Colts come up just short against Minety

Another home game, another chance for an U18s players’ reunion. Last week it was Jed and Callum that came to watch. This time it was Dave, Orgy and Lucas. Nice to see previous players coming back to support their ex-team mates and seeing what this new look Colts team can do after 2 straight victories. If they’d brought their boots they could have got a game as Stroud were down to only 16 players due to injuries, schools game clashes and Grandma’s birthdays.

There were new visitors to Fromehall. Wiltshire based Minety who were new to the U17s and U18s. No historical fixtures to work out our opponent strengths. They only turned up with 13 players so perhaps their strength was Rugby League. Both teams agreed to drop flankers and go for a 6 man scrum. That helped Stroud as we were desperately short in the backs so both flankers moved out to the backs division. In the case of Freddie he took it quite literally and combined his favourite 6 and 7 shirts to play 13.

Banter between the parents ensued – anything to while away the warmups as the forwards learnt how to do passes more than 2 metres long as they adapted to their new positions.
“Who’s the new team in green ?”
“We’re Minety”
“Minty as in ice-cream and sweets?”
“No Minety, as in Minety, near Malmesbury, Wilts” as they tried to educate the Stroudies there was more to England than Gloucestershire.
“Minty – is that why you wear green – like Murray mints and Polos?”
The visitors gave in and responded… “No we’re Trebor Mints and we’re a minty bit stronger”

1-1 in the banter stakes. It was going to be a long day – both on and off the pitch……

Jane and Jo conferred and put out another new look lineup. “Fresh – just like the wind" wrote the match reporter. “Fresh” just like spearmint chewing gum the parents joshed. Can’t wait for the forwards to go Rhino and the match reporter to put a Spearmint Rhino joke in the match report humoured another parent.

Common sense took over and the game started…..

Forwards: Stoner, Freddie, Ryan, Laurie, Darion, Joe
Backs: Jonty, Myles, George, Freddie, Lewis, Rhys, Alex
Subs: Will, Ben, Callum

Stroud kicked off and Minety did show their strength. Forwards, forwards, forwards….. They marched up the pitch with good control and got into the Stroud half. Eventually Stroud transgressed and Minety had a shot at the posts. The kick clanged off the upright and Stroud had dodged a bullet. Myles playing 10 for the battered Will took an excellent drop out kick to halfway. No problems in the kicking department – phew! Laurie stole the lineout and Minety gave a way a penalty. A quick tap and Joe crashed up the pitch. Minety stole the ball but Ryan was equally combative and made his own turnover. Myles found a gap and threatened the line. The forwards kept it tight and battered the line. Eventually Darion rose to the challenge. Went Rhino from the base of the ruck and smashed over the line. “Spearmint Rhino” had made it into the match report – for the one and only time thankfully. Good conversion and Stroud led 7-0.

Minety took objection to the poor jokes and decided to impose themselves on the game to make their own headlines. They controlled Stoners damaging kickoff runback. They then won penalties and took quick taps. They threatened to score up the middle but Alex was able to bring down the big runner. A series of quick penalties just delayed the inevitable and Minety got a deserved try in the far corner. An excellent conversion equalled the scores at 7-7.

Stroud kicked off and Rhys showed winger speed and flanker tackling to bring down the Minety runner. Freddie and Jo then won the turnover and the backs attacked. George kicked to the corner and Lewis just missed the chance to score. Minety won their lineout on their own 5 and kicked deep with the wind. Alex took the greasy ball well and ran it back. The ball came out to centre Freddie and he ran over a few opponents showing his forward training. Fellow honorary back Rhys also showed good skills to keep the ball alive and threaten to score. Minety somehow stole the ball and kicked to the 22. Laurie won the lineout from another excellent Freddie throw and the backs attacked left with quick hands. So quick in fact that Alex forgot to throw the ball backwards and a great opportunity was denied with a forward pass. Even the strong wind didn’t blow it back to be flat.

The next 10 minutes of the game was constant interchanges of scrums, lineouts, turnovers and knock-ons. The parents threatened to start the “Minty vs Minety” banter again. Luckily the ref who had an excellent game on the pitch could see where this was going and reminded the players to step up the skill levels to keep the parents entertained and save him having to blow his whistle for game restarts.

Minety responded best. They stole a Stroud scrum on halfway and an excellent interchange of passes between forwards and backs punched a hole in the Stroud defense. Stroud again gave away a penalty on the line and Minety took a quick tap and scored a go ahead try. Good kick for a 14-7 visitor lead.

Myles kick off was well judged and bounced out in the Minety 22. Laurie stole the lineout and Ryan and Stoner made punishing runs. Minety were desperate in defence and gave away another penalty and earnt a yellow card. A good kick to the corner, another Laurie win and lineout drive. Darion rhino #1 just short. Then Joe forced his way over on the left. A challenging conversion from Myles split the posts and the scores were equal again at 14-14.

