High Scoring Morning

Our latest game welcomed Burnham-On-Sea to the vale. We haven’t had the pleasure of playing our “not so distant” seaside neighbours since the days of miniature rugby when they were always pretty big strong and highly competitive.

The midweek coaching exchanges revealed they, like ourselves, were slightly struggling for numbers. This seems to be a common theme this year amongst a great deal of clubs. We are seeing the increase in speed of the game and physicality as our ruddy cheeked angels begin to gather fluffy top lips and transform at an alarming rate into “know it all” Neanderthals. With that the general impacts are getting bigger and heavier, and because of this an unwanted string of niggles and injuries as well as Mr Concussion who is ever more prevalent and needs to be respected. Obviously, there are a handful of “super” clubs that can boast up to 30 players and will never face this problem and I cannot begin to express how mentally torturous it can sometimes be trying to beg, bribe and scrape a resemblance of a team together by persuading them to turn up on a Sunday morning – and it’s not even cold yet!!! However in my opinion I’d rather have 12 or 14 guys getting a full game than 30 getting 25minutes or less of play a week. As it turned out we had a couple of unexpected arrivals drift in and Burnham had a couple less. Therefore in true “rugby fashion” we decided to have a rolling sub system where 6 of our boys would take turns in trying on a lovely blue and white jersey and an adapted 13 aside match ensured 26 kids got close to an hours rugby development on a sunny Sunday morning………unfortunately “development” isn't always nailed on to be progressive!!!!

As it happens it was almost a carbon copy of the previous week against Yatton. The snoozy gang graciously allowed the visitors a couple of tries head start before realising there was a game going on that needed addressing. The scrum to be fair was strong along with the lineout but unfortunately the fight in the loose was almost none existent. Despite this Burnham were forced deep into their 22 and a charge down by the ever-present McCauly was pounced upon in cat like fashion by skipper Danny Harris. Another 5 minutes of extraordinarily forgettable rugby passed before the Scott express received the ball in space deep in his own half and showed why he is fast becoming one of the deadliest finishers in the team by scorching through and around a number of tackle attempts for a 40yd touchdown. Rudsta fielded the subsequent kick off and did much the same – battering his way up the 5-meter channel to score in the corner. Some more forgettable rugby ensued before Tyler got his second of the day with some educated footwork and another very well taken long distance effort. Burnham hit back with a barracking try under the posts from their burly forwards before we were spared any more torture and the half time whistle was blown.

The half time score was exactly the same as 7 days previous at 26-17. 4 tries to 3 with only some imperious goal kicking from McCauly (standing in for the “gingered” Mac) the real difference flattering the home team. Burnham’s success had come from hard work and team play, whilst our scores had come from their bad tackling. And so, a few “home truths” were poignantly addressed and the second half was a chance to right a few wrongs.

Thankfully things did improve if only marginally and we were treated to some half decent rugby from both sides. However, it was Clevedon who made the most of their opportunities with further tries from Dan, Rudy and Spriggsy glossing over the poor first period. It was the visitors however that finished with a flourish, deservedly grabbing a couple of late scores and in doing so amassing 29 points (the most any side has put past us so far this season – equal with Clifton). And so, final tally 45 – 29.

Burnham had some very strong runners and a good team ethic which did them proud on the day and eventually saw only a couple of tries the difference on a high scoring morning. The fact it was high scoring was unfortunately not down to the amazing attacking interplay from both sides but as in the previous week a nod towards the very poor defence and tackling inclination/technique from a number of players from both teams. It had been a game littered with individual errors and a selfishness that I thought we’d long seen the back of. Please understand that whilst selfishness is most definitely holding on to a ball when a clear and obvious pass can put a teammate in a better position, it isn’t exclusive to this. It is also be being a “passenger” – letting someone else make a tackle that you could have got to first or holding off at the breakdown when you could have been the first to secure or compete for the ball……………...like Macenzzie’s hair, selfishness can come in many different disguises.

And so more questions than answers as we head towards next week’s defining encounter against esteemed guests Bath RFC. Genuinely, if we can put aside the defence of the previous fortnight and bring the brilliance and effort shown at Wellington this won’t be a “one horse race”, as my good mate Paddy McGuiness says “The power is in your hands”. Looking forward to it.