Only two Men’s games last weekend, both against Dorking, the 1’s sadly went down 25-30 but the 2’s won 38-21. Both match reports are below, including an entertaining one from the 2’s Coach Tommy Burkett, detailing the 2s victory, spearheaded by man of the match, James Crabtree.

This weekend sees 5 adult games, the highlights being the Men’s 1st XV away to Esher (the crucial games just keep on coming) and the Women’s 1st XV’s first league game of the season, at home against Finchley.

Full details are below:
Saturday 26th Sept Fixtures
• Esher Men’s 1st XV vs Barnes Men’s 1st XV - 3pm KO
• Esher Men’s 2nd XV vs Barnes Men’s 2nd XV - 2:30pm KO
• Barns Outriders vs London Irish – 2pm KO
Sunday 27th Sept Fixtures
• Barnes Women’s 1st XV vs Finchley Women’s 1st XV - 2:30pm KO
• Barnes Women’s 2nd XV vs Bec Belles – KO TBC

Last season we did the double on Esher home and away, but this season they look much stronger and we are coming off the back of two straight defeats. It is going to be a cracking afternoon at Esher that is for sure.

Two cracking lunches for you in October
We have two home games in October to entice you. On the 3rd we entertain Oundle, the clear hot favourites for league champions this season.

Lunch and home game against Oundle on 3rd October – buy your tickets here: Oundle3rdOct

And then the Property and 90s Vets players lunch is on 17th October, Geoff Egan is whipping up the property boys whilst Rick Simmonds is gently nudging those 90’s Vets players who can still read, write and walk!

You can buy your tickets here for that lunch here: Property-90sVets17th Oct

Please do come to lunch and the game, the club needs you, the beer needs you and the player love it when you are pitchside!

Barnes Men’s 1st XV 25-30 Dorking Men’s 1st XV - words by Rhino
This was another typical Barnes vs Dorking scrap at Barn Elms on Saturday. Unlike previous years this was not a game of the highest quality of rugby but, as ever between these two sides, no quarter was given, and none was expected.

The first half saw three yellow cards, two against Dorking, once again Barnes proving the intensity of yet another fierce encounter.

It was nip and tuck in the first 40 mins. Neither side could wrest control from the other and it finished at the break two converted tries and a penalty apiece 17-17, Jack Park doing the kicking for Barnes. After the break Dorking took control with a penalty, and another converted try to lead 17-27 with 20 mins to go. Barnes got back into the game after the Dorking scrum half was yellow carded with a catch and drive yielding a try in the corner, conversion missed Barnes trailed 22-27 with 17 mins left.

The rest of the game was a mid-pitch arm wrestle, each side exchanging penalties but, in the end, Dorking held on to win 25-30 in the end.

Barnes Men’s 2nd XV 38 - 21 Dorking Men’s 2nd XV - words by Coach Tommy Burkett

Crabtree pulls the strings as Barnes turn up the heat

Barnes got us underway and Dorking immediately got a taste of what was coming. They gathered the kick; felt the Barnes chase arriving at speed and decided the safest option was to send it straight back via the boot.

What followed was some fantastic play from Barnes, shifting the ball across the pitch before Will McCampbell made a dart down the right-hand side. He was eventually bundled into touch, but the referee already had his arm out for an off-the-ball infringement. Penalty Barnes.

Into the corner we went.

The resulting lineout was a beauty, Finn rising high and delivering clean ball off the top. Barnes went through the phases, carrying hard through the middle, but it quickly became clear this wasn’t going to be an afternoon for anyone who fancied keeping their shirt clean.
The opening exchanges were a proper arm wrestle. Big forwards carrying into big forwards, both sides exchanging box kicks and both defensive lines doing their jobs. For the opening 10 minutes, most of the rugby took place somewhere between the two 22s.
Then, on 12 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken.

Barnes worked through several phases around the Dorking 22 before James Crabtree put Ben Lodge through on a superb line. Lodge hit it at pace, punched straight through and went over for the opening try.

Will Nicholson added the extras. Barnes 7 - 0 Dorking.

Dorking restarted, Barnes exited efficiently and normal service resumed — collisions, pressure and plenty of rugby in the middle third.

The Barnes defence was outstanding. Connected, organised and aggressive, there simply didn’t appear to be a way through. Dorking repeatedly found themselves running into a wall of blue before eventually deciding that kicking the ball away was preferable to being hit by it.

Unfortunately, it was Barnes who blinked first. A mistake in midfield gave Dorking the opportunity they had been waiting for and they took advantage, crossing on the 20-minute mark.

Barnes’ response was exactly what you want. Six minutes later we were back down the other end, and this time went to something straight off the training paddock. Clean catch, maul set, forwards marching and Dorking heading backwards.

Kassim was at the bottom of it to finish the job. Try Barnes.

Barnes continued to turn the screw. Dorking were increasingly pinned inside their own 22, and every exit kick seemed simply to invite another wave of Barnes attack.

Then, on 36 minutes, another penalty allowed Nicholson to stick the ball into the corner.
The forwards looked at one another. “Same again, lads?” Apparently so.
Catch. Drive. Dorking going backwards. Kassim appearing with the ball.

Try number two.

There is, however, an old rugby saying that you’re at your most vulnerable just after scoring. Unfortunately, Barnes decided to provide the practical demonstration.

Dorking struck on the stroke of half-time and added the conversion. Half-time.
A really good half of rugby. Barnes had enjoyed the upper hand, but both sides had defended extremely well, and Dorking were still very much hanging around.

SECOND HALF
The second half started much like the first.

Plenty of rugby between the 22s, plenty of collisions and plenty of forwards introducing themselves to one another at fairly high speed. Barnes kept applying pressure.

And then, around the hour mark, the Dorking construction started coming apart piece by piece.

On 60 minutes Crabtree delivered another lovely pass, this time releasing Harry Snow.
Snow took off for the line, producing some brilliant footwork and a superb individual break. With the defence closing and the try line approaching, he found Will McCampbell in support.

McCampbell finished the job. Nicholson added the extras. And Barnes wasn’t finished.
Just four minutes later, Harvey Graham found himself with space and needed no second invitation, powering into the corner for another Barnes try.

At this point Dorking were wobbling, but to their credit they kept fighting. On 75 minutes they found a way back in, their nine picking from the back of the scrum and darting underneath the posts.

Any thoughts of a dramatic comeback, however, were fairly short-lived. Barnes went straight back to work and once again pinned Dorking deep inside their own 22.
Then came the final act.

A Dorking lineout close to their own line went long. Kassim gathered the loose ball and charged towards the line before Barnes recycled and moved it out towards the backs.
Eventually the ball found Charlie Drew. Now, Charlie had options.

He could have passed.

He could have brought someone else into the game.

He could have demonstrated the selfless virtues of team rugby.

Absolutely no chance.

Charlie saw the line and went himself.

Try Barnes.

And that was that.
FULL-TIME: BARNES 38 – 21 DORKING

A fantastic all-round Barnes performance, particularly in the second half when the pressure eventually told.

The defence was connected and relentless, the forwards carried hard, and most pleasingly we saw things we’ve worked on during training transferred directly onto the pitch — particularly the lineout and driving-maul work.
Six tries in total:
Ben Lodge ?
Kassim ×2 ??
Will McCampbell ?
Harvey Graham ?
Charlie Drew ?
Will Nicholson added four conversions. ?
Plenty still to work on, as always, but a very good day’s work.
And finally…
? MAN OF THE MATCH – JAMES CRABTREE
Pulled the strings superbly, created opportunities and was at the heart of so much of Barnes’ best attacking play.
38–21. Job done. Bring on next week. ??