Backs guide Forwards

Fellow Barns RFC lovers, here is your weekly dose of what’s really important in life!!!

Of course with the distractions of the Davos ‘bubble’, Trumps idiocy, Global markets in freefall and Clappy posting his amazing Asia Tour all over Facebook, it would be understandable to think that life is all abnormal and full of the unexpected!

Though I guess when you have Si Curran in your team, unexpected becomes normal!

Si has for many years been an integral part of the Clubs humour; creating it, enjoying it and laughing with us in it! Though throughout this time a ‘nickname’ has never really stuck and though he has been the originator of many he has managed to evade one himself!
That drought has now ended and I have no doubt that Si will revel in the varied stories which he will use to explain ‘Ariston’.....though trust me it has nothing to do with being able to put Gemma in an hour long ‘spin cycle’!!!

Of course last week the Vets enjoyed a well earned respite as many of us indulged in the Annual Vets lunch, so perfectly organised by our more than amazing Vets ‘Manger’ in the stature of Angus Graham. Gus does so so much for the Club, for us and for me and our thanks runs deep – THANK YOU!

I also wanted to make a small mention of an aspect close to my heart. Last Friday I managed to sneak in a few very cold bitters as I watched the spectacle of Barnes RFC 2s take on the mighty Richmond 2s – Vikings under a Friday night floodlit RosslynPark 4G pitch. The Vikings are unbeaten in almost 4 years and despite the utter quality of our own 2s they retained their position at the top of the Canterbury Shield Table. Our 2s are an amazingly talented bunch of lads who have been nurtured in to a great side by the likes of Spence, Julius and of course Jamie. I am immensely proud to have once played, captained and managed the 2s and in recent years have always nagged Spence.....”Mate really fancy a run out for the 2s.....give us 15 mins!?” The reply would always be.......”Finch you must be mad.....NO!!”...........I now understand what Spence means!!!

I urge you to find a moment to spend some time with the lads next time you are around; ranked 4th in Canterbury Shield Division 1 makes them more special than Rhino with Gillette agreeing a sponsorship deal!!
Enough of this nostalgia I hear you cry!!!

Hang on...........one more bit!

Youngest daughter, Annabella 14, is Captain of her Netball Team and after being banned a whole year from the court, I was granted a permission to return to the court tram lines on Saturday morning to spectate only!!! Not coach, not bellow commands across the sports hall, not lecture in a sport I have little idea in!!! This Saturday over exuberant Skips nearly picked up another ban, thank God they won 20-16 otherwise she would have slated me........”Dada stop going on about flipping Richie Macaw..........its Netball you Muppet!!!!!”
And so back to rugby...........

This weekend saw us away to London Irish and as I explained to the Boys midweek, the ‘luck of the Irish’ is a dangerous thing to play with and so we had to be on our guard! All in all we were a good strong squad and arrived at palatial grounds with wonderful changing rooms to envy, (something we always talk about which has become a ritual!) Weather had become mild and no rain in sight, so perfect conditions for an Ariston to run a cycle that would cause a spin or two!! Sorry.........lame I know...........almost as bad as a Chairman Joke!!

With great organisation we were out on the pitch with a good 40 minute warm up ahead of us and with all the chat, warm up and preparation behind us were keen to get under the ball from our own kick off............
And you see this is the bit when I do remember joining the M3 munching on my third pack of Crisps as heated seats soothed already stiffening aches, but I just can’t remember the precise detail surrounding the manner in which we won the game! But here is my best stab at it.........

Ed had an excellent game with a lot of caries in the loose and Big Al was offered up more ball at 2 than Sean,(at 4) normally affords him; they were both excellent in the set piece and around the park. We ran a lot of ball wide and were orchestrated to perfection by Marek at 10 and Jayden at 9. Marek had been away for some weeks and other than forgetting much of the little English language he had learnt the break seemed to have done him good. The same could also be said for Marty at Loose Head who played really well yet still can’t speak any English coherently but looks as fit as ever.

We dominated in the scrum and mauled well from some great lineout ball, though Irish defence had everything to give and really made us work hard for the ball. The score line does little justice and other than two early tries for both sides we only really started to feel as if we were winning late in to the second half.

The forwards worked bloody hard and the backs looked bloody lovely especially from grass height........I love that in our backs........dependable!

Great to see younger Lewis come off the bench late on, slot in perfectly and score....Neat!
Of course not all is perfect....we still seem to frustrate ourselves and rush things too much almost in a panic.........Skips has been pondering on this dilemma for a while now and has found a cure that will help the lads approach life’s challenges with a real respect for patience and not rushing things.......More on that in good time!

Irish did have the last laugh though and ensured our showers were ice cold while I’m convinced they were turning pink in their steam Jacuzzi, though a good feed and great Guinness put amends to that as did their warm friendly and very genuine hospitality; a great side in many ways to be honest.

Home ward bound we all were as news of another epic 1s fixture crept through, 17-17 away to Old Elthamians.......EXCELLENT!
The side was:

Forwards: Ed, Yash, Skips, Gibbo, Big Al, Deano, Nick B, Russ, Marty
Backs: Jayden, Frodo, Marek, Cris P, Morgs, Jose, ARISTON, Nick H, Lewis, Slatts
Tries: Cris, Morgs, Jose, Russ and Lewis
Cons: Marek x4

Next week we rest and then three interesting league fixtures on the trot!
Skips/Finche
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