Ah Haaaa.....

Well it most certainly has been an eventful week and not least because Cameron is desperate to get rid of the countries stockpile of nearly out of date payload of lethal bombs; will make for interesting conversation with my Saudi client who flies in on Tuesday and insists I meet him yet again in bloody Bayswater……..another story another time……..and Si….. he has three phones!

But on a more serious note, preparing for this week’s clash with Esher was not without its hiccups and a few of our brethren encountered serious enough challenges in their own right for which all of us at Barnes bid you; Dave, James and Eddie our sincerest wishes at this challenging time…the Club House is always there for you. We should also send our very best wishes to Gundog who arguably can never return to normal but best wishes will do him no harm………luv ya x

Returning further south we continue to be blessed with relatively mild weather and I must commend our dear friends at Wansdsworth Borough Council for slaving over the pitches during the week as they were in remarkable form, thank you! Working for an organisation such as a UK government borough council demands an incredibly refined set of skills perhaps amongst them might be loyalty, respect, etiquette, rank & file and above all a commitment to your Leader. Sadly though my friends, as will be revealed later on, not everyone who works for the government observes such deep rooted values!

With Gus now back from Prague, errr Paris, errr Poland normal administration resumed and we had a good quality side confirmed by mid-week with the exception of Marek who needed more time to recover from injury, yet his ‘supporter’ presence on the touch line certainly meant he was still in the team. And when regular faces step aside familiar faces return, so it was fantastic to have Dean Pye aka ‘Horse’ and Rich Mayson run out for us today; we will see more of them I am sure. And another face from the past as Kikki Stowers flew in to say hello………..the Green & Gold is in the blood for ever it seems!

Match day was upon us quicker than Skips could say ‘yes but if you try and see it from my point of view the Chandelier is perfectly fine and only 0.5mm out and that can only be seen from an angle…………..oh f*!@k it never mind’!

Ok so I’m stalling a little as you are all fixated on the score margin and want to know all the gory details, the who, how and which pass when………..!!!
You sadistic bunch of media hungry blood suckers……….go and read the pictures in the Mail to quench your wicked thirst!

I remember many years ago playing for the 2s v a supposedly 3s/4s Ealing side! Ealing 1s and 2s were not playing that day and so the oppo we actually faced bared very little resemblance to a 2s/3s side and pumped us 103 to 5 (or something like that). Trying to mentally stay in the game was our hardest challenge ever. Despite the perceptions of what the score margin might lead you to think Esher did mentally stay in the game and certainly my focus for the boys at half time was to do everything we can to ensure Esher didn’t score and at that we worked hard. Esher well done for sticking at it is what I say. I also know that all Clubs and great sides go through their period of readjustment and I have no doubt Esher will return to the stronger Vets side they are renowned to be.

Perhaps Alan Partridge should join their ranks as he was awash within the Vets today and Skips in true form did everything to get in to character and play the role perfectly!

For those of you familiar with Partridge, making a complete an utter hash of a golden opportunity was often his thing and so Skips felt that a fortuitous pick and go at the base of the ruck was a perfect opportunity……..

No sooner was the ball in my grasp bodies were no longer in my sight and the pitch opened up vast like the Maasai Mara……SLOW MOOOO CAME ON………

THE BREEZE DROPPED..CONDITIONS PERFECT……..60 METERES OF FREEDOOM………..’SHAWSHANK’…….’ESCAPPE TO VICTORY’ MOMENTS…….PLAYERS WATCHING IN SILENCE……..SKIPS HAS MADE A BREAK………….!!!!!!!

But in true selfless style, (yes Darling in case you are reading!!) Skips resumed character and thought how proud Russ, my loyal ‘rank & file’ Vice Captain would be if I off loaded a sublime pass to Rich Mayson who had already scored 3 tries for us!!!!
SLOW MOOOOOO AGAIN……….

THE BALL SPUN ITS WAY THROUGH THE CHILLED AIR BUT SKIPS HADN'T NOTICED THE 6’ TALL ESHER WINGER SPRINT ALL THE WAY FROM FLIPPING MARS TO INTERCEPT IT!!!!!

Silence smashed and the touch line erupts into laughter with chants of ‘DOG BOWL’, (the Vets 2 pint Guinness drinking challis!) as Skips Partridge kicks himself and realises Props only push, lift, grunt and trot….well this Prop does anyway!

Though on a serious note Jayden was sublime at 9, Rich Mayson imperious at 10, Horse happy At 6, Gibbo/Al commanding the lineout, Ed solid at 3, Marty excellent when he came on, Nicky B outstanding, ALL THE BACKS simply awesome. Yash a simply perfect new member of the side and the entire bench magnificent when you came on, but above all……..my loyal Vice Captain in Russ………..hmmmm!

We rest next week then a friendly before we close out 2015 away to Guildford on the 19th……Partridge not invited to that one!!!!
And finally a HUGE well done to the 1s with a great draw at home to a a formidable Bishops Stortford.......well deserved!!

Sleep Peacefully People
Skips/Finche
07825185388

Tries:
Barney x 2, Morgs x 2, Jose x 2, Cris P x 2, Rich M x 3, Russ and Gibbo one each
Cons: Barney x 10.

1 Richard FENECH
2 Yashar ASL
3 Ed STOTT
4 Sean GIBSON
5 Alasdair DAWSON
6 Dean PYE
7 Nick BELLIS
8 Russell BARNES
9 Jayden WALLIS
10 Rich MAYSON
11 Cris PINI
12 Nick MORGANS
13 Jose FERNANDEZ
14 Simon CURRAN
15 James BARNARD
RES
16 James CARLIN
17 Dean STANFORD
18 Nick HAMILTON
19 SLATTS
20 Martin SUTHERLAND
21 Rob ALLEN