A convincing win against Chingford

A special thanks to our celebrity reporter, @ The People's Pen' for another literacy masterpiece.

As i lay on my sunbed at the Gran Caribe Spa resort in Cancun Mexico, sipping on a Mojito of superior quality and admiring the scantily clad ladies enjoying a very competitive game of beach volleyball, i had time to reflect on what a year it had been for me personally and professionally.

A few very rewarding articles had brought me numerous accolades,for instance my well lauded article on the effect of Ikea on the DIY market, also my very personal literary piece on ginger people and their place in modern society, which received particular rave revues in Wales. It then hit me that nothing could actually compare to those enthralling and exciting periods of my journalistic life that were spent reporting on Eton Manor U14’s. What i had witnessed and been privileged to report on was surely any aspiring journalists dream!

I thought that i had been lucky to report on those two games alone and I would gladly have taken them as my only matches to report on in my life when low and behold I got the call again! I had to check the diary to make sure it wasn't the 1st of April and that someone was playing the wickedest of pranks on me. When i realized that i was needed again I wasted no time at all in getting out of the sunshine of Mexico and headed for Chingford Rugby Club.

I pulled up Sunday morning and as i got out of my car i noticed that the pitches adjacent to the changing rooms were not being used. I walked over to what I thought at first was a burger stall but in fact was the fish stall where not only did i find out that the match was taking place on the pitch behind the golf range but also they did a quality half pint of cockles and winkles.

As I waded through the mud in the passage connecting the two playing areas I was greeted to a magnificent sight of those well drilled U14’s of Manor going through their pre-match drills.

Chingford began to appear about 5 minutes before the game was due to start and their body language looked like a team who have not been getting too many positive results.

First Half:

The first 12 mins were very scrappy indeed with numerous knock ons and handling errors from both sides which, taking the dire conditions into account, was unsurprising.

Then after 15 minutes the first piece of quality rugby saw Manor’s fly half, Anthony Regan, cut inside and beat three Chingford players before finishing under the post for Jack Keeling to convert. Manor 7-0 Chingford.

Manor began to get a grip on the game but although Chingford were not offering much in attack their defense was very resilient with a couple of try saving tackles.

However the in the 24th minute Max Carter produced a great pass through his legs to Anthony, the ball then went down the line and ended up with Edvardis who failed to finish a quite breathtaking move.

We did not have to wait long however as in the very next phase of play as Adam scored from the scrum. A score sadly unconverted from a tight angle. Manor 12-0 Chingford.

From the resulting kick off Edvardis steam down field towards the corner before offloading to Jermaine for another score under the Chingford posts. Jack Keeling duly obliged with the conversion. Manor 19-0 Chingford.

Second Half:

Ben Harris on for Sonny and Vinai for Jermaine were the half time changes.

4 mins into the second half Anthony put young Harry “waggers” Wagstaff away for another try in the corner. Manor 24 -0 Chingford.

From the resulting kick off the ball found its way to Vinai who went on a great run down the line before cutting inside and smashing 3 Chingford defenders, inspiring stuff!

7 mins into the half and Anthony played a lovely “chip” through which Adam gathered and another try under the posts for Manor and converted by Jack. Manor 31-0 Chingford.

13 mins into the second half Red Walker came on for Anthony, who by now had more than done his part in orchestrating a now formidable win.

14 mins and Jack Keeling peels off the back of the scrum and goes all the way for another score which he converts with confidence. Manor 38-0 Chingford.

17 minutes in and Vinai almost goes over after a fine move from the Manor backs.

In the 21st minute the marauding, menacing second row of Manor that is Edvardis "the Viking" went rampaging through the now totally demoralized Chingford defense to cap an almighty display with a great try which was converted by Jack Keeling. Final score, Manor 45-0 Chingford.

The terms one way traffic and totally one sided come to mind but that would be unfair on a Chingford side who showed great grit and tenacity at times.

Back in the clubhouse the Chingford management were left to lick their wounds as the Guinness flowed and another exceptional performance by Eton Manor was applauded by people who love the beautiful game that is U14’s rugby!

Thank you Manor
The P’s P