Crewe & Nantwich 3s paid the Ducks the biggest compliment possible yesterday, a comment overheard that 'this is the strongest side they had put out all season,' a chat with their manager after the game in which he said "these lads would be in the 3rd team every week, if they weren't always taken by the 2nd team." Sour grapes I can hear people say and to an extent I would agree, but as I've continually said all season "we can only play against what's put in front of us."

We were beaten with last play of the game yesterday, our first defeat of the season, and you could tell what the result meant to our opposition, the boys were brilliant all game and indeed put themselves, mid-way through the second half in a match winning position, a couple of dubious penalty decisions and losing James Dear in the last 5 minutes (although it was 10 minutes on my watch) was a telling factor, he was superb all day, tackles, line breaks and all round general play, his long term injury is really going to hit us hard.

From 1 to 19, the boys fought like their lives depended on it, three well worked tries, and total commitment from them all, I was absolutely gutted at the end but couldn't have asked anymore of the lads. As Matt Brookes said after the game "we haven't played a team that good all season and won't play one for the rest of it," that just about summed it up.

Every cloud has a silver lining as they say and Connor was quick to point out that everyone is now free to go on the Mavs tour as we don't have a final to play in, Tim and Nev will be happy even if no one else is.

It was great to see Jim O'Loughlin watching the lads yesterday, your support was greatly appreciated, hopefully he realised there is no one in the Ducks who is capable of playing for the 1st team.

No Diffy Duck today, although Joe Carew nearly got there, Duck of the Day, there were nineteen of them.

A return to league action next week, sees us away to 2nd placed Helsby, a win and promotion is almost guaranteed, COUILLES DU CANARD, some say they don't have them, our lot certainly do.

Mother Duck

Ps The doughnuts where great!