RUGBY
North Dorset RFC (21) Vs (36) A.G.S.C
Slaughtergate, Gillingham (Dor)
Sat 23rd Febuary 2008
North Dorset 21 Vs 36 AGSC
Tries: T.Shipsey, C.Burden, S.Wilbur, J.Holt, O.East,P.Crang
Cons: R.Wynn X3
Team: Chris Pratt, Paul Crang, Alex Baldwin, Marco Laing, Rich Burden (c), Charlie Price, Grant Bentley, Jo Holt, Tristan Lark, Steve Pike, John Keen, Ollie East, simon Wildbur, Tim Shipsey, Rhys Wynn, Bill Britten, Chris Burden.
Manager: Duncan Weir
Man of the Match: Rhys Wynn
Unfortunately its 3 weeks since the game took place and I my memory is very hazy on the actual match apart from the fact it was a fine display by the lads (goes with out saying). Here is a snipit of the more memorable moments of the day including pre and post match goings on which tend to be more entertaining than the match itself...
Saturday 23rd February 2008
06.00am
Woken by the wife going to work and can not get back to sleep. 'Match Day Anxiety' is a common mental disorder experienced by Match Managers on the day of their big one. Will all the players arrive? Will the opposition have a team? Have they remembered to book a ref? Will anyone phone with mysterious illnesses and injuries?...
9.00am
Mandatory call by the Chairman ensuring everything is in place for the big day with the mandatory reply "Yes Ol, everything is fine. See you at 1 o'clock".
9.45am
Phone Pratty to ensure he hasn't forgotten. Tell him its a 12.30pm meet so he might arrive around 1pm (the actual meet time).
9.48am
Phone Wynnit to make sure he's awake and has the kit ready. Amazingly he's already on his way! No hangover, brand new skintight Nike kit courtesy of the RAF in the car.
10.05am
Text from the captain Ali Lund - Sorry Weiro i have caught a sickness bug off my girlfriend and not going 2 be able 2 play today. So sorry about late notice but i have been throwing up all morning and am in no state 2 do anything today. 'Match Day Anxiety' syndrome ensures a sympathetic response - Bloody hell Lundi, you're the skipper! We don't have another 10
10.06am
Phone Wynnit tell him he's playing 10.
01.00pm
Good turn out. Looks like everyone has arrived on time. Burden Snr promoted to captain and some would say a promotion to the centres from the back row.
1.45pm
The Chairman makes his thoughts felt about this new modern kit. He's brought the traditional light blue dark blue hoops with him. There's a revolution in the changing rooms and the Chairman's overthrown. Player power and sponsor's demands win the day and the new flash red is worn by the Growers for the first time. Ground breaking stuff.
02.30pm
Kick Off. Grandad's arrived and I've missed the first 2 minutes making polite chit chat to the old duffer.
02.41pm
TRY - Can't remember who it was but i think it was young Burden Jnr who had a storming game going over the whitewash. It sparks much conversation on the sidelines with some of North Dorset's 'old farts' who can remember the Burdens' old man Bill Burden turning out in the North Dorset green in the 1970's.
03.06pm
The Growers have scored a couple more times and have truly dominated the first half an hour with some superb rucking. Typical Pratty display appearing at the bottom of rucks with turn over ball. Larky comanded the base of the scrum and Shippo showed why he's the Salisbury 1st team scrum half with a very competent display.
3.07pm
Wynnit has gone for an outrageous drop goal. Skied and sliced like one of Marco's tee shots with his shiny new driver fresh from China. The ball hasn't gone out of play. North Dorset have lost interest but Wildboar hasn't. He chases like a terrier chasing a tennis ball and touches the ball down before it goes dead for another try. North Dorset are in disbelief. Wildboar's celebrating and posing for the cameras in the new kit. Tight round the stomach with a bit more room for the upper torso. When Larky first put it on it was "Welcome to the Gun Show". Even Shippo looks like he should be entering the World's Strongest Man competition. For Wildbur it's a bit baggy on the top half but a slick snug fit round the six pack. Wildboar clearly enjoys his rugby on the wing. He is the Growers' ultimate finisher and sticks to his strengths. The physical side is left to those on Sky Sports Rugby Club's 'The School of Hard Knocks'.
3.10pm
Half Time. Solid First half
3.15pm
OBA President makes an appearances with his righthand man Harry Witherby. The kit comes into question once again this time from the old school contingent. The President chats up Pratty's girl Katie then tries to get a date with her mum. No luck there and he's off home to Cucklington to the wife. Good to see the OBA supporting the Growers.
3.40pm
Growers are cruising 36-7. Wynnit continues to shine at fly half and ends up with the Man of the Match accolade. The front row excelled themselves. The Growers pack always plays at its best in the set peice scrum with Steve Pike in the coal face. He was accompanied by the plod. Police Constable Baldwin (uniform) of the Hampshire Force returned to his old position at hooker. Threw the ball in at the line out like he'd never been away. As for Detective Constable Holt (plain clothes), he's a lean trim Met Officer who doesn't look like he should be messing around with on the streets of the front row but he relishes the chance to mix it with the bruisers before proposing to his wife!
3.45pm
The Chairman was pre warned by his father not to get injured. He decides just a second half on the wing should do it. He scores a try, chases a kick back 20 metres before collapsing in a cardiovascular mess and ends the game with blood pouring from his nostrils. Just what the doctor ordered. Lucky those reds shirts hide the stain.
3.47pm
The North Dorset fly half has tried an ordatious pass attempting to lob Charlie Price. He hasn't got air traffic control clearance for that manoeuvre and its hard to tell from behind the clouds but it looks like Charlie catches it before it hits him in the face. Needless to say the line out king lived up to his name. You need to be as tall as Mr Tall from the Mr Men to match Charlie Price in the line out. The shirts continue to cause a stir this time from the opposition bench. Enquiries are made regarding the source and funds for such a flash outfit. I thank them for their tax money that has gone towards 40 new rugby shirts for the Growers this season.
3.50pm
Full time. 37-19 win. Growers let in the customary late tries for the home side to ensure future fixtures. 5 years at North Dorset and its 4-1 in the series to the Growers.
06.20pm
Its curry time. Must get back to the clubhouse for the France v England game. Kick off 8pm. Shouldn't be a problem.
07.30pm
Curry hasn't arrived at the table and the Chairman throws a wobbly at Sanjeev, Sourav and the boys.
08.00pm
Still settling up in the curry house. The Chairman is seriously angry and after some blue language and head turning expletives in front of the other diners and take away queue, we're off. Word of warming to those reading this. The Chairman does not like to miss the National Anthems.
09.40pm
England win in Paris and the Chairman has got tears in his eyes. Good day all round. Lets get another beer in...