Colts show great resolve in another tough game

It was Remembrance Sunday. Time to think back of the sacrifices made by others. It was therefore very apt that the visitors to Fromehall were from Royal Wootton Bassett which had been honoured with the Royal title after their exemplary support for the repatriation of fallen and injured service personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan. Both teams lined up and the silence was impeccably honoured as always.

Remembering back is normally a good thing, but the Colts were trying not to remember what happened the week before where they ran out of players as the injuries mounted. This week we had a new lineup strategy. Don’t use backs as most of those are injured. Play the forwards anywhere they feel able to contribute as only 4 recognised backs available in the squad of 15. 6 starters were missing and other players were out of position. Today would be a challenge, or in “leadership speak” – an opportunity to impress. Never waste a pandemic was the buzzword in business circle. Never waste an injury crisis was the buzz around the Stroud team chat.

Wootton were wearing black like the Kiwis. We had to try and get the psychological advantage. We had new shirts. Were they green like the Irish and could we repeat their famous victory against the odds? Nope they were blue and white. That wasn’t going to help. Parent Chris went onto social media to rustle up some more players – preferably those from Irish descent. That failed as Ryanair didn’t have any flights from Dublin landing at Aston Down gliding centre.

Coaches Jane and Jo used their own imagination to help. England had a great full back called Freddie Steward that might be available. He was wrapped up in cotton wool by Eddie Jones though and not released to us. We went for our swiss army knife flexible Freddie #2 – Flanker to Centre to Prop to Full Back.

Parents Chris and Phil wanted to contribute and went through the spare kit box and found some boots and some XXL shirts and shorts from the 1980s – last time they played competitive rugby ironically. They pulled them on, covered their greying beards with mud, applied 16 tubes of deep heat and ran onto the pitch to contribute. Before the embarrassment of failing the refs age checks medic Delia advised that they were not match fit and would only risk injuring themselves, assuming they could get within 5 metres of these pacey kids.

So 15 players of correct age it was in all manner of new positions. What could go wrong?

Forwards: Ben, Freddie, Ryan, Laurie, Darion, Stoner, James, Mackenzie
Backs: Lewis, Myles, Beau, Jake, Jonty, Gab, Freddie
Subs: Callum (arrived ready for 2nd half after seeing the call to arms)

Stroud kicked off and Royal Wootton Bassett (RWB) knocked on. They were still laughing at Phil and Chris in their 118 looking outfits (remember the advert?). So we did have the psychological advantage after all. Stroud won the scrum in the RWB22 and attacked left. It was looking good for a try in the corner but RWB were stout in defence and won a penalty at the breakdown. They kicked long and missed touch and Freddie@15 emulated his England namesake with a great swerving run back. Then Ben and Stoner both had punishing runs but again another penalty was awarded to RWB. Their kick again missed touch but Stroud knocked on so RWB had a scrum in the Stroud half that went to waste as they knocked on.

Stroud went heavy in the scrum. 11 players lined up. The ref reminded 3 of them that they were relegated to the backs division so Stroud went conventional with an 8 man shove. And powerful it was – RWB were pushed backwards and Stroud earnt a penalty that Myles kicked expertly to touch. Ryan won the lineout and the backs were let loose by Lewis’ fast hands. A lovely looping move with Myles, Beau and Jake sucked in defenders. Then Laurie and Ryan trucked up with punishing runs. A diagonal kick just missed the winger so RWB had an escape. They won their lineout and showed their own attacking intent with a great move to the left, mimicking what Stroud had done to them 60 seconds earlier. Jonty put in a try saving tackle but RWB offloaded in contact and their winger squeezed up the line for the 1st score – totally against the run of play. The kick was missed as Stroud licked their wounds and vowed to come back stronger.

Myles aced a great hanging kickoff that RWB had to bundle into touch. They won the Stroud lineout though and attacked quickly. First hooker Freddie was there with a punishing tackle, next it was James with a classic chop tackle that caused a knock-on. Stroud wasted the subsequent scrum victory with a loose pass to ground that RWB picked up and attacked down the right. A forward pass stopped them from scoring but it was back for a penalty on half way and a 10 minute trip to the bin for Beau. RWB kicked into the Stroud 22 and won their lineout. Their backs and forwards attacked in waves but were kept under control by great tackling from Jake, Myles, Stoner and Darion. In fact all the Stroud forwards were contributing to the defensive effort – mainly because that’s all we had on the pitch ! Even Lewis at 9 became an honorary forward with the effort he was putting in and flanker sized tackles on the big Wootton runners. It was just a matter of time though as RWB showed great composure to keep the ball alive and win the ruck breakdown and squeeze a try into the left corner. An excellent conversion from wide made it a 12-0 lead.

The next passage of play was shared equally between both teams – unfortunately in the Stroud 22 mainly !. Highlights were a great clearing box kick from Lewis and Laurie putting in a try saving tackle. RWB were camped on the Stroud line and trying to drive over. Darion stole the ball to save a try and then the ref called maul and Stroud lost the ball to RWB. They won the scrum 5 and attacked right. New player Gab showed great skills to track the runner and time his tackle to perfection and force him into touch. Stroud knocked on the lineout under pressure from the RWB jumpers who were winning the aerial battle – quite apt as they had an airbase close by. RWB went to the ground game and won the scrum, attacked left. Beau and Jake slowed down the attack with powerful tackles but eventually Wootton worked an overlap and scored another well worked try down the left flank. Another good conversion of the post pushed the lead out to 19-0.

