Saints happy with performance on the road at Northwich

Rugby is one of the most interactive games going. It is a game of intuition, imagination, improvisation - but most of all, of teamwork. There is no way to free-lance in rugby.

With many of the boys chomping at the bit after a couple of weeks of weather interrupted rugby it was no surprise when 27 Saints turned up at Northwich. With Ian, Dave at the guys at Northwich rebuilding after losing a few players in the summer we wanted to give everyone game time and to get back into the good habits that had seen great improvements prior to the Xmas layoff.

With just 2 x 25min halfs possible owing to changing room congestion we basically put out two separate teams. What would that mean to our performance, could the boys step up? Playing with a strong wind behind us we knew the first half would be in our favour. Within a few minute we were 2 tries up. Alex LK and Alex Y in the centres proved a bit hot to handle and the Northwich lads were stunned by the pace and power of these boys. The difference between the impossible and possible lies in a person's determination, and the fact that Northwich then restricted us to one more score in the first half shows how hard they worked. Our new look front row with Daniel look good in the tight and loose. Gio and Floyd did our glamorous 2nd row union proud (esp when Floyd actually caught on of the high balls that rained down on him). Rory, Ethan and Dylan (when he was not bleeding) and Matty were a strong backrow. Morty and Mossy played well at half back. We have already talked about our power centres but Mike, Michael and Nathan plus Adam when he came on looked tidy around the park. With the wind behind us yet camped on our own line, and The Blacks unlucky not to get the ball down as they rumbled over our line twice to be held up - we wondered what the second half would bring. HT 0:18

Together we stand, together we fall, together were winners and winners take all - was the jist of the team talk. With 13 new faces on the pitch it was simple. If the forwards didn’t win the majority of the ball then the Saints would spend most of the second half defending their own line and lead – playing into a strong wind, that was the challenge for the front 5. They went off for a little chat (lots of mono brow action and grunting)...the whistle went and they came our firing.

Tom in the second row was everywhere, Pete who looked like a block of ice after 30mins on the side line stormed through with a number of strong runs. Elston was a live wire at 9, burrowing for a lot of scrappy ball that could have gone either way. Mally, Tom & Adam were accomplished in the middle of the park. George had a blinder on the left wing, Tom O at fullback caught and ran strongly with the ball. Daniel poached so much ball at the front of the line that we had to check if he had a hunting licence and Macca was all over the park. Mike darted at 10, only kicked one ball out of hand...even well hit it went about 10m into a Northwich hand so we ran everything after that and left the toe-ball to the 11 lads on the footie pitch behind us!

Northwich with the wind behind and in them ran much better in the second half. They won most of their own scrums and used the ball well in phases. With a few minutes left they got a great team try on the corner to round off a great game.

The Saints showed that despite a lack of rugby and with limited training they still had the hearts to make weary legs go forward. Daniel nicked a ball at the front of the line and ran through the gap to score a great solo try, made by good team pressure. Macca went over after running though a few players, hes hard to stop with his long stride and low centre of gravity, threw the ball in the line well...esp as the wind was a nightmare. Our resident try machine got a couple of 2nd half tries as well. Conversions into the wind were difficult unless in front of the posts. FT 5:42 – well we think that was the score, the refs pen ran out but were got it to 42ish...

Thought for the week - Sport can very quickly make your friends your enemies and your enemies your friends..thats why its important we always remember the rugby code – “show respect”, its that simple.

On that note thanks to Dave for providing ref services today, a good fair game well managed as both teams were up for it and the lads are getting more and more physical each week! Thanks to Northwich players, parents and coaches for their hospitality – we look forward to seeing them at Malone Field later in the season.

STOP PRESS -- Just had a nice note from Ian at Northwich which made me laugh ----

Hi Conal

Always a pleasure to have you guys over, just wish the junior scene had more teams like yourselves in, really impressed with how you guys have come on, my report below, it may take weeks to end up on our site

Northwich 13s - 5 - 42 - Anselmians 13s

“Always love playing Anselmians”, I have probably written that 6 or 7 times over the last 4 years and today was no exception, sporting and approachable as always!

