Match Report 13 February 2010 Old Scouts 5ths 21 Kettering 4ths 16

 

Saturday started out with the Mighty 5^ths gathering at the clubhouse unsure of whether we would have a complete team to play the men from Kettering. This clash is always a tough one for the 5ths and we expected no less this time around.

 

Hearts where greatly lifted with the arrival of Big (actually not so much) Steve Morin who for one reason or another has not played a single game this season (Steve is adamant it had nothing to do with needing to lose as much weight as brother Gary before running out). Steve was looking good but still has not lost as much as Gary (according to Gary)

 

Numbers quickly made up with the arrival of guest twin Kane and (as far as we were concerned) Able. When they introduced themselves as identical twins despite not really looking much alike, we knew they would fit in no problem. And so they did. Not to be outdone big Nev also arrived just before kick-off (long drive back from Bristol we suspect).

 

So with the weather offering a mild temperature and breaking up cloud cover, the game that would turn out to be one of attrition, and rather painful for yours truly, kicked off.

 

Despite the harsh words at the off that we needed to switch on from the start and keep it tight for the first 10, Scouts came out of the starting blocks sluggish and almost immediately conceded a soft try that went unconverted. Soon thereafter a penalty in front of the posts was awarded to Kettering which put the 5^ths 8 0 down within 10 minutes.

 

This then sparked the Scouts 5^ths into action and we suddenly turned on the offensive with our first attacking play of the day where the ball was passed beautifully through the hands and as it reached winger Neill Friedman who pinned his ears back and made for the line only to be stopped by a solid tackle from his opposite number which ended in Neill watching the rest of the game from the side line (Neill’s antics on the ground injured may have reminded some of footballer Drogba’s over elaboration but since Neill is in hospital at the time of writing, he is hoping to be forgiven).

 

This attack (or was it Neill leaving the field) was the catalyst Scouts needed and soon not so identical twin Kane Guest (that would make both him and Able related to Mike) went over to score the 5ths opening try with the conversion by Gareth Lavery going over .

 

 Gareth later in the half scored a try of his own which he converted and a third Scouts try scored by Carl Hanley much to the delight of his young son who was watching from the sideline and boasted very loudly and proudly “that’s my dad who just scored” for all to hear.

 

Scouts ended the half 21 8 up and immediately began the second half on the offensive and determined but despite spending the first 10 minutes of this half in the Kettering 22 Scouts where unable to score due to some good defending from Kettering and some poor handling from Scouts.

 

Kettering then scored a try against the run of play (which they converted) and the 5^ths seemed to lose some of the wind from their sails and went on the defensive while the hard fought battles up front meant a high attrition rate with players going off injured from both sides.

 

With 10 minutes to go Rich Martin brought himself off the bench and into the front row (at tight head hooker – a position unique to Rich) which had the effect of getting the Scouts to go forward again and the last few moments of the game again saw the 5^ths attacking and looking dangerous but unable to score.

 

Match stats will show that the old boys had 3 sets of brothers on the park in the form of Kane and Able (the un-identical twin), Steve and Gary Morin (rumour has it that with all the weight lost between the two of them a third brother will be created). And of course Billy and Rich Martin-McGregor (looking more identical then Kane and Able).

 

A well contested and hard fought victory for the mighty 5^ths a good welcome back to Morin Snr (or is it junior???).

 

 Saturday February 6^th Biggleswade 29 Scouts 5^ths 14

 

A grey gloomy Saturday saw the mighty 5^ths competing with England v Wales in the first round of the 6 nations for players. So with many off to Twickers and others recovering from injuries and possible sustained hangovers from last week the 5^ths only managed to scrape 15 together to make the trip to Biggleswade.

Pre-match chatter was more focused around the preferred rout of the opposition rather than on the international. As we ran on with just 15 some of whom where 5ths part timers who had stepped up to fill the gaps, it was apparent the odds where stacked against the old boys.

Things quickly turned from bad to worse when after 5 minutes, Scouts had already conceded a try and a penalty and it became clear that Bob Foster had sustained an injury and would not be able to continue. So with no subs (Nev must have gone to Bristol instead of Biggleswade) Scouts where 10 points down and only had 14 men.

