Mancs 3s v Acton 1s - Match Report

A Saturday made for rugby saw Manchester 3rds welcome a young Acton Nomads 1st team to Grove Park in their 2nd game of the new season. Manchester knew it would be a tough challenge against a team relegated from the higher division last year but with Chairman Dinks ‘home win bonus’ still sitting in the bar cellar, the slow but continuing return of experienced players and a large squad, the home team went into the game feeling confident.

Upfront, Ryan, Adge and 1 kidney started with Fozzy bear and big Dave Arnold in the 2nd row engine room. Buster Grahamslaw, Matt L and The Hoff combined as the back row. The returning Rich started at 9 with new signing Neil Cartwright making his debut at 10. Man Mountain and debutant Wes linked up with Jamie in a new centre partnership with Woody Woodford, Titch Chidgey and the San Tropez Tanned Dobbo Dobson in the three quarters.

From the kick off, Acton started strongly and showed their intent with quick distribution from the rucks and an expansive game on the wide Manchester pitch against the older pack (wide pitches; whose idea was that!!!). Initially, Manchester struggled to contain the opposition’s ambitions, particularly with Acton’s cheeseburger chomping number 10 breaking through the first tackles and which ultimately resulted in two quick tries and conversions for the away team.

The home team regrouped and with 25 minutes gone finally started to impose their own structure on the game with some good ball retention and carrying by the forwards. A change in the centres also saw tackling machine and human battering ram ‘Darren the Chunks’ getting to grips with Acton’s black pudding munching number 10. With fly half Neil and well groomed full back Dobbo giving a master class on counter kicking, Manchester started to settle and made numerous sorties into Acton territory to put the away team on the back foot. With 30 minutes gone, quick ball from a ruck released Woody Woodford who put in a great solo run and inside pass to release Matt for a 30 metre sprint to score in the corner in a text book supporting role from a back row. Matt’s misses went ecstatic; the lads shook his hand…..The conversion went wide….

With Manchester’s line out and scrum finally starting to function, the home team stole the opposition ball and drove 20 meters down field after some impressive forwards play. Great work appeared to be wasted yet again as ‘flying solo’ took over but a fortunate knock-on by Acton following some good pressure from the Manchester backs resulted in a 5 mtr scrum to the reds. Buster G went for the pick and go on the blind side to slot titch in for Mancs 2nd try. Dobbo, with his fake bake still fully intact attempted the conversion but it went wide.
With Manchester on the up, the half time whistle came too soon for the home team.

Half Time: Manchester 10 v 14 Acton Nomads

The 2nd half continued as an evenly fought contest in the centre of the park and with the game finely balanced after 20mins. The zippy Dom Maher made his debut in Manchester colours and an injury to the creosote looking Dobbo saw Woody moving to 15 and powerful new signing Jenks slotting in on the wing. Fozzy foster rested his legs for next week and Jon the ribs moved into the 2nd row. Manchester continued to battle and to win the breakdown but the officials misunderstanding of competing for the ball at the breakdown saw Manchester penalised on more than one occasion when turning ball over. It was one such decision that finally allowed Acton to extend their lead with a try out wide from a penalty.

Manchester again regrouped and pushed Acton back into their own 22 for long periods, but the flying solo demon resurfaced and rash decisions ultimately resulted in the reds failing to take advantage time after time. With 5 mins to go, Acton counter attacked and a tackle saw the Acton scrum half roll, and roll and roll and roll and roll and roll and roll (you get the idea) to the try line….The conversion went over. Manchester continued to battle to the end and Jenks was unlucky not to score after a great solo run and inside cut. Two more wasted chances and a dubious penalty from a rolling maul stopped Manchester from scoring again to record a scoreline that would have been a true reflection of the game.

Overall a fantastic game of rugby for all involved, including the spectators and one which just about consisted of everything including a few niggles, a rotund 10, a San Tropez Tan, handbags at dawn and some great defensive and attacking play from both teams. The score line didn’t truly reflect on an improved performance from Manchester and if the lads continue to show the same commitment on Thursdays and Saturdays, then it cannot be long before the squad clicks and starts to show its true potential. With numerous new players it will take time for the team to gel but the depth of the squad and a few more experienced players still to return, this performance against what will be one of the strongest teams on the league showed that the future is bright. In the meantime though, Dinks ‘beer bonus’ for home wins still remains on ice but hopefully won’t go out of date!

A big thank you to Jack, Big Phil and Dom Cheswick for stepping up to play for the 2’s at the last minute.

Skips Man of the Match: Woody Woodford – best performance I have seen from Aaron since he took up rugby.

If anyone has found a wash bag containing the products shown in the above image can they please return to Dobbo.

INTERESTED IN PLAYING FOR THE 3s???? Contact Ian on 07951 064082. All levels welcome. 3rd team training on Thursdays - 7pm.