Bucks Get Off to Flyer at Randalstown
Grosvenor 4th XV took to the field for the first time this season against our good friends at Randalstown. The familiar face of the Town coach was aglow as he implored his charges to take the game to Grosvenor from the start and certainly during the pre match warm up they moved about the park, eager to please their stalwart coach.
As the first half kicked off the physicality of the packs was evident to see. Grosvenor had several young players on the pitch mixed with the return of some more experienced hands and after some probing runs from the Grosvenor backs the break through came when young Stoops barged over from close range for the first try which was converted to leave the score 7-0. Town tried to respond but it soon became clear that they were not to have the pace out wide to match the men from Belfast. Grosvenor moved the ball again and from some sterling work from the pack player coach Mikey Morris popped up to go over for the second try which was converted to put the score at 14-0. Any ideas that Grosvenor had though that the Town men would lie down was soon knocked out of them when Town moved the ball to their inside centre who blasted his way through the Grosvenor attempted tackles to go over under the posts, 14-7. The Town coach commented that this was why last years hooker was playing in the backs! Grosvenor, shaken by the well taken score, began to take a firm grip of themselves and the game. After some well chosen words from the side lines they started to try and put some phases together and were rewarded when Lyle McFarland ploughed over for the try, 19-7. Some stout defending on their line from Town repelled a Grosvenor rolling maul however further tries from Patches and the evergreen Phil Cousins, both converted by Marc Brown, left the score at half time as 33-7.
The second half started with Town playing with the increasing wind at their backs, however they failed to take full use of it defensively and spent most of the second half camped in their own half; the pace of the Grosvenor back line stopping them from making any really telling breaks. Early tries soon followed from the impressive Stuart Smyth, Patches and Marc Brown after some superb footwork rapidly pushing the score to 48-7. Town never lost their spirit or discipline but their fitness began to fade. After a bullocking run from the Town flanker into the Grosvnor 22 a knock on allowed second half substitute Alan Harper to pick up the loose ball and take off on a run which saw him go over under the posts, 55-7. It was good to see Alan back after almost two years away through injury and work commitments. Grosvenor really started to cut loose and take advantage of the tired tackling from Town. Young Stoops went over for his second to leave the score 62-7. Two tries from Rob Butler, playing his first game at centre (though not his last), seperated by a second from Alan Harper and two conversions left the final score at 81-7.
Town, as always, were great hosts and the game was played with a great spirit. We wish them well for the season ahead.
JUG WATCH – in keeping with their proud history of hospitality a jug was produced to the grateful visitors by the hosts.
Grosvenor RFC – Setting the standard for rugby clubs in Belfast
2nd XV Make Cracking Start to New Campaign The game kicked off at Deramore Park at 2:30pm.
No sooner than 2:33pm, after a lovely off the top line-out the backs opened gaps in the middle of the park with a perfectly executed loop and miss pass. After two phases Kochy fed Aki an offload that Israel Dagg would be proud of to put Aki down first on the score board. The conversion was from out wide which did not find the inside of the posts.
Grosvenor immediately had the upper hand, they looked more physical around the breakdown and each player had a hunger for the action. None more so than Matty (Ali Baba) turtlehead, who anticipated the next phase of play beautifully to get his filthy, thieving hands on the ball only to dislodge it from the unsuspecting Harlequin. Matty showed his pick-pocketing skills all day. Once he stripped a player of the ball, his socks, gum-shield and a gold tooth filling all in the same ruck.
Sunno the strangler. Throughout the day Sunno displayed a great skill in the tackle, smothering the ball and man at the same time whilst the cry for ‘choke choke choke’ echoed around him. This resulting in a scrum for Grosvenor on many occasions.
Grosvenor were relentless on the attack. A smart kick over the top would have seen winger Aki in for his second try had his bicep tape not restricted his arms from actually grasping the ball. An opportunity missed for Grosvenor but they were still on the charge.
