Old Yardleians RFC: Club News


12th September match reports and important social news

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:13



Playing their first league game of the season at Staffordshire club Leek, Y’s played their part in a pulsating match in which the lead changed hands 7 times. 
After 3 minutes the Y’s won lineout ball and drove their opponents 20 meters over the line for captain Steve Grainger to touch down with Jamie Walton adding the conversion points. However, Leek replied with a try to make the score 7-5 to the visitors.
20 minutes into the game Y’s number 8 Ben Honey was yellow-carded for a rucking offence and during his absence Leek took a 12-7 lead but a Walton penalty took the half-time score to 12-10 in favour of the home team. 
A magnificent 80 meter run and try by winger Seymour Seaton converted again by Walton put the Yards back in front only for the hosts to reply immediately with a converted try.
Shrewd tactical substitutions by the Y’s coach, Gary Robinson, resulted in a successful penalty by Walton.
The hot weather was now taking its toll as tired legs made mistakes inevitable and Leek scored a breakaway try to regain the lead at 26-20.  The next try went to the Yards as a result of a powerful scrummage with number 8 Honey claiming the try which was converted.  This narrow lead proved insufficient as Leek’s superior fitness saw them score a penalty and a long-range try in the closing minutes bringing the final result to a victory to Leek by 34 points to 27.

The Yards under 23/development/second xv played host to Ashby 2nds who were under the expert guidance of former old y Sean Kenwrick.  On the day the conditions suited the younger and fitter home team who played with pace and displayed some superb support play and ball handling skills.  With captain Ellwyn Male setting the tone with some razor sharp runs the tries soon started to flow.  The pack more than held their own (rugby wise not personally!) and the strength and bulk of Dave Langley was a real feature of the performance.  Try scorers were Lee Couples, Greg Allen, Dave Langley, Tom Grocott, Guy Smith,James Donnaghy and Alec Connor with two tries. Andy Powrie added 3 conversions.  A learning feature from the game must be mentioned.  Young Tom Grocott a determined scrum half with loads of potential managed to upset the referee enough to gain a 10 minute rest in the sin-bin.  As Tom estimated that his spell of porridge must be due for completion he made enquiries with the Gent from the North Mids Society who then extended the sentence by another 10 minutes to establish who was running the game.  A lesson for all, the ref is always right even when he's not! A final score of 46-29 to the Yards and who knows, one day the captain might even buy a jug for his troops.

The team of the season (so far), Vets, Vandals or even 3rd xv

Never mind the 300 fear the 677!! Yes a staggering average age of 45.133333333!!!
 
A second win for a side packed full of experience and decision makers, at least I get to do the toss every week!
 
In another bad advert for global warming we once again cast aside our Zimmers on an unseasonally hot September Saturday against a cocktail of two thirds Ashby one third Yards.
 
Good to see Dave Hanson arriving relatively punctually for him only three minutes into the game; obviously missing the pre-team talk about not running at every opportunity and from deep given the conditions, and refreshing to see that the rest of the three quarters in Fitz, Cedric & Nev also took this advice on board and decided to join him in the opening fifteen minutes playing some great looking champagne rugby.
 
I assume this was in lieu of a warm up?? But in fairness we did look f**king good attacking from all over the Park in that opening spell, in which first Phil Evans then Dave himself crossed the line both under under the posts, Chicken's try after a typically swivel hipped run up the middle, both tries converted with ease by Dave Rollins.
 
After more pressure Ashby conceded a penalty, and thinking it may be a tighter game I decided the three points might be useful, Ralph stepping to add to his tally.
 
Our scrum rock steady causing the Ashby eight all manner of problems, taking three against the head, with our front row of Mark Baldwin, Rick Lowe and specialist loosehead John Lonie causing their opposite numbers all manner of bother, although John & Mark's definitions of going low apparently need some further work. Again without the hard work in the engine room provided by Phil Gouldbourn & Andy Killarney this wouldn't happen...they tell me.
 
Another great performance from Nick Levey in a good match-up against our own Marcus Hope, and similarly Phil "the General" Evans living in the Presidents shorts for most of the game and having to endure Sid's seemingly incessant tirade in a vain attempt to influence the referee in everything from the laws of the game to the laws of gravity!
 
After a barnstorming run by the side's colt Alan Arkell belying his 39 youthful years, relative lack of experience and two dodgy knees being finally stopped short of the line and passing inside to No.8 Roger Lazenby in close support to score under the posts (after coersion by the skipper). Again converted by Dave Rollins.
 
Half time saw the average age go up a notch with the addition of the evergreen Tom Power being slotted in, in Mike Catt's role of second fly half with some cultured positional kicking keeping Ashby pinned back in their own half and culminating in a great interchange of passes and an unselfish pass to Ralph to score under the posts, adding further to his increasing tally with the conversion.
 
Also at half time with Cedric apparently going lame he took refuge on the wing, to stay out of harms way, to keep out of trouble, to prevent further injury (see where I'm going here) and ends up going on two great lengthy runs on one leg and scoring our fifth try, converted by Jonny sorry Ralph.
 
The final try being scored by this week's man of the match Phil Goldbourn after a great forward drive, Phil & ball finally being picked up and carried over the line by the Colt Arkell. Phil took everything kindly and rather curiously thrown to him by the Ashby hooker in the lineouts and set off up the park ball in hand on numerous occasions eating up the yards with that immense stride. Again converted by Ralph who top scored with a try, six conversions and a penalty, and had I realised it earlier we'd have contrived to set up a drop goal to give him the "full set".
 
At the request of the Ashby skipper we knocked off ten or fifteen minutes early, convinced obviously we were hurtling towards a half century.
 
Thanks too to Sid, Junior,Steve, Rob, Marcus and also in the second half Ian for making the game that little bit more extra competative!!!
 
Next week our toughest test so far with a road trip to Old Halesonians, but don't see why we cannot continue our great start to the season.
 
 
ps oh they somehow scored ten when we weren't looking!


Yardleys School Reunion

This fine event will take place at the club on October 2nd.  You don't have to be an ex-pupil to attend but I imagine it would be pretty boring if you went to Cockshut Hill or Light Hall!

Steve  Painter
Still playing at his peak even for other clubs e.g. Ashby,  Invites you to his 60th birthday bash at the club on Saturday October 3rd.  All past and present Old Yards players are invited and presents need not be too expensive.  Lynda, Steve's better half, when asked for ideas told me that he is partial to lamb chops.  This could be a coincidence as his good mate the famous ex-hooker Dave Jenkins allegedly prefers sheep.  Anyway enough of the butchers shop talk.  Steve goes on to say that there will be live music and dress is optional (the Goldbourne's can wear their dresses if they wish!) and the bash is from 8 till late.




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