Bexley III 24 Moles 5
On a glorious day for rugby and after a weather enforced gap of over two months, the Moles made a short trip up the A2 to play their first game of 2014 at Bexley.
Another strong Moles squad had been assembled and confidence was high in the two-roomed changing facility awash with the familiar scent and haze of Deep Heat. This confidence was taken onto the field and in the early exchanges honours were largely even between the two sides.
The Moles were starting to settle into the match after enjoying a period of solid possession when an uncharacteristic error by 10, Andy Dadson, reminiscent of the Denver Bronco's Quarter Back Peyton Manning's error in the first play of the recent Superbowl game, led to a Bexley player kicking and collecting the ball to draw first blood.
Another Bexley breakaway shortly afterwards saw them extend their lead further. The Moles collected together behind the posts more than slightly shell-shocked at how the confident start had unravelled so quickly. However in true Moles/GRFC spirit heads did not go down and continued hard work in the contact area and strong ball carrying by Matt Tibbles, 'Mole of the Match' Oaf, Jobbo and Toks ultimately led to some delightful rugby involving 'Big' Brian Williams, Brian Raynor and finally, wing Aaron Raynor to get the Moles deservedly onto the score sheet. Unfortunately the wind blew Aaron's subsequent conversion narrowly wide.
Now well and truly back in the game, the Moles kicked on to enjoy an extended period of posession in the Bexley 22. Surely it was only a a matter of time before the Moles closed the gap further? But Bexley, who defended well throughout the match, held out and punished the Moles for not making the most of their posession and pushed up the the park to pressure the Moles into conceding a penalty 5 metres from their line. The ball was ajudged not to have been put in straight at the resultant Bexley line out and with the put in at a 5 metre scrum and the referee called 'last play' it was looking as if the Moles might get away with it. Alas, it was not to be with the scrum going against the head and Bexley finally making it over the line to score. Half-Time 17-5.
The second half saw the usual wholesale changes that is 'part and parcel' of Moles rugby but nonetheless the match reverted back to the evenly matched contest seen in the early part of the first half. Again the Moles made deep forays into the Bexley half but were unable to turn pressure into points. Late in the second half as the older bones of the Moles began to tire, the youthful Bexley back line got to work again and tightened the pressure. Despite the usual heroic efforts, most notably a try saving tackle by Lloydy inside the 22 on a rampaging Bexley centre, the Moles didn't quite have it in the tank to keep a clean sheet in second half and eventually the Bexley 8 broke the gain line to place the ball down between the posts. The straight-forward kick to follow was duly converted to make the final score 24-5.
Always disappointing not to win but as usual there were lots of positives to take from the game. Merv 'Baa Baa' Fowler and Ian 'Oily' Martin were awarded with their Moles ties back at the club as one or two jugs were shared and arguments ensued about who was going to feel the most battered and broken the following morning. Proof yet again that the Moles is something much more than just a rugby team!
Line up: Elvis, El Tel, Brucey, Oaf, Big Bri, Ork, Posty, Matt Tibbles, Baa Baa, Andy Dadson, Toks, Jobbo, Aaron Raynor, Mick Terry, Brian Raynor, Cabin Boy, Neil Martin, Velcro, Oily, Lloydy, Shotgun, Gerry Keenan, Adam Jenkins
On a glorious day for rugby and after a weather enforced gap of over two months, the Moles made a short trip up the A2 to play their first game of 2014 at Bexley.
Another strong Moles squad had been assembled and confidence was high in the two-roomed changing facility awash with the familiar scent and haze of Deep Heat. This confidence was taken onto the field and in the early exchanges honours were largely even between the two sides.
The Moles were starting to settle into the match after enjoying a period of solid possession when an uncharacteristic error by 10, Andy Dadson, reminiscent of the Denver Bronco's Quarter Back Peyton Manning's error in the first play of the recent Superbowl game, led to a Bexley player kicking and collecting the ball to draw first blood.
Another Bexley breakaway shortly afterwards saw them extend their lead further. The Moles collected together behind the posts more than slightly shell-shocked at how the confident start had unravelled so quickly. However in true Moles/GRFC spirit heads did not go down and continued hard work in the contact area and strong ball carrying by Matt Tibbles, 'Mole of the Match' Oaf, Jobbo and Toks ultimately led to some delightful rugby involving 'Big' Brian Williams, Brian Raynor and finally, wing Aaron Raynor to get the Moles deservedly onto the score sheet. Unfortunately the wind blew Aaron's subsequent conversion narrowly wide.
Now well and truly back in the game, the Moles kicked on to enjoy an extended period of posession in the Bexley 22. Surely it was only a a matter of time before the Moles closed the gap further? But Bexley, who defended well throughout the match, held out and punished the Moles for not making the most of their posession and pushed up the the park to pressure the Moles into conceding a penalty 5 metres from their line. The ball was ajudged not to have been put in straight at the resultant Bexley line out and with the put in at a 5 metre scrum and the referee called 'last play' it was looking as if the Moles might get away with it. Alas, it was not to be with the scrum going against the head and Bexley finally making it over the line to score. Half-Time 17-5.
The second half saw the usual wholesale changes that is 'part and parcel' of Moles rugby but nonetheless the match reverted back to the evenly matched contest seen in the early part of the first half. Again the Moles made deep forays into the Bexley half but were unable to turn pressure into points. Late in the second half as the older bones of the Moles began to tire, the youthful Bexley back line got to work again and tightened the pressure. Despite the usual heroic efforts, most notably a try saving tackle by Lloydy inside the 22 on a rampaging Bexley centre, the Moles didn't quite have it in the tank to keep a clean sheet in second half and eventually the Bexley 8 broke the gain line to place the ball down between the posts. The straight-forward kick to follow was duly converted to make the final score 24-5.
Always disappointing not to win but as usual there were lots of positives to take from the game. Merv 'Baa Baa' Fowler and Ian 'Oily' Martin were awarded with their Moles ties back at the club as one or two jugs were shared and arguments ensued about who was going to feel the most battered and broken the following morning. Proof yet again that the Moles is something much more than just a rugby team!
Line up: Elvis, El Tel, Brucey, Oaf, Big Bri, Ork, Posty, Matt Tibbles, Baa Baa, Andy Dadson, Toks, Jobbo, Aaron Raynor, Mick Terry, Brian Raynor, Cabin Boy, Neil Martin, Velcro, Oily, Lloydy, Shotgun, Gerry Keenan, Adam Jenkins