At 2:47pm Grosvenor’s No.8 Dbo ran in a fantastic try after plowing through the Quins defense with a strong spin and hand-off putting GRFC two tries up. No.10 Teesy missed another conversion. This one not so excusable as it was directly under the posts. Yet Teesy proved very efficient kicking out of hand and his tactical kicking was fabulous.
The third try came from our new recruit Connor at second row. He showed great finishing skills as he supported the ball carrier very well the entire match. This try came as result a quick tap penalty from our own 22, zipping through a number of hands to find the space and see Connor gracefully run in a great team try. Conversion was good. 17-0 Grosvenor.
Quins came on the attack as they could see their fates unravel in front of them. Grosvenor continued their well drilled defense. The ball was spilled by the Quins center only to be scooped up by Kochy and quickly moved into the hands of his fellow Center Jamie Meaklim. As the foot race began from GRFC 22 to the Quins try line, it was evident that Meaks was not amused at the fast paced Quins second row in hot pursuit. Fear was in the eyes of the once youthful center who’s legs were quaking with every stride. As a rabbit darts in several directions when being chased by a fox, so did Jamie, he made it to the line exhausted. In his defense he continued the game with a great performance. conversion good. 24-0
The pack played terrifically all day. The next try came from a well rehearsed line-out move.The wind made life a little tricky for Hooker Mark Cartmill at times, but he adjusted his throws beautifully to hit the target each time. As the pack mauled over the line with Cartmill at the rear, he so elegantly dropped on the ball to make the score line 29-0.
The Strangler Sunno choked the life and soul out of a poor Harlequin to give Grosvenor an attacking scrum. After a few passages of play he found himself beating the fullback and going over the line to put his mark on the score board. 34-0 . The back row were in particular a force to be reckoned with. Strangler Sunno, Ali Baba and Boris Johnson’s inspiration D.Bo at No.8. All three men had an outstanding game.
The second half started promising with a long 30 yard return from the restart as the GRFC boys ran it through the hands up field. This was then finished off by D.Bo as he unleashed a beast within to shrug 2-3 tackles, sell a deceptive dummy and exhume a burst of pace we have not seen in the young man in many moons. Long may it continue.
Opportunities were beginning to slip by as the GRFC handling depleted. Game-play started to slow as silly errors crept in. A sense of urgency was lost and GRFC became complacent. In fact at one stage winger Aki was caught short of the line by a covering 4ft tall, tubby prop. Aki claims the prop possessed ‘deceptive pace.’
After a series of scrums in the Quins 22 area, GRFC received a Penalty which was tapped quickly and touched down by Kochy. 41-0
The backs ran the same successful loop, miss pass move off the top of a line out to open the Quins defense like a rusty gate. Tees made great ground to find winger Ben Cord with a slick off load. With the ball in hand, Ben showed his lightning pace and skill to find the touchline. The try was aesthetically pleasing which heard a great roar from the sideline. 46-0
GRFC skills picked up again, much to the dismay of the exhausted Quins side. Nice handling took an attack to the Quins 22 which was finished off by Kochy. At this stage the side line supporters were impressed with Aki’s ‘off the ball’ sprinting. 51-0
The match ended 51-0 breaking the half century against any Harlequins side is a promising prospect for the season ahead. The team displayed great discipline and teamwork. Some very good performances from many players in particular Teesy at 10, Sunno and Matty (Ali Baba) turtlehead. But the man of the match goes to the revitalized DBo as he worked hard to get to the breakdowns, digging deep to find the strength for some marvelous solo efforts in attack. Bravo DBo!!! Well deserved win and try!
The physios Cat and Imo were both there at one stage. The color of their nail varnish eludes me as their very radiance was a distraction. Luckily no injuries for GRFC, one Quin did get a bang on the loaf, Cat diagnosed a concussion, we think he will pull through.
The above is an interpretation of actual events. Some facts may be enhanced for entertainment purposes.
Grosvenor RFC – Setting the standard for rugby clubs in Belfast.
