I know this report is a week late but here it is.

So the time is here to play my first ever vets game, and who should it be against but Romford and Gidea Park, a team that quite rightly boast that they have not lost a game in 5 years. Manor can also match this boast, but that’s because we haven’t played a vets game in the last 5 years.
Romford had confidently sent out a text message to all of their large squad saying that they were going to stomp all over Eton Manor for one of their players final game, this somehow found it’s way to our team and spread like wild fire. The call to arms went out to make a vets team that was worthy of putting up a fight against an unbeaten Romford side.
Out of the woodwork came Dave Dennis, Ian Edwards, Macer, Stocky, Cushy, Greg Anderson, Nathan Last and Ben Ward. All of these young vets had played London 1 for Manor in the last four years with Ian and Dave still playing for the first team. This mixed with the more experienced (older) 3rd team players gave the team a nice balance. The changing room was awash with handshakes, hugs and piss taking as old friends were reunited again. Out walked full heads of dark hair and flat tummies and in was walking bald heads, rotund bellies and grey hair…..Stocky.
Both teams boasted of large squads which I suppose is needed in vets rugby and we were ready to play the game.

There is a reason why Romford hasn’t lost a game in the last 5 years and that’s because they are bloody good. The two large packs were evenly matched for most of the game and I can only imagine what horrible things were happening in places that referee couldn’t see.
Romford started strongly and their backs in particular looked quite dangerous but it was Manor who struck the first blow when the backs finished a well worked move that put full back Nathan Last under the posts. Nathan Last added the conversion (7 – 0)

I think it was at this point that Romford realised that this Manor team were in no mood to be stomped over!

Romford lifted their game and for the next 20 mins threw everything and the kitchen sink at Manor and they were finally rewarded with a good team try out wide. The conversion was missed. (7 – 5)
The rest of the half was a cut throat affair with both sides smashing the granny out of each other. Both sides had scoring opportunities but the defences always seemed to hold out preventing the try.

The second half started much the same as the first with both teams playing good rugby. But now Manor had decided to play a faster game, ditching the kicks to touch as we couldn’t win a lineout anyway and rather opting for the immediate tap and go, this seemed to be the correct decision as Manor finally found a chink in Romford’s armour….FITNESS!

Manors 2nd try came from one such quick tap inside Romford’s 22 where there was a 3 man overlap just waiting to score. The ball was passed to Inside centre Cushy who went in under the posts. Nathan Last got the Conversion. (14 – 5)

Again Romford rallied and came back at Eton Manor. I can’t remember how they scored but I know they did. The conversion was missed (14 – 10)

With 20 Mins to go Romford didn’t have many replacements left as they had picked up a few injuries and you could hear echo’s of “that’s it for me” as heavily strapped knee’s finally gave way after too many years of rugby. Manor on the other hand were more lucky regarding injuries and kept the fresh legs coming on in the second half. This seemed to be the deciding factor as the last 15 mins were all played around Romford’s 22. Forever young John Phillipson got Manors third try, Man of the Match Ian Edwards got the forth and Greg Anderson ghosted over for Manor’s fifth and final try. Nathan missed the final 3 conversions. The final whistle went and Manor had won 29 – 10 against a very good Romford side. Sadly Romford’s valiant winning streak was over but I am sure they will be fired up for the return fixture at their ground.

The support from the side lines was fantastic; who would have thought so many people would turn up on a Friday night to take the piss out of us oldies. It was greatly appreciated.

The booze up afterwards was legendary with Romford getting a coach the whole 10 miles down the A12 so their purpose was obvious.

As for me, I rolled in at 09:45 absolutely wasted on Saturday and was in the dog house until Sunday.

More Friday night games please……Hoorah!!!!