A misplaced kick put the ball in the hands of the Biggleswade right wing with plenty of space and the 5ths where unable to stop the speedy youngster as he scored his second try. This seemed to spur the 14 man Scouts into action and an incredible show of heart meant the scouts held on to the ball, won a scrum against the head (thanks John Coleman and the boys) despite being a man down in the pack and scored two converted tries. This meant that at half time Scouts where only a single point down with the half time score being 15-14.

In the second half however Scouts where unable to put on any sustained pressure and the effort of playing a man short really told and the injuries mounted with John Coleman off the park leaving the vets with only 13 men. Biggleswade had youth and numbers on their side and were able to capitalise despite the 5^ths never giving up and defending in as spirited a manor as possible.

Scouts owe a special thanks to Mike Stevenson who despite having not played for two years volunteered to come down and play for 15 minutes, stayed on the full game and despite injury kept going. A great demonstration of heart and it displayed what it means to be an Old Scout team member, “thanks Mike”

 

Saturday 30^th January 2010 Old Scouts 5ths’s 36 Tamworth 24

 

Spelling mistakes by Neill Friedman

 

5 years ago Northampton Old Scout’s Vet Allan Hakes through down the gauntlet to his younger brother captain of the Tamworth vets squad. The younger Hakes accepted the challenge brought down a squad to play the pride of Northampton vets and started a rivalry that has been played out every year since.

 

This year as the Scouts squad gathered in the changing room we where determined to regain the walking-stick which Tamworth had taken back with them last year to north of the Watford Gap. In honour of having set up the tradition Al Hakes was awarded the captaincy for the day.

 

As the teams ran out at Rushmere road the weather could not have been more fitting the sky a cold blue steel, a soft breeze and a bright sun that offered no warmth. It was clear the only warmth today would be generated through the heat of battle.

 

The teams faced up North against South, Scouts against Tamworth brother against brother.

 

From the opening kick Scouts went on the attack which broke down on the Tamworth 5 yard line and Tamworth had the put-in to the opening scrum. The Scouts pack went in hard and won this one against the head with the ball coming back and resulting in the opening try.

 

Scouts took the took the ball well from the restart and again mounted a sustained attack resulting in a second try. Any thoughts however of an easy victory where quickly dashed when Tamworth came straight back and scored a try almost an exact reverse of the first Scouts try taking a scrum against the head inside the home teams 22 and scoring.

 

From then on the game became a titanic tit for tat battle with Tamworth dominating the scrum whilst the Scouts backs ran some fine plays orchestrated as ever by “The Boss” Wardy at number 10. As the score board kept ticking over Scouts retained the lead but where never able to pull our more the a one score difference with every Scouts try being countered by a Tamworth try.

 

The game was fast and passionate with memorable moments being a great pass from the Tamworth Fly Half in to Scouts hands to create the Scouts third try. Some dramatic miscommunication between Scouts backs culminating with a high ball landing firmly between full back Gareth Lavery and wing Dave Linnell as both players walked away expecting the other to catch it, it seemed the only players intent on picking up the bobbling ball where in Tamworth kit.

 

The Tamworth Fly half clearly a fan of Strictly Come Dancing and 7 habits of the successful sales man used both these skill sets to sell centre Daz Wotton a perfect dummy then dance around him to score. This led to inspired words of encouragement from the Scouts bench which included the ever encouraging “how did you let your granddad walk past you Wotton” from inspirational manager Rich Martin.

 

Bob Foster the Patriarch of clan Foster, who’s family members have often made up half a 5^th’s squad, ran on for a 45 second cameo performance touching the ball once and scoring then leaving the pith and allowing Daz Wotton to resume at inside centre with the words “that’s what you should be doing Daz”.

 

With 12 minutes to go Scouts loos head Neill Friedman received the ball and made a 25 yard (OK 10 yard) dash towards the Tamworth line making quick ball available in the tackle to allow Ian Knox (returning form a long absence due to injury) to pick up break through and stretch his long body over for a try and Scouts where determined this time not to let Tamworth score a counter try. The resolve held and the 5ths scored again to open up a two score advantage for the first time since the first 10 minutes.

