Outgunned

The hotly anticipated Christmas showdown with our favourite Bristolians couldn’t have looked more tantalising ……………on paper.

The two squads have been on a similar learning curve over the years but when the final whistle has blown it’s the seasider’s that have edged it on every occasion. Last year’s floodlit battle was a tremendous game and the Bedminster outfit were “pipped” once again by the slimmest of margins. This year their recent results in the notoriously tough Glous Cup suggested their form was soaring and to be fair they didn’t disappoint. It seemed that the “Plainers” were sick of being second best and the years of hurt and near misses had built up to boiling point!!!!

You just can’t coach desire.

An extreme example of desire is Irelands historic win over record breaking New Zealand. Fuelled by the tragedy of Anthony Foleys untimely death Ireland were untouchable that day in Chicago. Munsters remarkable turnaround in fortunes can only be attributed to the same reason. The team that wants it more usually wins. This is very simplistic and of course there’s a thousand other cogs that give a team the tools to perform, but in my book “Hellbent Desire” is somewhere near the top of the tree. Desire to tackle harder, run faster put your body on the line for the good of the team……..as coaches we ask for it and try and light the touch paper, but it actually comes from somewhere within the individuals themselves. A rousing speech, huddle or act of bravery can cement and encourage desire across the team but it’s the players that have to find it, feel it and spread it. Gone are the days of telling the props you’ve got “compromising information” regarding their sister!!!!!! Gone are the days of fabricating a story about what their fly half said about your flankers mother!!!!! And sadly, also gone are the days where coaches had free reign to headbutt, slap and thump players to gain the required “match temperament” !!!!!! Fondly remembered by some, but thankfully gone.

41 – 0 seems a pretty damning result, but it really wasn’t all that bad. We did ok when we had the ball, we just didn’t have it very often. Some of the tackling was actually amongst the bravest I’ve ever witnessed from the Clevedon boys. The defence of big singular tackles stopped players but sadly not the attack – a more disciplined and organised defence would have fared better. In attack, we were good but Broad plain were more than up to the defensive task and were miles quicker to the breakdown forcing numerous turnovers and the opportunity to attack a scattered unorganised field.

Despite Broad Plains huge amount of possession, at half time we were somehow only 12 points adrift. A rousing chat gave hope of a second half reaction and the hope the Bemmy Boys had taken the foot off the gas feeling the job was done. No such luck, they were in no mood for easing up and if anything improved their energy and vigour beyond belief. Two quick tries effectively ended the contest and the remaining 20 mins became one way traffic and a comprehensive defeat by a rampant Broad Plain who quite rightly relished every minute.

This was a great result for all concerned. For Broad Plain who have endured so many undeserved close defeats over the years to win in such cavalier style. And for Clevedon who needed a result like this to highlight the frailties in their game and to stare high octane desire in the face.

Maybe it’s Clevedon’s turn to slip on the bridesmaids outfit for a while as Broad Plain have given us the blueprint to follow.