Grubby little opportunists!!!

North Lower – Block L17 – Row 18 – Seat184 was my perfect vantage point to watch England beat another good quality Oz side for the fourth time this season, despite in a post season interview Stephen Moore making no reference to any of the England fixtures; a perfect tell-tale sign when the truth hurts!

In the same vein of the truth hurting, Will Self used the most subtle of eloquent intellect, (of the highest order) to dismantle any remaining self esteem that Nigel Farage had, in this week’s Question Time; a must ‘view’ for the uber leaders amongst you!
‘Will Self says that Nigel Farage and Donald Trump are not great statesmen but 'grubby little opportunists riding on the coattails of history.’

And it’s in the theme of ‘truth hurts’ and ‘grubby little opportunists’ I can now explain the cover photo!!
Simon Ariston Curran, epitomises everything else about Barnes RFC we love…….think of the lone Kamikaze Pilot on his 31st mission………involved, but not committed!!! But Simon does have a conscience and despite previously in the week confirming his absolute availability to Gus, (my own Montgomery!), he was consistent as ever with his ‘no show’……yet his guilt and shame is made worse with self persecution in wearing his club jumper!!

I will let you be the jury…..
Text sent at 16:38…..!!
“Glad u boys won. Had to stay with nephew its a annual event . Long story. Spence saw me in pizza express so probably a photo sent across. F..kin grass. Will get him back….”

Back to more dependable matters, it’s been a really slow start to the season with a lot of disruption to fixtures meaning Harrodian Vets hadn’t played for four weeks, though I have it on good authority a secret training session did take place one Saturday! Thus we have been desperate for a fixture in order to help us shake off the defeat to Esher at the end of November and London Irish Amateurs were to be our much welcomed guests for this Saturday.

As ever Skips has usual preparations all in hand, yet due to a whole host of imponderable circumstantial changes I no longer have to wash my balls using the outside tap, but have now treated myself to full unfettered use of the ‘laundry room’. In fact I did for a minute think wouldn’t it be great to put them in the sacrosanct Miele just for a quick whirl!!! Though, I refrained and instead gave them a good scrub with the equally sacrosanct nail brush….they came up great perfect for Saturdays encounter……Gilbert would be proud….(Gilbert Rhino, NOT Gillette!!!).

We had a fairly good squad of about 22……err sorry 21 – Curran no show! Yet to the delight of Big Al, Sean Gibson, (Al’s fellow lock) was away on family duties! Sean won’t be delighted to know that Al had an excellent game…..more later!

A gentle breeze and some intermittent sunshine, did absolutely nothing at all to dry out the tonnes of goose shit evidently ‘dumped’ across the pitch and as Bob Geldof might say…. ‘do they know it’s Christmas?’ Wish they did and would take flight south, but the goose sh…..err droppings did not impede on perfect warm up preparations. Two O’clock KO descended upon us and Irish were out of the blocks with great form and determined to make it known that they meant business!

From the start they were able to run the ball at us and soon started to ask questions of our defence which looked a little frail. Whilst we absorbed what they threw at us, we were a little unsettled and took about 25 minutes to get into our stride, during which time Irish scored with the opening try and we replied quickly with our try and then they did the same again. Like an annoying room-mate on a three day tour, Irish would just not go away!

Don’t get me wrong, if Guildford RFC are reading this, we were utter rubbish and useless at most aspects of play and really had to raise our game!

So yes, we did a few things right in the lineout and Al was brilliant as was Deano, all benefiting from great darts from Yash. In the scrum we held our own and great effort from both Marty and huge strength from the quiet Darrel. Outside of that we have a lot to work on especially our discipline!

There were a few Barry McGuigan wannabe amongst the Irish side and for some reason they just didn’t like Rich Mayson at 10 and he played like a Magician so they tried to wind him up but all it did was wind the ref up who in turn wound me up so I wound the boys up and they wound the Irish up….I think you get the drift….and that went on till the last minute of play!

In the second half we made better use of our backs and the likes of Morgs, Sam, Dan and Pins just danced all over the Irish who were now deflated, but by far the most spirited contestants we have had for a while. Better still in the Club house, despite the sometimes feisty nature of the encounter, great conversation was had and we warmly bid our friends a great season, because on their day I reckon they could beat any side in this league and I mean that.

And that’s the whole point of this beautiful game, anyone on their day can defy all odds; I learnt today a lot more than I had known about Enzo Ferrari, another example of defying adversity and resonating with all things beautiful!!

Next week we travel away to Guildford for their annual Xmas party and it’s so kind of them to have invited us for a third year on the trot! Indeed if anyone would like to play, please let me know as it seems most of our side are away and two injuries, including yours truly means we will take anyone….except Si Curran!!

Tries: Sam Cross, Pins & Dan x 2 Russ x 1
Cons: Sam x 5

Skips/Finche
11/12/16