Saturday November 7th
Coventrians 16 - 15 Wellesbourne (Mids 5 South)
Plucky Ws Vanquished as Covents Win Ugly
A week is a long time in rugby and we witnessed role reversal at a cold, damp autumnal Black Pad yesterday as it was Covents turn to win a game they perhaps did not deserve to by one point. With our usual plethora of injuries/non availabilities Covents still managed to rock up with four world record holders; Steve Vallis (worlds unfittest prop) Woz Garner (worlds strongest prop) Rich Scholes (worlds greediest prop) and the worlds heaviest crash centre, an out of position Supersize Me Keiran Martin.
If I am honest, the first half was a pile of old rubbish which started badly and went downhill. The blue and whites looked half asleep as Wellesbourne went over, unopposed after 3 minutes after our No 10 Duncan Keenan dropped the ball. Dunc made amends with a penalty nine minutes later for 3-5 but the Ws potted one of their own to make the score 3-8.
On 23 minutes Rohan finally got ball after anorexic hooker Danny Pearson (now on the flank) secured possession. Rohan turned on the style and turned Wellesbourne inside out mercurially dancing through 6 or 7 dizzy defenders before offloading to Lawrence who did well before being tackled. Covents were finally firing now and it was Lawrence again, who eventually running straight at centre used his considerable bulk and nearly went over. From the resulting scrum the fat boys pushed and veteran no 8 Dick Potter finished off a text book pushover try in the 29th minute that was unconverted for 8-8.
The next ten minutes saw the usual solid hits from John Field and a nice kick from scrum half Scrappy to clear our lines as the Ws attacked. In the 39th minute Jon Clifford, our young winger who weighs 5 stone in a wringing wet army coat made a superb try saving tackle in the corner but Wellesbourne scored and converted on 40 mins to go into a deserved lead at half time 8 – 15.
Just after the kick off we lost Danny Pearson after a blow to his head so Lenny Pitt (young John Kenny to you) came on at centre and Supersize Me went into the back row. Straight away we were almost in at the bowling green corner from a good looking move between Duncan, Lawrence and Lenny. On 48 minutes Rich Scholes came on for Woz at loose head and his athleticism, dynamic fitness and astute rugby brain turned the game as Rohan was taken off the ball resulting in a Wellesbourne yellow card. On 55 mins Covents were back in the game as scrum half Scrappy skilfully dummy scissored on the line to dot down to make the score 13-15.
This heralded probably the best period of the match with Wellesbourne stung back into attack and only a superb big hit by Supersize Me Martin in the corner prevented a certain score. In the 62nd min D J (playing at hooker) pulled out a bulldozer hit of his own and seven minutes later, John Field nearly cut a bloke in half with a fully committed challenge. So the blue and whites were finally awake and firing then and in the 74th minute, Lawrence thought he was away until the whistle brought him back down to earth. From the resulting Wellesbourne penalty, they didn’t find touch and Jon Clifford (looking more and more like Billy Casper from Kes) caught the ball and unsure whether to run, pass or kick had to consult his Rothmans Rugby Union Handbook before finally hoofing it away just in the nick of time.
In the 75th minute Rohan clicked his heels again and went on a whirling, spinning, mazy thing of a run which included body pops, pirouettes and a double pike before Covents were awarded a penalty on 80 minutes which Duncan (who had not had his best kicking day) coolly slotted for 16-15. So game over then as time was up? You must be joking! As there had been a few injuries our beloved whistler decided to play a whole new game and we had to endure an agonising 10 minutes of time added on which saw a second big hit from D J, a yellow card for John Field and Dave Bailey’s impression of the Incredible Hulk when attempting to rip the ball off his opponent for 30 seconds before realising the whistle had been blown 18 times and a penalty awarded to Wellesbourne.
As their kicker lined it up in the 90th minute, yes 90th minute, Dave could not bare to look but thankfully for us and Dave the kick fell short and the game was won. So a win is a win but although pleased with themselves every Covent knew that this was not good enough and that we were perhaps fortunate to finish on top. Fair play to Wellesbourne too who turned up in numbers, played with great spirit and were unfortunate to leave with nothing. This I believe is only their second season and we wish them well for the rest of it and for the future. I particularly want to mention their utility forward; he is 42 years old, 5 foot 6 and played at number 8, second row and flanker. He is never short of a word either; see you at your place!
Touchline Quotes
Steve Vallis on why he will not be part of a rolling maul Because I am intrinsically lazy.
Opposite prop to Woz It was like propping against a brick wall.
Sam Holtham who bruised his ankle Arghhhh, ooooh, arghhhhhh, I cant suck it in Trev, it hurts too much!
There are some great photos available if you click here. Our thanks to Wellesbournes photographer Dick Prior for his efforts.
A week is a long time in rugby and we witnessed role reversal at a cold, damp autumnal Black Pad yesterday as it was Covents turn to win a game they perhaps did not deserve to by one point. With our usual plethora of injuries/non availabilities Covents still managed to rock up with four world record holders; Steve Vallis (worlds unfittest prop) Woz Garner (worlds strongest prop) Rich Scholes (worlds greediest prop) and the worlds heaviest crash centre, an out of position Supersize Me Keiran Martin.
