OBs has a great relationship with St.Bs from the fact that a number of OBs stalwarts and VGCM coach there, and also in general they're a lovely bunch.
So we were delighted when their captain, tasked with (re)forming the Vets side asked about the possibility of a fixture.
We had pretty good numbers (subject to the normal random dropout rate) so agreed that if they had fewer than 15 we'd bolster, and duly Tim King and Sam Hawke (both who coach there) happily agreed to play for them.

Interestingly at one point OBs had 7 front row in the squad, which is more than is often available to the entire club. Rugby availability truly is a rollercoaster.

We had some debutants - Chris, Richard and (as a bonus surprise in the car park) French Matt. Welcome and glad to have them on board, as our bench went from 8 on Friday to the three of them come kick-off...

Excitingly the Sesh/Mark/Munsie trio were in, which makes for good chat and self-deprecating ability. (Not sure if I mean ability to be self-deprecating or ability in spite of being self-deprecating. Probably both).

Even better, Sesh's whole family were there to watch with Mum and Dad enjoying the spectacle of their son upholding the core RFU value of referee respect.

Wayne also was back in, and we decided to put him at second row, mainly to stop him steamrolling anyone from 8 especially having promised St Bs a 'social' game. Also welcomed back Pete Blackman, who claimed that he'd only last 10 minutes, but then when he had to start looked like he was enjoying himself very much indeed.

The theme of being self-deprecating also seemed to extend to the St B's boys as well, as they had a useful group of players, and although OBs scored early and the scoreline ended up flattering OBs a little, it was a damn good game.

Highlights:
Great winger's try from the welcome return of the very rapid Charlie A in the first minutes.
Tim King 'it's only a scratch' with an open headwound ("not worth taping up") playing at flank.
Absolutely vintage show-and-go from Ted which he duly finished off, from about the halfway.
Yarks being class. And actually on that note Frogget and Ed seem to be cut from a similar cloth... a joy to watch.
Wayne seemed to be determined to confound expectation by instead of thundering through people, he was determined to show his soft offload skills, which was probably for the best all around.
Garth, freed from no9 duties clearly revelling in space - some great photos where you can see St B's players flying past him. And duly scoring a hattrick, possibly just to make the point that he might be a little wasted at scrum half...
Peaches lasting a game (I believe). This truly is a highlight for us and him.
Charlie putting in a frankly terrible clearance kick only to then chase it up himself and execute a beautiful textbook tackle to redeem himself.
In fact, despite the claims of exhaustion and unfitness, there was bloody good rugby played on both sides throughout, and at all times it was played in great spirit. Apart from Sesh's tourettes. But he is ginger.
PG's "ignoring the huge overlap outside him" try, I didn't see, but could imagine his mutley-like chuckle as he dived over.
I'm not sure if it was the tactic of putting PG at skipper to stop him winding up the ref (in that at least he was therefore theoretically allowed to question the ref's decisions, calls, thoughts and general demeanour), but in the bar afterwards it was Sesh who was buying the apology beer for once.

In terms of Best on Ground, Ferg had a great game, as did Yarks and Munsie in the backs (except for Munsie's drop goal conversion which was rubbish) - but Tim King stood out as being cheerfully relentless so edged it on those grounds. Their dreadlocked aussie was worth a mention too - joyfully smashing everything that came near him.