Over the last 4 years it is more than evident that their current 13s have improved dramatically, wins against Lymm, Stockport and our neighbours show that they are a force to be reckoned with on the Cheshire scene.

Conal’s match reports are also improving {But not the spelling or grammar!!!! -ED} and provide a good read to the neutral! https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/anselmiansrufc/j/match-reports-13630.html&archive_id=5463

However if we cant out score them, I’ll have a go at out quoting him! Please excuse the referencing it’s been a while!

Green M. (1927) described Rugby as "A game played by fifteen a side, at least half of whom should be totally unfit." {That will the the coaches then - ED}

After all the fitness work put in over the last month the last thing we expected was for the whole team to be unfit (with a couple of exceptions) Things started well, great punctuality and a great start in the changing rooms, things looked good!

Welsh hardman Ray Gravell explained his rugby philosophy that "You've got to get your first tackle in early, even if it's late." Well the Blacks sort of did but it was more like “You’ve got to get your first tackle in after about 20 minutes” which doesn’t quite have the same ring too it.

As a result the Selms wrecking ball of a number 8 smashed 2 trys in and nearly took out Jack Hoppings front teeth and Grant Leah plus half a dozen others as he was given the run of the park, Selms adding another before the half with the strong wind at their backs. Sportingly Selms took off “Chuck Norris” and let Northwich play with their match ball for about 10 minutes, which fairly enough was held up over the line twice and stayed for the majority in the Selms 22. HT - 19-0

Second half started with great promise, especially as Selms made 13 substitutions, Griffin came close to crashing over and Lewis was again held up as the blacks tried to get back in the game. With the wind at their backs the Northwich back line shipped the ball wide to Jack (yes your teeth are still in) Hopping who despite being 1 v 1 with his opposite number kicked the ball rather than taking his chances in hand, which, brings me to my next quote

"In 1823, William Webb Ellis first picked up the ball in his arms and ran with it. And for the next 156 years forwards have been trying to work out why." Sir Tasker Watkins (1979).

The Northwich coaches, like Sir Tasker were also trying to work out why anyone wasn’t running with the ball and why they had taken to kicking it. . . damn you T.V!

Discipline or rather a lack of it took hold and Northwich allowed their visitors off the hook with poor decisions, a series of penalties and a couple of cases of not actually looking gave the Selms 2 scores. Quite an even second half territory wise until Selms reintroduced “Chuck Norris” and then it was all over with 2 more trys and a conversion in 5 minutes, although Referee Cole admonished “Chuck” for his 60 yard try celebration, unfortunately for Northwich he was 60 yards from their try line when he actually started the celebration!

Not many positives at all today and yes, we have had along lay off but we have not been idle the Blacks looked lazy and lacklustre up front, Peter Fitzsimmons stated that “Forwards are the gnarled and scarred creatures who have a propensity for running into and bleeding all over each other." He would have not been given that impression whilst watching today’s performance! The backs didn’t fare any better either, despite having a hooker and second row on the wings, the experienced players did not shine.

The best way to sum up today would be my final quote (and I am trying to be positive)

"No leadership, no ideas. Not even enough imagination to thump someone in the line-out when the ref wasn't looking." J.P.R. Williams (1984)

Players worth a mention, Sam Preece, Alex Frith and Ieaun Lewis, really busy up front with little support.

Take that Conal! {I bow to the superior journalist - ED}

Team -

Bray, Cole, Preece, Richardson (Moss 25) Watson, Frith, Yarwood, Lewis, Lucas, Gooch, Leah, Griffin, Flaherty, Hopping (Perrin 15) Bradley

N/U - Ollier - N/A - Conway, Jackson, Lindsley

Best Regards

Ian Grassby {Thanks and cu soon - ED}