There have been lots of rumours, and counter rumours, about what Esher have or have not been doing pre-season, but if there were any doubts in any team in this league about their intentions before Saturday, then after last weekend’s demolition derby they should have been removed. Without doubt Esher are going to be up there pushing for promotion, I don’t know how they slipped up against Redruth the previous week, but this Esher have got to be potential National 2 League Champions. The smashed Barnes 34-61 and will frighten many of the sides they play this season.

Esher were bigger, quicker and much more disciplined than Barnes last weekend. Our afternoon went from bad to worse from the kick-off, two yellow cards back to back for the home team meant that Esher had carte blanche to rip into us, and punch through the holes in our defence, tackling was optional for both teams all game it seemed! Back to 15 we did come into the game at last, and three trys form Nick Van Buuren, Josh Davies and Danny Ruddock, with a couple of conversions thrown in from Josh Hammett brought Barnes back into contention at the break, trailing only by 9 points.

During the half time break, the gathered throng would have been hopeful of a second-half where Barnes would draw level and overtake Esher. All hope was abandoned only two minutes into the second period and, with twenty minutes to go, it was effectively game over as Esher scored again to lead 19-40.

Robbie Martey pulled one back for Barnes, and with Josh Hammett converting both the extras and a penalty, briefly the green and gold light shined brightly as we closed the deficit to 29-41 but I am afraid Esher still had plenty left in the tank and drove it over us to notch up three more trys. A consolation try by Alex Hind spared us few blushes, and Esher won more than convincingly 34-61.

This week the boys will be desperate to bounce back, and they travel to Redruth, one of the toughest places to play in the league. Despite us winning there for the first time ever, it will not be lost on the players that Esher failed to win there two weeks previously. There are just no easy games in this league. It is relentless, week after week, for the whole season.

But Barnes always fare best in adversity, cometh the tough game cometh the players, ready to step up and prove everyone wrong. I am sure this weekend will be just the same. Come on Barnow, let’s get that first win on the board!

Elsewhere the 2nd XV and the Ladies did not brighten the Barnow mood.

The 2’s has a big squad to pick from, but it took us a long time to work out how to play together, and maximise our talent. Unlike the 1st XV game, Coach Paul Spencer felt we could, and should have. But we didn’t, and lost 23-35 in the end. Whilst a loss is a loss, we can take some heart from the good phases we had in the game. If we can put those together for the whole game, then we will have a very tasty 2nd XV.

On Sunday, the Ladies played valiantly against a talented London Welsh Ladies XV, despite the effort we lost 29-0 at Old Deer Park.

So it is now time to draw a line in the sand after our disappointing weekend.

Let’s now look forward to this weekend, and to Barnow bouncing back with brilliant performances across the board.

Here are the weekend's games:

• Redruth 1st XV vs Barnes 1st XV - 3 pm KO

• Barnes 2nd XV vs Richmond Vikings - 3 pm KO

• Barnes Occies vs Battersea Ironsides 3rd XV - 3pm KO

None of these games are in any way easy!

The 1st XV know how difficult it is to win at Redruth, but they did do so last season, our first time ever. The 2’s entertain the might Richmond Vikings and the Occies have a tough encounter against Battersea Ironsides.

Bring it on is what I say.

Bring you’re a game Barnow, play hard and play in the original spirit that we are so proud of at Barnes Rugby Club.

Onwards and Upwards!

Michael “Rhino” Whitfield - Chairman Barnes RFC