Forking hell that's a bad idea

Well that got your attention. So, now that I have you in my evil grasp I will tell you a tale that will leave a chill in your soul. Well, alright cold hands, ears, noses and other assorted extremities which are the lot of the travelling rugby parent.

Today the mighty Dinno were scheduled to play Dronfield. But before we could have all the excitement that rugby brings we had a job today. I arrived pitchfork in hand (well boot) and I went in search of a baying mob to join. This turned out to be a not particularly well coordinated mob and Pete Morley and I decided that as fine upstanding British workers, who had been asked to come and fork the pitches to remove stones, we would survey the job first from the comfort of the clubhouse with hot bacon sandwiches and drinks. After a few minutes of surveying we set out and found some like minded simpletons and started prodding the ground with the forks.

Very quickly we decided that this was a thank less task and went over to the pitches where the actual rugby was taking place.

Dronfield came out on to the pitch with a couple of players who looked a little big. You know the type tall, lanky and with long flowing locks. So needless to say during the game they were dealt with.

The match was refereed by Mark. It was a spirited effort and he tried his best to encourage equally but he did miss some more obvious penalties - accidental offside, knock ons etc.

The match started badly for Dinno when a pass was intercepted from just inside their own half and Dronfield ran in a try and a conversion followed 0-7. Dinno have been working on a new team structure for the last couple of weeks. It paid dividends. Yet again Luke and Rupert and Jacob took apart Dronfield. At half time it was 27- 7.

The team were moving the ball about and the result was never in doubt. The egos had gone from the team. One player who was brought back on midway through the second half opted to directly replace a player and play at flanker rather than move his team mate who was playing in his normal position. Work needs to continue on decision making and judgment on the pitch but the signs are good.

The final score was 53-12 to Dinno. Our only scheduled game this season is against Moortown. But no doubt something will come up between now and then.

As a footnote. Whilst the turnout was good for the forking session. The job needs to be done with more appropriate equipment like a JCB for example.

Interesting Times

The title of this post is supposed to come from a Chinese curse. The curse goes "May you live in  times".

The rugby club has been subject to some interesting times in recent weeks. Things started with a match against Scunthorpe. Readers will recall that we played them away a couple of months ago. We beat them after a tight run start. The 'development team' started well but were not able to hold them. The first XV were able to turn things round. The match ended 29-51 to Scunthorpe but tempers were frayed on all sides that day and a lot of things were said.

The next week we played West Park Leeds in the Yorkshire Cup semi final. It was a very close match and either side could have gone through. In one sense the bounce of a ball and a missed tackle decided it. Some decisions taken were the wrong ones but players learn by making them. In a thrilling encounter the match ended 3-5 to West Park.

Once again there were ructions afterwards and this is not the place toconsider them. A lot of things were said and there has been fallout since.

Last weekend, the team went to the frozen north to play Morley. The coaches had decided to mix the players up. This proved to be a wise move. The team which went out in the first half won the half 33-0. With two tries a piece from Luke and Rupert and a fifth try with conversions from Brendan and Will it was a dominant display from the forwards. 

In the second half the team was changed and Tom played at number 8. The team won 34-0 in teh second half. Overall score 67-0 (after a few recounts). The forwards were strong but the backs dominated the scoring with three tries from Harry and two from Jacob (I think). One of the tries was created by the pack. At a scrum Tom held the ball in at the back and then Sam at scrum half passed the ball out and then the ball was run in from about half way.

The lads left the pitch smiling. The development players were getting advice from the first teamers and together they delivered a stunning, solid performance.