Mavericks 12 - Port Sunlight 12

Last week The Mavs took on their first home game of then current season against our most local rivals, Port Sunlight. The weather was another warm balmy summers day with barely a cloud in the sky, not the best weather for third team rugby but The Mavs we’re feeling confident and looking forward to building on their unbeaten start to the 2019 campaign.
The Gaffer has assembled a strong team with the usual faces in the pack and the welcome addition of John Hutchinson and Josh into the back row and second row respectively. Liam Fenners started his first home game out wide and a new midfield combo of Lee Jones and Andy from Mold RFC in the absence of Captain fantastic Andy Smith.
Sunlight came into the game playing their unique style of rugby which predominantly involves forward dominance with the occasional sojourn into the back line. This pattern was to be repeated with one noticeable exception.
The first half was a Maverick affair until about the 30th minute with Sunlight coming back strong with two well taken tries.
The first Maverick try was scored by Nev Pickard diving underneath the scrambling Sunlight defence to place the ball after the tackle and score a great back row try. The second Mav try was again started by Nev and finished by the flying Dion who collected a kick through to score under the posts. Mavs winning 12-0 then decided to go to sleep and some missed tackles and slow support allowed Sunlight back into the game with the half tone score ticking in at 12-10.
The second half was a less favourable occasion.
Sometimes when we get lost in the rugby fervour, and we’re thinking about teams and players, tactics and score lines there is something necessary to keep our feet in the ground and remind us it’s ‘only a game’.
After about ten minutes The Gaffer (running touch) hears a shout from behind and turns to see a young woman who had collapsed by the side of the pitch and was fitting. Immediately the game was halted and it was quickly discovered that it was the girlfriend of Dion, one of The Mavs team. Despite the reassurances from Dion who had clearly managed this before it was decided that an ambulance should be called.
Without going into detail, Dion managed the situation perfectly and stayed with Hannah until medical support arrived . After about 30 minutes a decision was made by both captains and the ref to abandon the game as a draw. A great sign of sportsmanship from the Sunlight squad and a real demonstration of why this is a truly great game to be part of.
Hannah made a full recovery and did not require treatment in hospital and joined us in the bar to pass in her thanks to both teams and all the players present.
The first half showed some great performances, with Dion scoring, then going on to play a crucial part in the medical emergency, he is a real credit to his family and to The Mavs, well done mate.
However an additional credit also goes to this weeks man of the match Nev Pickard, who scored a great individual try, led from the front and showed the benefit of experience within a newly developing g back row.

Semel a Mavericus, Semper a Mavericus

The Gaffer