Sheffield Oaks v Stanley Rodillians 15 - 13

 

Three amazing things happened this week - by no means any of them happening through pure luck either I might add.  Martin Horton relieved himself from his duties as general legend and leader of the Martin Horton Appreciation Society for one week and came and played of us, we won in the month of January and we had 19 players wanting a game at 11.00am on a Saturday morning!! WOW!!

 

So to the match.  Oaks didn't exactly get off to a solid start but with the wind and slop in their favour some well placed kicks from Jim and Martin kept Stanley Rods (SR) in their own half.  This allowed Sheffield Oaks to regain their composure and put the pressure on.  This soon paid dividends when Jimmy popped a penalty over.  With the spirits up and a well placed scrum on the 10m line in our own half. Bonzo linked up with Jim and then Will down the blind side.  Not quite realising his good fortune Will hesitated slightly before putting his down and legging it down the touchline.  Still with it all to do Will palmed of two attempted tackles from the cover defence but was cut off only meters short of the line.  Fortunately Bonzo and Bully were there in support and were able to get Bully over the line for a great try.

 

Full credit to RS they came back and put the pressure on us and when their No 13 broke through the back line on the half way and it looked like they were going to peg us back.  Fortunately he was up against the pace of Jimmy who after a tense foot race pulled him up 5 metres from the line.  Their 13 then popped off a pass who was again pulled up this time centimeters from the line. After a double movement the ball was picked up again and carried over the line. Again SR were thwarted when it was held up!!

 

Going into half time only 10 - 0 up RS must have thought they were in with a good chance with the wind and slope now in their favour but they weren't recconing on Bully and George getting in their scrum half and fullbacks' face forcing a number of charge-downs and keeping them in their own half.  This eventually paid off when after some great build up play by the forwards the ball was put through the entire backlines hands for Bully put on into the corner. Despite a great effort from the touchline into the wind Jimmys kick hit the post.  Realising their mistakes SR started to put some good kicks in and putting pressure on our line and in a replicate of the half before put a penalty and then a converted try on the score board.  At 13 -15 with 10 minutes to go all was needed was a penalty.  Fortunately when it did come it was a difficult and was kicked wayward.  5 minutes to go Sheffied Oaks stopped trying to kick into the wind and loosing possesion and started rumbling it through the forwards.  This proved to be decisive as Sheffield Oaks held on to win and shake off their January blues!!

Man of the Match - Bully for his two tries and no less than 4 charge downs!! Can one man be in two places at once?!!
D.O.D. - Goes to Stanley Rods for thinking that playing into the wind up hill in the first half was the way to go!!

 or, Whoever supplied the ref's watch. Time literally stood still as 5 minutes became fifteen at the end of the match

Golden Moment - Will's barnstorming run... Jim's try saving tackle... you decide!!

Kev's Notes - With all respect to Will, it will have to be Jim's tackle considering he also had an absolute awesome game with the boot

Quote of the Day - Martin is no longer a legend... he has now reached god like status... All hail Martin!!

       or "You can't fight with your pants down."

Fight of the Day - Although Ticker's long hug on the floor with the opposition winger was impressive, it doesn't beat Selly's attempted "prison retribution" (see quote of the day).

Kev's Self Indulgent Award - Kev for knackering a rib early on and playing on for 50-60minutes at the centre of the pack. What a hard bastard.

Legend of the Day - Martin Horton, still capable of making men half is age look foolish. He wasn't bad on the pitch either.