Manchester vs Bowdon / Ashton – 3 way games – 22/01/2012

A weather analogy is becoming something of a tradition in these reports. Anyhow, “it were right windy” – sadly not a Sirocco wind, but a very blustery nor’westerly.

Indeed, Steph! our brave exploits this season, trekking across the most challenging of terrains, in hail, snow, storms and mud, following in the footsteps of Henry Morton Stanley (who can forget the famous “West Park Coach, I presume?”), Ernest Shackleton and that bloke from “An Idiot Abroad” have not gone unnoticed. Hollywood has optioned our brave story, with Steven Spielberg planning to turn it into an epic styled around such classics as ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’, ‘127 Hours’ and ‘Muppet Treasure Island’, with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie already signed up. As we go to press, the studio was only waiting for that guy off the Go Compare Ads and the sweaty woman from the Church Inn to sign on the dotted line before they could begin pre-production in New Zealand. It is a great testament to Manchester U11s intrepid mums and dads that they resorted to cannibalism on so few occasions. Good work fellas!

Blimey Rhys – back to more mundane description! Hats were pinned to heads with Statto modelling the latest in fluoro headwear (I dressed myself this morning Steph - Statto). Grove Park has not yet adopted the same rules as Ascot where it was decided this week that “Fascinators” are no longer allowed, in order to maintain high standards of dress - they are rarely seen at Grove Park and certainly not in that wind. For those of us reading this report that don’t know what a fascinator is, it is not someone who can talk effortlessly about rugby for hours on end – google it!
It was that windy that Simon’s shorts were nearly blown off!!!

All teams were ready to kick off early. In fact, the first game against Bowdon had kicked off whilst your roving reporter was on a tea run! However, what was apparent whilst fumbling for my animal print notebook (supplied courtesy of Suzanne) was that the teams were well matched and playing some fab rugby. Manchester started off putting pressure on Bowdon but this soon evened out as Bowdon came back with equal force. There were some great passages of play on both sides with some strong, surging runs and equally determined tackles. Rucks and mauls were contested wholeheartedly.
Manchester won the majority of their scrums (four out of five of their own and all the visitors) continuing the pleasing pattern set all season, and, for once, didn’t give any penalties away! The strong wind unfortunately made the lineouts a lottery. Manchester got over the Bowdon try line twice but both times balls were held up and no tries given.

Score this quarter: Manchester – 0 0 – Bowdon

Second quarter:
This game followed in a similar vein, another hard-fought encounter, with both teams applying pressure and some fast runs by players on the wing. Bowdon managed to score a try following…? Rhys – any suggestions here? Sorry Steph, I was struggling to adjust my lime green Siggi bobble hat, created especially for me by the famous German milliner Siegfried Hesbacher and trimmed exclusively by his own hand at the time. However, with the help of Dai, my Welsh Dresser, I was able to return to the match in time to see Manchester reply in kind with a try soon after. The ball was moved quickly and sharply across half the pitch in a series of passes for an onrushing support player to take the ball over the line. Manchester’s team for this game were excellent! Great handling, finely executed tackles and super support play - very pleasing to watch. Our boys managed to win two out of three Bowdon scrums and even a penalty without giving any away.

Manchester – 1 1- Bowdon.

Third Quarter:
Manchester had the advantage this game and put more pressure on Bowdon. At the first crossing of the line, the ball was held up. However, Manchester then had 2 tries scored by players who managed long runs down the pitch evading and outrunning the opposition. The first try began with the ball being won from a Bowdon scrum by the scorer, and, from the resulting kick-off scored again, with the ball being caught, deep in the Manchester half by a Manchester player who set off on an unstoppable sprint for the opposition try line. Manchester remained strong in the scrum throughout the game, winning their solitary scrum and both of Bowdons’ and also won the one lineout given in this quarter. Both teams worked hard in the rucks and mauls. Both sets of coaches couldn’t ask for any more. Well played both teams.

Manchester – 2 0- Bowdon.

Final Quarter: Manchester vs Ashton
Rhys will have to supply some info here as I was distracted by other son’s cup game on next pitch!

Thanks Steph. Bravely I walked round the pitch and jostled, pushed and squeezed my way into the home supporters crowd. I was finally here, amongst the ‘Great Unwashed’. Packed in so tightly within the baying hordes of Manchester U11 mums I felt my Ablutophobia (the fear of cleaning, bathing and washing, more prevalent in emotionally unstable women) rising. I began to panic and tried to push my way out, but then I noticed a fascinating pattern in their social behaviour as friendship bonds were reinforced by proximity, mutual grooming and the sharing of grubs. I began to relax and treasure my time with these Rugby Mums in the Mist.
Suddenly a raucous excited “whoop” broke the morning air, startling small sparrow-sized toucans from their roosts high in the canopy around us. Manchester had taken to the field for their final match of the day against Ashton. ( Rhys – have you eaten something that has cause some hallucinations?!!)

This was also an excellent game to watch with both teams producing some fine rugby. Our boys were superb in the rucks and mauls, getting in quickly, strong and hard, against an Ashton team who were determined not to give us an inch and gave us plenty to think about in return. Manchester were the first to score, scrambling the ball over the line after a short run but were soon pegged back by some excellent attacking play from Ashton resulting in a deserved equaliser. Indeed Ashton almost snatched another with some more super approach play but it was Manchester who found the winner, with the try scorer picking up a spilt catch from an Ashton player and racing over the line. Great rugby by both teams.

Manchester – 3 1- Ashton.

All told, we saw some great rugby this morning that the parents really enjoyed watching and hopefully, the boys enjoyed playing. There was plenty of teamwork that worked well – overall, the ball was passed out and decision making and ball handling was good. Keep up the good work boys!