Old Bristolians 2s vs Midsomer Norton 2s

January is usually the month which defines the OB’s season. It’s the only full month of fixtures from December to April and we often seem to be drawn against our nearest rivals for them. Add the complexities of post Christmas weather and the OBs ski season (1) and it is often a make or break month. So it has prove for the 2nds this year where we have been presented with fixtures against Gordano, who were 2nd in the league and beat us earlier the season, Oldfeld, who were 2nd by the time we played them and always give us a good game and finally Midsomer Norton who are runaway leaders and beat us at their patch in October.

For once OBs rose to the challenge(s). Gordano got out muscled on a sodden pitch 29-0, in a match where no one I spoke to afterwards could remember feeling as cold on a rugby pitch before. This situation wasn’t helped by the ref calling together both captains for a 5 minute lecture every time Gordano mouthed off at him, which was very regularly. By the end of the match it was dark and we were all suffering from pneumonia. Urry summed it up as a 3 shower day. One to wash to wash off surface mud, one to warm up once the showers were less busy and one at home to actually get properly clean.

Last week was completely different. It was clear and fresh but a good day for rugby. Oldfield is a favourite away destination for many of the team. HRD noted that it’s a picturesque drive, a nice club house, warm showers, wide pitch, free tea and decent meal after. I think if they had offered him a contract there and then he would have signed (especially as he was in a sulk about being given the shirts to clean again). Anyway it was an immense scrummaging effort from Stu Mac, Runkle and Whittle (who also ran in- yes ran in- a try) which laid the foundations for this victory. If anything we probably should have closed it out sooner and nailed a try bonus point but Oldfield are a good outfit and defended well, so it was up to debutant and MotM, Pete Fison to score an excellent winning try.

This week was the big one though. Midsomer are a good 12 points clear at the top of the league and gave us a good working over at their place. Because/ despite this Hamblett called up OB’s favourite anti hero, Rupert Hyde, for his annual tour qualification appearance. We were also a bit disrupted in the front row with Urry having to move to prop and Jamie Snudden called up at 2. But everyone seemed to have their ‘game heads ‘ on for this, apart from Foley who had posted a catalogue of excuses to cry off over the last couple of days: work party, skiing trip, ‘the sh!ts.’ Thankfully we had good cover with Al Hein seamlessly slipping into the row.

As it turned out MSN were not the team we played earlier in the season. Well though we played it is difficult to believe that this is the regular team for the table toppers. I guess their 1s may have been short. On the other hand the ITV documentary series has reported yet more murders in the town recently, although a grandma with a secret to hide and a wealthy adulteress from the past couple of weeks didn’t make up the bulwark of their front 5 from what I can remember.

Anyway, credit to us, we were strong in the scrums again and in particular the rolling mauls. The forward platform allowed our backs to run riot with Callum Broady having his best game yet at 12 and HRD scything through the defence every time there was a loose kick. Guy Youll marked his overdue return after injury with a try and probably the best piece of rugby I’ve seen all season. He dumped the MDS winger out wide with a rip-snorting tackle, he then got to his feet in one movement, showing his hands, jackled to regain the ball, set off down the right and put in a quality pass for Sam Richardson to finish in the corner. Awesome! Tref had a good kicking game including one amazing banana kick into the wind with no angle, which went from our 22 into the MSN half. He also managed to get into numerous skirmishes off the ball, so no change there. Even Hamblett looked dangerous on the wing, although he was up against a short, tubby, ginger kid, who kept having to be told where to stand. But, credit where it’s due, our captain ran in 2 great tries in the first half and spent the rest of the match telling everyone that he would break his ‘dry January’ if we let him score again. Having a drunk Hamblett on our hands is hardly a big incentive so we tried to avoid passing to him after this. I even squandered a 2 man overlap not to pass to him, only to throw a look away pop as I got tackled to see the skipper waltz over for his 3rd. Grr!

Thanks to our walking wounded of Watford, Tris (not walking) and Joe on the touchline. The latter took numerous interesting pictures including a classic of HRD. There was also a sighting of the lesser spotted Kev, who lamented the lack of 3’s matches, implying that this was the reason he has been less regular this season.

With Hamblett and several others relinquishing their dry January to celebrate a famous victory, we all assembled in Bundy’s later and it was a great and rare occasion, to have a team drink up. We really need to sort this out. Perhaps Bundy’s could be the new Oak? It’s quiet enough at that time in the evening, cheap and near to Racks and la Rocca? Seb showed up looking and smelling immaculate. When he bought a Stella and 2 g&ts (which is close enough to being a Ladyboy) a few eye brows were raised. As it turned out he was off on a hot date with some girl in Bath who runs promotions for the racecourse and used to go out with a Bath scrum half. Well punched Seb! Here’s hoping you sealed the deal this time.

There was just time for Whittle to tell a sordid tale of an Irish man-eater from his work who implored him to ‘just stick it in’ having dragged him into someone’s garden in Clifton at all of 8.30pm one evening. Obviously Whittle was too drunk to accommodate, try as he might. How I’ve missed post-match team drinks...

1) Colton had flown back from Tignes this morning to appear GCM, although the flight took its toll on his restart catching by the look of it.

Old Bristolians 2s 57-0 Midsomer Norton 2s

Tries: Cal Broady 3, Rob Hamblett 3, Tim Colton, Guy Youll, Sam Richardson
Cons: Ben Urry 6
MotM: Cal Broady
DoTD: Nick Foley
BoH : Kev- not enough appearances this season, Tref- too many bitch fights, Hamblett for wanting to go for goal off a pen when 50-0 up with 10 mins to play, Sam Davies for driving car into ditch (vs Gordano), Most of the 2s for failing dry January, Redwood Lodge for turning into retirement homes- no Colton this doesn’t mean I will soon be able to attend training more easily!