Chingford 3rd XV 44 Harlow 4th XV 0

Merit Table 

This was like going back in time, this is what the 4^th team was like 2 years ago, arrived down the club ready to play, 45 minutes later those of us who had turned up set off.  Travelling with 13 players, no phone signals or text messages apparently working in the Harlow area, is not good when off to play the team who are second in the league. Got there and discovered that one person had gone Xmas shopping, one decided on Friday and 2 don’t knows.

Chingford lent us a winger so we had 14, unfortunately he was unable to make up for the ref and linesman who all contributed in their own small way.

Kick off after a complete team reshuffle, Chingford knock on, we stop, Chingford don’t, and the first points are on the board.  This set the scene for the first half, Chingford spinning it wide and using the overlap to score.  I think they scored 6 tries in the first half, only converting one.  Of these one was in touch but both referee and linesman agreed it was a try, Mumbles was not very happy about that as he tackled the player into said touch.  There were some moments of humour, with no linesman on the far side Crabby made a break, two of the Chingford players that he had left standing, indicated he was in touch, lineout.  At this point, I tactfully suggested that if I shouted offside every time Chingford got the ball we could get a penalty, apparently this was not going to happen.  Mumbles fly hacked through towards the try line, a 50-50 sliding tackle (football style using the legs) managed to stop him scoring, not a problem says the ref.

 The one part of the game which was fun was the scrum, a new hooker made the front row wider than it was tall, a combined weight of “a lot” was always going to be interesting.  Second scrum, the loose head shot 3 foot up in the air helped by Chris and started whimpering, not wanting to be left out the hooker joined him, Danny Fitz kept the loose head fully occupied and made sure that the pressure stayed on, at one point his opposite number was heard to say “Your’e going to beat me anyway, please let go of me”.  The front 5 were very effective against their pack, with 15 minutes to go the Chingford coach warned the ref that someone would get hurt in the front row(not anyone in a red shirt says Danny) with 10 mins to go they wanted to go uncontested, strangely for the ref, he did not agree and made them play on. They are going to hurt so much this morning

The problem was the overlap, every time Chingford recycled the ball they span it out to the backs and used the extra player. I had to explain this to Crabby who was a bit upset that they seemed to have an extra player, they did. In the second half they gave us another player whose first action was to pull down the jumper in the lineout, penalty to Chingford,  then arriving at every breakdown and shouting “I’m sealing” punching every Chingford player he could lay his hands on (fair play to him).

The second half saw a valiant defence from Harlow, Chingford only scored twice, the hooker resorted to kicking the ball out of the scrum at every opportunity, although this was only penalised once (didn’t know it was illegal).

Everyone played until they were knackered, the backs did not get a lot of quality ball and Chingford were up quickly to spoil any attacking plays we had.  Aunty and Swampy had their work cut out trying to combat the 3 back row players that Chingford used.  Justin, Mumbles, Rob, Sean Crabby and Hammer all played as if it was a cup final.  The only problem is you can’t defend a two on one attack.

Those that went can all hold their heads high, as Swampy said, you have all done what was asked of you, can’t do more than that.

We need to remember that if you don’t play for the 4^th team you may not get a game at all.  Lets enjoy ourselves more, and worry less.

MOTM- Everyone who played, although Chris, Danny,  Wingco and Andy all helped destroy the front row.

COTM-Everyone who did not play(except those who are injured or did not make themselves available)

To view more match reports - click here