Centre Freddie returned the kick off well. He barrelled his way through a few tackles with his flanker hand-offs. He then remembered he was playing in the backs so kicked into space. The ball was lost and Minety took over with controlled attacking play. Stroud were caught transgressing at a ruck so also earnt a yellow card. It was now 12 a side. A few more players off and we’d be playing a game of footy. Now that is a "soft mint” if Minety had to play a game for “softees”. “Stop the Jokes - they’re not good….” Screamed the parents. Fortunately the ref agreed and blew his whistle for the half and had a quiet word with the match reporter to always respect your opponents. The “pen is mightier than the sword” quipped the match reporter. “But not as final as my red card” responded the ref. 1-0 to the ref. He must be respected kids

Half Time: Colts 14 – 14 Minety

Stroud rang the changes. Didn’t take long as only had 3 subs!

George returned the kickoff well and was forced into touch. Stroud stole the lineout and Will kicked right and just missed the winger. Stroud stole the lineout deep in the Minety 22. The backs went left and nearly scored but again Minety were excellent in goal line defense. This game meant a lot to them you could tell. Minety stole the ball and kicked to escape pressure but Lewis fielded it well and ran it back with good support from Alex and Will. Minety were determined in the forwards though and stole another ball at the ruck. They went down the blindside and their big centre showed a great turn of pace to tiptoe down the left wing, outrun the last gasp tacklers and dot down under the posts. An easy conversion for a 21-14 visitor lead.

Minety controlled the kickoff and worked their way into the Stroud half. Will put in an excellent tackle and earnt himself an injury and a trip back to the subs bench for a reward for his 10 minute cameo. Minety kept attacking but Stroud were well organised in defence with Callum, Ryan and Ben putting their bodies on the line to keep out the big runners. Another good turnover from Freddie gave Stroud an escape route and the backs ran it out well. The next 5 minutes was a battle centred on half way. Scrums and knock-ons were the order of the day. Ben was heavily involved in the action with tackle, turnovers and runs. Eventually a game broke out and Freddie attacked down the left. He looked to have battled his way into a scoring position but a last gasp tackle; a loose pass and the chance went amiss.

Minety won the lineout and kicked high into the wind. Alex showed great dance moves (courtesy of his Dad and 1990s night clubs) and spun out of the tackle and ran up the left flank. The forwards took over and Darion who was having a storming game took the ball close to the line. Stroud looked to be about to score but the game was stopped for a Minety injury. Stroud won the scrum restart on the Minety 5 and Callum picked up the ball well at #8 and threatened to score but more last gasp defence forced him into touch. Minety won their lineout and kicked high again. Jonty fielded the ball excellently and setup another attack. Myles saw space and kicked wide and Rhys showed great skills to collect it at pace and break into the Minety 22. Stroud controlled the ball well and it was left to Freddie (forward version) to earn a well deserved try. The kick from wide just missed but it was game on with a 2 point deficit. Minety leading 21-19.

Minety felt the pressure and kicked off straight to touch. Stroud had the scrum on halfway that they duly won. Centre Freddie wanted to score as well but another battling run was denied by more stout tackling. Myles took the ball on well and then it was the forwards by committee. Another Stroud scrum close to the line and Callum again looked like he could score but Minety were again penalised. Somehow Stroud lost the ball from the tap penalty and Minety kicked high again. Again Jonty was brave under the ball. Good rucking gave Darion another good run opportunity. The ball came out quick to the backs and Rhys had a good run up the wing. Minety stole the ball though and kicked into space. Myles had read the rule book and went for a 50:22 kick. He aced it and Stroud had an attacking lineout in the Minety 22. Laurie duly won it and went for a driving maul that was illegally stopped. A kick to the corner and a great attacking platform but this time Minety were organised in defence and stole the lineout ball and another scoring chance was lost.

The last few minutes of the game was played out on halfway with no clear chances to either side. The ref was feeling hungry, as were the players so the game was halted with a final shrill of the whistle and Stroud had come up just short.

Full Time: Colts 19 – 21 Minety

Tunnels and debriefs. Plenty of learning opportunities for sure. Hopefully get some more players back next week for the away game at Cheltenham Tigers.

Well played Minety who showed great resolve to battle through the game with only 13 players and no subs and show great determination to come back into the game and earn the lead and then defend it resolutely. We look forward to playing you in the New Year. Luckily this was only a “Friendly League” game so wouldn’t count in the official record books. More touchline banter to the Minety coaches – and even more opportunistic thinking – and we agreed that as they were 2 players short that we could count 2 more points to Stroud so 21-21 apiece. The ref who was the voice of common sense throughout would have none of it and still awarded the victory to Minety.

Off to the bar for lashings of food from the kitchen staff. Yorkshire puds this week. Next time it will be a 3 course meal.
“What’s for pudding?” enquired the players.
“Minty choc chip ice cream” was the answer.

Had enough of Minety and Minty said the match reporter and thankfully the match report was over.