nd team over with several 1st teamers in and Covents had 4 or 5 usual suspects absent. These were ably replaced by the likes of Dave Bailey and Ryan Gilbert at 2nd row and Sam Holtham at scrum-half.

Spartans, who seemed to turn up expecting to steam roller Covents in some sort of training execrcise were soon on the scoresheet, going over after dropping the ball in a previous overlap. However, Covents came back and with the forwards rumbling penned them in their own half for the next 20 mins, going close several times.

It became a fascinating game, reminiscent of some of Covents' league fixtures i.e. territory, possession, waves of attacks but no points. In between the blue and white bravery, Spartans kept the board ticking with a penalty here, a try there but when the final whistle blew, boy they knew they'd had a game and there were sore boys on both sides.

Don't like to single anyone out for special praise but in bright sunshine, cold wind (recipie for hard ground) Dave Bailey (2nd team skipper) suffering from a king sized hangover threw himself at Spartans until his legs would give no more, Joe Swaffield put in some good hits, John 'scythe' Field cut more people in half and the 'Beast of the Black Pad' made his presence felt again although he needs time with the sprinting coach - to be honest, everyone played well, they raised their game and it was a fine effort, just can't remember anyone else by name!

Thanks to ex Sara Marcus Greenway who reffed well and stayed for the Scotland game - with a thirst!


Coventrians 2nds 19 - 19 Old Leamingtonians 3rds

So the Old Leams turned up half an hour late with a car still missing - we only had 10 so kicked off against 12. Later on, 2 of theirs turned up to make 14 and we used 2 players from the 1sts who had come off - so still 2 down and yet still managed to draw 19-19 in another superb effort (don't know who scored, sorry). Old Leams decided not to stay for a drink so thanks a bunch - if anyone knows the point of this exercise, answers on a postcard please . . .