THE LAND OF THE GIANTS!!

Eton Manor verses Westcliff

I’m showing my age now but watching the match at Westcliff on Sunday reminded me of a programme I used to watch in the early 70’s. The programme was called ‘Land of the Giants’, if you’re not as old as me and haven’t heard of it google it. It’s a science fiction TV series about a group of people travelling on a spaceship that land in a world of giants (gripping 1970’s television). As Westcliff warmed up all the manor parents were aghast at the size of the Westcliff team, and particularly their forwards. To a boy they were twice the size of our manor boys.

Before the match report a brief update on my favorite Sunday morning pastime; bacon rolls of Essex rugby clubs. A special mention need to go to Westcliff, but not the club. Tucked just behind the club house is a café that serves it’s bacon in a baguette and if you’re extra hungry or just greedy you can go for the full monty, man verses food, high fat, high cholesterol breakfast baguette. It makes the long drive to Westcliff well worth it. Perhaps this is the staple diet of the Westcliff players and explains their size?

The Manor boys knew this was going to be a tough match, top of the division and only beaten by Brentwood this season. A team used to putting 50 points on their opposition, but Manor were up for the match.

Westcliff kicked off and unfortunately Manor knocked the ball forward. Manor now had to defend an attacking Westcliff scrum but our forwards worked well to halt the scrum ending with Westcliff knocking on. From the Manor scrum Anthony picked up the ball and made one of his trade strong runs, handing off a couple Westcliff centres, a swift pass to Harry and then out to Jermaine saw Manor score the first try(Westcliff 0 – Manor 5).

Westcliff seemed shocked and now knew this wasn’t going t be a walk over. From the restart Manor were on the attack again, one which was only halted by a Westcliff high tackle. A stunned Westcliff were now spurred into a response. There were penalties and knock on’s from both side. Manor found themselves defending wave after wave of their forwards attacks but when Manor’s backs got the ball we showed our usual pace and allusiveness. Finally our defense broke and Westcliff scored twice, one a back row run and the other a forward trundling over (Westcliff 12 – Manor 5).

One of the final moves of the first half saw Jack make one of his strong runs, again only halted by a Westcliff high tackle by their fullback. Who was subsequently sinned binned. From the penalty restart Ollie ran in a well deserved try (Westcliff 12 – Manor 12).

Second half was still a close fought match but Westcliff score twice in quick succession, their second from a very obvious knock on which unfortunately was not spotted by the referee (Westcliff 22 – Manor 12).

The Manor boys never let their heads drop but Westcliff were now getting the upper hand with their constant forward mauls. The Manor forwards were having to constantly battle against the Westcliff mauls, often halting them but Westcliff were not told to use it or lose it and no penalties were awarded to Manor.

Manor continued to battled hard and still made some great exciting runs totally out pacing the slow Westcliff squad. Maybe it was tiredness from the constant defense of the Westcliff forward’s mauls and battering of our defense as Westcliff finished the match scoring another two tries (Westcliff 34 – Manor 12).

Westcliff played to their strength, a massive pack, but in doing so played some very dull and boring rugby. Our boys on the other hand showed their usual pace and rugby skills, the forwards showed integrity and guts. It was a whole team effort, each boy committed to the tackles, nothing more could be asked of them. Despite losing our boys should be proud of their performance and hold their heads up high.

Westcliff knew they had won a hard fought match, I don’t think they will ever under estimate Manor again.

Gary Mountford