It's a long way...to Billericay‏

The moment had finally arrived. The 4s were getting a game. A real one!

All we had to do now was find enough players, agree the kick off time, get the new rugrats out of bed before the crack of noon on a Saturday and, hardest of all, convince Mrs Welch that Ian could have the car...!

The kick off had been agreed. 12.30pm to allow whoever fancied it the ability to watch some team in an unquestionably poor purple shower take on some convicts. The players had been convinced. All 12 of them. We were set. Apart from there were only 11 of us as Budden forgot how to answer the phone, a text or a facebook message. We'll forgive him. This time...

Arriving at the ground we learned that the Bees had got 17 of their mob together and they would be prepared to lend us 3 of them to make 14 a side and at least make a proper game out of it. We agreed and kicked off facing down the rather steep slope first half. With scrums uncontested and line outs improvised with 5 minutes to go the first set pieces would be interesting. Capt h2o and the House took responsibility for throwing Seb in the air (SEB: "...careful, I'm deceptively fat...") at the front and hooker for the day Francis won more than his fair share of ball. Not an easy task when the oppo knows exactly where the ball is going. Every time. We got plenty of practice at the line out in the first 20 minutes as the Bees gave a raft of penalties away. James Sellek took responsibility for our kicks out of hand and found touch with good distance on a regular basis. After won line out, a cracking Manor shove and well used ball by fly half Kit the Bees decided they couldn't handle that and gave another penalty away. With no one looking confident about taking the pot shot Seb stepped up and to the amazement of everyone present slotted it over. 0-3, 20 minutes played. And that was it points wise for a first half of errors on both sides that was eventually punished by the barman-cum-referee who binned a Bee for killing the ball for 95th time.

Shortly before the break one of our borrowed men took his 2nd knock on the napper in as many minutes and was found laying at the bottom of a ruck in the classic 'flat on his back, arms outstretched, not going anywhere' pose. He was out. Cold. The game was stopped while medical attention was sought and half time was called.

With our prone colleague not returning to the fray at the start of the 2nd half we were a man down and going uphill. 0-3 was never going to be enough. Was it?

Well, no. Billericay got a line out on our 5m, got the shove on and Manor's inability to get low enough quick enough meant we couldn't stop them and the ball was touched down at the back. Conversion well slotted, 7-3. Knowing that the next score was to be crucial Manor piled in at the restart and enjoyed by far our best period of the game. Passes were made, rucks were cleared, chances were created, territory was gained and only a couple of mistakes close to the try line prevented us adding to our total. We really were playing well at this time and Billricay were penned in against a team a man short. After several phases we eventually conceded a penalty for not releasing the ball quick enough. Seemed harsh but there you go. They relieved the pressure with a good kick and set up space for the no.8 to rampage through and touch down for his and their second score. Duly converted it was now 14-3.

The second score put the wind back into Billericay sails. Manor were tiring and the team that had only come together on Friday afternoon were under the cosh. Never the less, we defended well for the remainder of the game, well led here by Welchy and Ginge, and the referee called last play. Billericay tapped and went (again...) and with the Manor forwards all grouped together their no.8 took the sensible option and went full beans at James Hall stood all on his own to secure his hat trick. Try scored, converted, 21-3, game over.

The mood at the end of the game was nothing but optimistic. Manor had created a new team, traveled away, short handed, and stood up to be counted. With a few more weeks under our belt to learn a bit more about each other and the return of a few bodies unavailable we'll be a force to be reckoned with in this League. The usual post match rituals of Man of the Match and Makowski moment were abandoned. How could we Makowski anyone after a game like that? If we had polled MoM it would have been split between Seb and Sellek who both had excellent games.

Still with me? Good. Next week it's Old Cooperians 2 at home. They're the League leaders so we need a performance and a win to kick on. Kick off time tbc, watch this space.

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Captain 'h2o' Hydration