Great to get back on the pitch after a two month absence!

Thanks to all who made the long journey down to Guildford on Saturday. Especially big thanks to BOF who "volunteered" to step up to loose-head prop and join myself and Dyll in the front row. Both BOF and I are now going on a diet in case we get a full time job there. I honestly can’t remember too much of the game except that I spent most of the first half having my head shoved back up my ar*e in the scrum and clinging on for dear life. Following the 287th scrum Guildford managed to score twice in the first half and then a scrappy third just before half-time but as we had hardly had the ball at that stage it wasn’t a huge deficit.

We turned around at half-time to get both the considerable slope and the wind at our backs which was a good help. We got our first score when Jamie Carlin performed a bit of smash and grab and pounced on a loose ball at the lineout and drove over the line. Our second came when I found myself on the blind-side and somehow managed to avoid a few tackles to score a try which was converted by Eddie Beck.

Unfortunately that was the end of our scoring and Guildford added two more, one a long distance effort following a charge down which none of us had the legs to chase after although John Ronane made a convincing effort and another close in try late on to put the final nail in our coffin.

Some good attacking play in the second half with Ed Beck and Dave Brathwaite making several clean breaks, Mitch and Gabriel both had several good runs with the ball and the forwards close in defence was solid as usual. Jake Usher won us more lineout ball than we had in the entire first half of the season…..

There wasn’t much between both sides to be honest but it does help f you bring actual props to your scrum…. plus our main failing was not supporting the ball carrier when making a break (would help if the ball carrier looked for the support too but anyway….) 

Special mention must go to Rob Williams who was cantering down the short-side intent on scoring until just tackled into touch about three yards out. Shame! Welcome also to new boy Rich who played Fly-half and Wing and Stephane in the second row.

Beers on the return journey in the bus were most welcome courtesy of Ricky (grazie mille…) and comedy was provided by the un-named winger who refused to pay the 20p to go inside the public convenience…. and I still have the pictures!

Team: Brendan O’Flaherty, Dyll Davies, Declan Cronin, Paul Clarke, Stephane Maillefaud, Rob Williams, John Ronane, Stef Glancy, Jamie Carlin, Jake Usher, Dave Brathwaite, Rich O’Neil, Ed Beck, Mitch Shankland, Adrian Hobbs, Mark Rutherford, Gabriel De Gregorio. 

Scores:

Guildford Vets: 29

Tries: 5
Cons: 2

Ealing Evergreens: 12

Tries: Cronin, Carlin
Cons: Beck