If I am honest, the first half was a pile of old rubbish which started badly and went downhill. The blue and whites looked half asleep as Wellesbourne went over, unopposed after 3 minutes after our No 10 Duncan Keenan dropped the ball. Dunc made amends with a penalty nine minutes later for 3-5 but the Ws potted one of their own to make the score 3-8.
On 23 minutes Rohan finally got ball after anorexic hooker Danny Pearson (now on the flank) secured possession. Rohan turned on the style and turned Wellesbourne inside out mercurially dancing through 6 or 7 dizzy defenders before offloading to Lawrence who did well before being tackled. Covents were finally firing now and it was Lawrence again, who eventually running straight at centre used his considerable bulk and nearly went over. From the resulting scrum the fat boys pushed and veteran no 8 Dick Potter finished off a text book pushover try in the 29th minute that was unconverted for 8-8.
The next ten minutes saw the usual solid hits from John Field and a nice kick from scrum half Scrappy to clear our lines as the Ws attacked. In the 39th minute Jon Clifford, our young winger who weighs 5 stone in a wringing wet army coat made a superb try saving tackle in the corner but Wellesbourne scored and converted on 40 mins to go into a deserved lead at half time 8 – 15.
Just after the kick off we lost Danny Pearson after a blow to his head so Lenny Pitt (young John Kenny to you) came on at centre and Supersize Me went into the back row. Straight away we were almost in at the bowling green corner from a good looking move between Duncan, Lawrence and Lenny. On 48 minutes Rich Scholes came on for Woz at loose head and his athleticism, dynamic fitness and astute rugby brain turned the game as Rohan was taken off the ball resulting in a Wellesbourne yellow card. On 55 mins Covents were back in the game as scrum half Scrappy skilfully dummy scissored on the line to dot down to make the score 13-15.
This heralded probably the best period of the match with Wellesbourne stung back into attack and only a superb big hit by Supersize Me Martin in the corner prevented a certain score. In the 62nd min D J (playing at hooker) pulled out a bulldozer hit of his own and seven minutes later, John Field nearly cut a bloke in half with a fully committed challenge. So the blue and whites were finally awake and firing then and in the 74th minute, Lawrence thought he was away until the whistle brought him back down to earth. From the resulting Wellesbourne penalty, they didn’t find touch and Jon Clifford (looking more and more like Billy Casper from Kes) caught the ball and unsure whether to run, pass or kick had to consult his Rothmans Rugby Union Handbook before finally hoofing it away just in the nick of time.
In the 75th minute Rohan clicked his heels again and went on a whirling, spinning, mazy thing of a run which included body pops, pirouettes and a double pike before Covents were awarded a penalty on 80 minutes which Duncan (who had not had his best kicking day) coolly slotted for 16-15. So game over then as time was up? You must be joking! As there had been a few injuries our beloved whistler decided to play a whole new game and we had to endure an agonising 10 minutes of time added on which saw a second big hit from D J, a yellow card for John Field and Dave Bailey’s impression of the Incredible Hulk when attempting to rip the ball off his opponent for 30 seconds before realising the whistle had been blown 18 times and a penalty awarded to Wellesbourne.
As their kicker lined it up in the 90th minute, yes 90th minute, Dave could not bare to look but thankfully for us and Dave the kick fell short and the game was won. So a win is a win but although pleased with themselves every Covent knew that this was not good enough and that we were perhaps fortunate to finish on top. Fair play to Wellesbourne too who turned up in numbers, played with great spirit and were unfortunate to leave with nothing. This I believe is only their second season and we wish them well for the rest of it and for the future. I particularly want to mention their utility forward; he is 42 years old, 5 foot 6 and played at number 8, second row and flanker. He is never short of a word either; see you at your place!
Touchline Quotes
Steve Vallis on why he will not be part of a rolling maul Because I am intrinsically lazy.
Opposite prop to Woz It was like propping against a brick wall.
Sam Holtham who bruised his ankle Arghhhh, ooooh, arghhhhhh, I cant suck it in Trev, it hurts too much!
There are some great photos available if you click here. Our thanks to Wellesbournes photographer Dick Prior for his efforts.
Bare respect due to Trevor Roberts who conquered Kill a man for a giro all in aid of Help for Heroes i.e. British Servicemen. Well done mate, I will try and remember that fiver for next week.
Finally, my thanks to Mini Stanton and his mate Johnny who took time off from their Latin homework to walk down to the bottom posts and collect pads and flags as Springy was too idle to go. Thanks lads, Springy I want that quid back that I gave them for sweets.
Finally, my thanks to Mini Stanton and his mate Johnny who took time off from their Latin homework to walk down to the bottom posts and collect pads and flags as Springy was too idle to go. Thanks lads, Springy I want that quid back that I gave them for sweets.
PS - there was no 2nd team game as we had to cry off due to lack of bodies
posted by coventrians at
12:36:00
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