Stroud needed to score quick to get back into the game. The final quarter of the 1st half was again a battle of lineouts scrums and penalties with RWB winning the territory battle and Stroud winning the tackle count - Myles and Stoner leading the way. If the ball got out wide then the RWB runners were kept in check by Gab and Jonty on the wings, and if RWB cut back inside they were met by #8 sized tackles from #8 Jake (wearing 13) and #8 Mackenzie who was wearing the #8 shirt. Jake was in full tackle mode making back to back tackles on multiple occasions. RWB realised that going out wide through the backs was a waste of effort so came back into the forward pack but this was also nullified with front-rowers Freddie, Ryan and Ben forming the 1st line of defense and if that was breached then the back rowers and locks were nullifying the Wootton attacks. Eventually the ref tired of the defensive stalemate and blew for the half.

Half Time: Colts 0 – 19 Royal Wootton Bassett

Callum had made it to Fromehall and came on as a 2nd half sub for James who had run and tackled himself into the ground and needed a well earnt rest.

RWB kicked off and Laurie ran the ball back strongly. Myles then went aerial with a long kick that Jonty chased down well. RWB kept the ball alive until Freddie (hooker) forced the ball loose with another great tackle. Stroud attacked back but the ball went loose so RWB had a scrum that they duly won. Wootton then showed great hands to attack left and right and score a well worked try and subsequent conversion. 26-0 but Stroud hadn’t let their heads drop and would compete to the end.

RWB knocked on the kickoff and Stroud won the resulting scrum with a great forward shove. Darion ran the ball strongly and then won a penalty that was kicked to the 22. Freddie’s throw found Laurie and this setup a driving maul that made 15 metres until RWB gave away a penalty. Stroud went back to their strength and another Laurie catch and drive. Then Darion went Rhino and again RWB infringed the same. 3rd time lucky we hoped. This time we did cross the whitewash but were held up so it was a goal line dropout and the opportunity was wasted.

The next few minutes was shared in the middle of the pitch. Gab showed his combative running style up the wing to earn a penalty. Lineout time so Laurie time. The backs attacked right but another loose pass wasted another opportunity. RWB got into the Stroud half and looked to be on another scoring move but Stoner somehow wrestled the ball lose in the tackle and set the backs off left. Great hands got the ball out to Jake and an overlap was waiting for a run to the try line but the ref called it back so he could issue a yellow card to the Wootton prop and deny Stroud the advantage they had worked so hard to get. It would have been 7 points but instead we had a penalty on our own 22. Stroud kicked upto halfway and won their lineout but momentum was lost.

The game settled down to another fair sharing of uncontested scrums and contested lineouts. Darion stole a RWB lineout. Callum had a bullocking run. Jonty made good yardage up the wing. Myles and Beau ran a great looping move and full back Freddie attacked well. Then Laurie and Darion both made good yardage and pushed Wootton back into their 22 and we all got excited as a try beckoned. RWB denied us the pleasure though and forced a Stroud knockon. RWB won their scrum but Stoner jarred the ball loose to earn a scrum in the RWB22.

Stroud won the scrum (contested again after yellow return) and attacked through the backs. Beau kicked and Jonty recovered it out wide and was tackled just short. Laurie went Rhino but RWB held strong. The ball came out to Ben who showed his Minch moves and looked to have scored but again he was denied a metre short. Callum and Ryan supported well to win the ruck and the ball came back right and Laurie was stopped again. This time Mackenzie went Rhino and the #8 forced himself over for a try, but he had 7 other forwards latched onto him which just shows how much effort the forward pack put into that try and refusing to give in. Great team spirit! Myles with a good kick and Stroud were back in it at 7-26, or as I prefer to call it a drawn game of 7-7 in the 2nd half.

The ref had obviously read last weeks match report and sportingly declared next try wins. This fired Stroud up even more. RWB kicked off and knocked on the kickoff. Stroud won the scrum and attacked left looking for the winning try. Wootton saw the threat and intercepted the ball, quickly turned defence into attack and scored up the right. Now we know what it feels like when Will does it for us! Wootton missed the conversion but had scored the next try and were winning the 2nd half 12-7.

The ref checked his watch and was kind to us and gave us 1 more chance to get 7 points and declare ourselves 2nd half victors. RWB weren’t so sporting and knocked on the kick-off to deny us the opportunity so the ref blew for full time.

2nd Half score: Colts 7 – 12 Royal Wootton Bassett
Full Time: Colts 7 – 31 Royal Wootton Bassett
Overall score (halves won): Colts 0 – 2 Royal Wootton Bassett

However I spun this Wootton were still the deserved victors.

Both teams clapped each other off the pitch to show the excellent spirit the game was played in. Wootton even showed their appreciation of the ref by jostling him down the tunnel. Spotting an opportunity (others would call it clutching at straws) the match reporter asked the ref if that was an infringement of the Laws and could Stroud be awarded the victory on a technicality? The ref laughed it off - in exchange he said at least he wouldn’t report Stroud for trying to get the 118 twins Phil and Chris onto the pitch in their 1980s outfits (to see them warming up here' s a link to the video)

So against the odds Stroud had competed well against the All Blacks, sorry Wootton. Heads had never dropped and they competed to the end. Many thanks to the players for playing out of position. Hopefully in next few weeks we will get some of the injured players back and can get back to winning ways and ready ourselves for the 2nd half of the season. Remember its still friendlies until Xmas and then we enter the GRFU league competition.

Everyone went off to the clubhouse to enjoy the catering of the kitchen staff. Lashings of Chilli with garlic bread, rice and tortilla chips. Many thanks to Ben’s parents for doing a cracking job on the catering front. Catering rota for the rest of the season will be issued soon and then parents can negotiate weekend/parent swaps where appropriate.