 

With just seconds to go Tamworth had a free kick on the Scouts 5 yard line and went blind to there big men who made the charge at the line. Modesty dictates that I describe what happened next in the form of a quote from team mate Michael Moggeridge “Neill put in the hardest tackle I have ever seen” Tamworth lost the ball forward and the game was over with the final score flattering the Scouts 36 24. Then the festivities began.

 

In the way that only brothers of the game know as the final whistle blew both teams cheered a wonderful game shared a drink in the locker room then moved on to celebrate the game all as winners with drinking, signing and the removal of trousers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

23rd January 2010. St Ives 0 Old Scouts 5ths’s 55

 

The day may have been a grey and gloomy winters day but as the 5ths started gathering at Rushmere Road it was apparent that the long absence due to the new year break and snow covered pitches had left the old boys chomping at the bit for a bit of action and not even a lengthy drive to St Ives was going to remove the desire to run onto the pitch. As we met up with our team mates who had gone straight to the ground there was no let up and the winter chill could not remove the spring in our step.

 

As the team was announced you could not disguise the pride in the chest of Michael Guest as he was awarded the honour of captaining the mighty 5^th’s for the first time and a glimmer of hope in the hearts of the wings that just maybe, as captain, he might actually pass at least one ball out wide.

 

The team where roused to fever pitch by the new captains motivational huddle and then the game was underway with Scouts being pinned back in there own 22 for the first 10 minutes of the game. With the 45 degree hill being in Scout’s favour in the first half we knew we had to pick up the pace shake out the cobwebs and do what we do best (it just takes these old boys a while to remember exactly what that is).

 

After 15 minutes in which every Scout’s attack ended with the ball being spilled, dropped or knocked-on, the backs settled down and started making use of the good ball being won in the loose by the forwards. And soon Scouts started holding on to the passes and the scoring started. Gareth found that kicking off a tee that floated away down the hill every time the ball was set up presented it’s own challenges and was not able to slot his early conversion attempts causing some of his team mates to compare his kicking performance with that of the Northampton Saints’ the night before. Eventually after slotting one from right in front this too improved.

 

Scouts went into the second half with a twenty two to nothing lead but now had the challenge of playing up the hill and expected to be defending a lot of ball kicked in to the corners, however St Ives where not able to take advantage of the slope in their favour and the 5^th’s where able to dominate up front and the pace of Tim Linnell was not effected by the need to run uphill. Same might not be said of Daz Wotton who broke the St Ives line after taking a pass on the halfway line and was then heard to let out a sigh of relief when the pass was called forward thus negating his need to run up the hill to score.

 

With 10 minutes to go the St Ives spirit was finally crushed with some strategic Scouts substitutions. As manager Rich Martin ran on to replace John Coleman, Neill Friedman moved from wing to loose head and Dave Linnell moved from second row to the wing, it just became apparent that the versatility of this 5^th’s squad was too much.

 

With the score at 55 0 and just seconds on the clock Scouts had one more opportunity to score and a perfectly floated pass to Tim Linnell with no one in front of him should have given Tim his third but what with the uncertainty in the housing market and the prospect of having to buy a jug young Tim decided to rather go in for a bit of juggling before leaving the ball altogether as his team mates where heard to groan at the jug of ale gone begging.

 

A fine team effort and début captains performance earned the 5^th’s an enjoyable 55 0 win away.

 

LEIGHTON BUZZARD 4ths 17 SCOUTS 5ths 24

 

September 26th 2009

 

A hat-trick from Martin Inwood led the way for Scouts 5ths win in their first game of the season as they beat Buzzard 4ths 24 -17. Gareth Lavery scored a try and two conversions to complete the scoring and Buzzards scored two late tries which made the score more respectable.

Overheard at one lineout was the call of  'Economic Crisis' so was the throw going to someone with short arms and long pockets? Answers on a post card please.