The Men’s 1st XV took on newly promoted Colchester, winning relatively comfortably 45-28 after a dominant 26-0 first half display. The match report is below. Our Women had a friendly at Chiswick on Sunday against Hitchin, playing on their 4G pitch as ours were too dry, although we were second best in the 7-59 result, it was an excellent hit out and we never gave up trying! On Friday night the 2s and Outriders kicked off the season by combining to take on Amersham and Chilton, losing narrowly in the end 17-21.

This weekend sees a first, three Men’s teams, the 1s, 2s and Outriders, all travel to play OAs, which will be quite a road trip I expect!

On Sunday our Women’s 2nd XV travel to Dorking in their first game of the season.
In the 1st XV game against OAs, we will need to step up our performance against a side that led the league until the end when both Bury and Oundle kicked on, they are always a tough side to play against and they will want to build on their excellent away win against Canterbury last Saturday, squeezing out the home team 31-34.

So, we are off and running into another season, how brilliant is that?
Onwards and Upwards Barnow!

Michael Whitfield - President Barnes Rugby Club

Barnes Men’s 1st XV 45 – 28 Colchester Men’s 1st XV - words by Rhino

In a dustbowl of a pitch at Barn Elms, Barnes Rugby kicked off their season in some style, overcoming Colchester Men’s 1st XV 45-28 in the end.

Barnes had an outstanding first half, being in complete control from start to finish the half 26-0 ahead, with their first bonus point secured of the new campaign.

The try scorers in that first period for Barnes were scrum half Charlie Briers, back row Malcolm Nimmo, winger Matt Branfield scored the first of his three tries with last year’s try machine, Dan Robertshaw, opening his account. Fly half Jack Park slotted 3 of the four conversions to launch his impressive debut in Barnes colours.

If the visitors from Essex were shell shocked by being “nilled” in the first period, they clearly pulled themselves together at half time and came out of the traps with great intent following the break.

Scoring the first of their four second half tries a minute after the restart, Matt Wagstaff scored the Essex side’s first try in National 2, with Benji Mills adding the extras. Branfield added to his tally almost immediately to extend the home side’s leads to 31-7.

Colchester then enjoyed their best period of the match, scrum half Jack Daly scoring and Mills converting 55 minutes to reduce the deficit to 31-14. Branfield completed his hattrick with 12 minutes to go, Park converting to make the score 38-14. But the visitors were not going to lie down easily, flanker Ted Reid scoring, closely followed by the Colchester winger Tom Willis touching down, and Mills converting. With Colchester now only trailing by 10 points, 38-26, the visitors quite rightly had their tails well and truly up, but the last score of the match went to substitute Dawud Kassim with 5 minutes left. With Jack Park converting the final score was Barnes 45-28 Colchester.

A very good first half was undermined by a sloppy second half, we lacked a bit of dog in defence, and we also did not have our normal cutting edge in the centre. Whilst this maybe being overcritical after a well earned 5 points win, there will be three much tougher challenges ahead in September with Barnes on the road next week at OAs, followed by Dorking at home and then Esher away. We will need to significantly up the standard if we want to overcome these tough adversaries.

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