Top of the table beckons!

A trip to top of the table Christleton with a slightly out of alignment team would not be my first choice of activities on a Saturday afternoon. The Mavs were on the road to ‘The posh end’. A team made up of Anselmians, Mold, Flint and Uncle Tom Cobley amasses on a grey, overcast and sodden Saturday afternoon.
Christleton, unbeaten all season, we’re clearly confident in their pre-match warm up with their running about and line out drills and “hit, hit, check” stuff going on it all looked very impressive . Their coach chatting away to the Gaffer lauding their success and how they train with us at Chester on a Thursday night. Wow ! Thinks the Gaffer. They think we train ! I hope the lads allay that notion in quick time otherwise trouble could ensue.
So the referee, who clearly worked as a part time professional Welshman in his spare time, as he hit every stereotype going, called the team over. Following a few boyo’s this and land of my fathers that we eventually broke to start the game. The bearded Christleton team (I think it’s compulsory) received the kick and the game started.
Christleton ran ....... BOOM !! Christleton were knocked back, Christleton ran ....... BOOM , you can see where I’m going with this can’t you.
Anyway 20 minutes in and it’s still 0-0. Hang on thought the bearded ones it’s not supposed to be like this! We’re top of the table, we’re unbeaten, we train every Thursday. We should be knocking these all around the park. They clearly hadn’t met our defensive line before.
Sensing an upset Christleton get a penalty 20 metres out and realising they were getting no joy on the park elect for the three points. Up steps ‘The boot’ and slots the 3.
The next action was to be a try for Christleton scored as a result of a combination of a rather fortunate interception and a dubious offside. Regardless the part-time professional Welshman (PTPW) wasn’t going to spoil the afternoon for his hosts by awarding anything to the Mavs and 10-0 was the score. Half time arrived with the score still 10-0 to the all conquering bearded ones then the second half arrived. What a performance was to follow. When I say that yes, the Mavs played out of their skin, but the performance I’m talking about was that of the PTPW. You could tell he was used to travelling first class on planes because he never turned right once in the second half except to send the wrong person off (yellow). Every decision seemed to go the way of Christleton and when captain fantastic sought clarification the referee simply smiled and turned away .
Anyway back to the game. Whilst we had our man in the bin ?Christleton scored a well worked try and exploited the extra man in the backs. Their booted one unfortunately missed the kick and the final score of 15-0 to Christleton stood. Once again when faced with a challenging game the Mavericks came good, the Maverick spirit rubbing off (ooo er missus) on those guesting for the team .
Some outstanding individual performance with Dion showing some real passion and aggression in the contact areas. Cotty once again showing what a great partnership we are building in the centre of the park with Captain Fantastic.
Anyway , onto man of the match.
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away lived a young scouser, one of the original Mavs from the Worcester Tour and a real bundle of power and no shortage of skill. Now being an ambitious young chap decided to emigrate north of the border to Jocksville for some career time . Anyway this young wee lad has returned from the wilderness. Less ‘wee lad’ more behemoth. It’s great to welcome back into the fold this weeks man of the match Joe Thomas. A great performance starting (and finishing) in the front row. Always the first support player at the scene of the breakdown, running some great lines of 9 and 10 and together with the testing the pack involved in the destruction of the Christleton Pack at scrum time. Well done Joe and here’s to many more weeks to come.
No game next week but Oldershaw beckon the following week so in the mean time .
Adios Compadres

Semel a Mavericus Semper a Mavericus

The Gaffer