Heavies a little light

In a week when a mad American wannabe politician takes on Papal deity and an equally enthusiastic Etonian wannabe Emperor takes on Europe, one tends to think that anything is possible…..!

Approaching this weekend’s encounter with Richmond Heavies always comes with the requirement for just that little bit more organisation and planning than normal! Making sure everyone has everything they need is always essential as otherwise the boys become agitated. Cris Pini always needs clear directions on timings and time to choose his scarf, Marek needs to jostle client quotes and babysitters, Jose needs to plan his two hour rail journey and of course Si Curran has to book in the plumber; nothing terribly difficult there.

But late on Thursday night Gus and I frequented the Club physio in a quest for some simple strapping tape for the Locks to wear. Quickly confronted by our own version of Himmler, Ken Macrae escorted us off the premises sternly informing us that there was no such tape available for the Vets as the 1s & 2s were far more important than the Vets and how could we possibly be so obtuse in not recognising that fact!

Breaking this news to our two big locks, Sean Gibson and Al Dawson was rather like a scene from Madagascer and the Giraffe in a New York Zoo………..!!

Gus: “Boys you will need to get your own tape and strapping from Boots”

Giraffes: “This is outrageous, we are professionals and we can’t be expected to have to go to Boots for tape, we are……blah blah blah!!!”

Throughout the week Skips couldn’t refrain from sending a few emails to the squad of perceived wisdom and wit; I am sure in the history of mankind the use of material from Micky Flanagan and Mahatma Gandhi for the same purpose has never been conceived, but taking on the Heavies calls for the unimagined!

Saturday couldn’t come sooner and we had a strong squad eager to take on an equally strong Heavies squad, though wind and rain also wanted to join the party and inhibit both sides from playing the style of rugby we were accustom.
With 26 of us crammed into the quaint small changing room the warm up was well and truly on the way as we jostled for socks and shorts that fit and of course the Giraffes strapped themselves with copious amounts of Boots finest! We took to the pitch and continued a well drilled vocal warm up that seemed to have the Heavies, arriving in dribs and drabs, rather bemused what all the fuss was about!
Canadian ref Gary gave us an insight to how both sides should play and with Heavies winning the toss we were set to go and receive their kick off…

BOOM!!!

A year long wait flashed before me and the agony of last year’s loss, seeing Heavies jubilation, our heads hung low, another season gone another opportunity missed……and with that my gut leapt as the ball came flying down to be caught by Sean………..GAME ON!
Heavies followed up fiercely and attached the ruck with intensity, but we recycled and started to move the ball wide. Straight away we were taking the game to them, we were at last, possibly the first time this season, straight in to the game with real hunger. Every time we had the ball in hand we moved it wide and the backs interlinked so well.

Jayden at 9 was immense in every facet of his game controlling ball at the breakdown and putting Marek and Co always in attack. But the Heavies were equally fast and very strong at the breakdown putting us under constant pressure which the ref started to penalise us for.

We were on a rampage though and I cannot salute the backs enough; Rich Mayson sees space that is invisible to most of us and Luke Stack kicked with pin point precision all the time. We were possessed and played with a feverish confidence that has often evaded us. We simply refused to be bullied by the Heavies….why?

Because Eugene was immense and carried the ball into the heart of what Heavies had to offer, because Dean Pye and Russ were relentless in attack and played out of their skins. Because at the lineout we had perfectly worked calls that commanded the majority of our ball as well as Al picking off a few of the Heavies own ball.

For the first 20 minutes or so I think we stunned the Heavies and our attack from any position soon delivered with sublime passes leading to none other than Si Ariston Curran running in a try down a very tight left hand touch line! The conversion was too much for Marek but we were 5 – 0 up and Heavies were now really pissed off!

Oh…….sorry…..! Have I forgot the scrums!!!!

Put simply……and fairly…..we met the Heavies head on and Steff, Steve, Ed and Yash were utterly immense, they packed down at each scrum like it was the first one of the game and whilst we never really drove the Heavies back we managed to hold our own and in doing so removing one of their most powerful weapons.

Half time and some changes which brought on fresh legs allowing Dean, Nicky B, Lewis and Slatts to make their very valid contribution. But Heavies are no fools and they too made some useful younger substitutions which made a difference.
Heavies did have more ball to run with in the second half and we had to work so hard in defence, which we did, we tackled and defended with such determination and a huge special mention goes to Jose who was goliath in the way he defended and contested for ball, he was huge and he closed down the Heavies attack so effectively. And so did Cris Pinni, he probably had his best game ever and despite no tries, he just out run the Heavies.

Early on in the second half we were awarded a penalty and quick thinking from Jayden saw him slice open a sleeping Heavies and he danced past them to score! With the kick too far out for Marek we were ahead 10 – 0 and danger of becoming over excited at the prospect crept in.

Heavies kept the pressure on us and were aided by a frustrated ref who felt we were offside more than we thought and repeatedly penalised us……scrums kept coming one after the other and we absorbed immense Heavies pressure but did not give way. The Lineout gave us control but Heavies started to put us under pressure and a few mistakes crept in.

Then a sequence of penalties close to our try line led the ref to award Heavies a penalty try, but there was no time to absorb the shock, Heavies smelt blood, the innocent lambs from Barnes were wounded at 10 -7 and they believed they could turn us over. I pulled the boys together and we found that much needed composure….we found that resolute belief which hadn’t left our side.
Heavies are a bloody excellent side, they are so savvy at playing the game on and off the ball……holding your shirt for 5 seconds longer just to slow you down…..they are such a cohesive team and deserve every respect in defending against them. We gave them that respect by playing them in the same way they would do to us……we closed them out and tackled like our lives depended on it, we forced their errors, we stifled their scrum, we commanded in the lineout and we believed we could beat this immensely proud and successful team.

Minutes ticked away and one more lineout close to our line, then one more scrum for the final play, Heavies creaked and heaved as they put everything into drive over us but we did not cave in. One more last attack to our line, but they knock on…..it was over…..the drought of three years of not beating the Heavies was over………..Skips had a tear in my eye…….this meant everything to me.

Everything Harrodian was what won this game and it’s the character of special people like Phil Clapp, Ed Drew and Brownie who didn’t get on the park, but were as equally as important as those who played 10, 20, 60 or 80 minutes. We were one squad and fifteen players were stronger for the ten guys on the bench and especially for Gus who has put so much organisational and tactical planning into this fixture; his support to me has been immense.

Afterwards we drank and ate food amongst the many friends we have come to forge at Richmond and their hospitality was second to none. The respect and genuine appreciation for what each club stands for says so much about how special this game is and Richmond RFC really have galvanised something special. Thank you Heavies for being great sports and perfect Gentlemen.
We moved on from the Athletic Ground for quick fair well drinks at the Sun and then an evening of relaxed chat amongst great friends where we were joined by some of our lovely partners, including the very special Tammy……the other immense support to Skips!

Oh and Skips was treated to a soothing massage by the lovely Dawn under the watch full eye of all the other guys who wanted to receive the same attention!
Skips/Finche
21.02.16