Not our best day at the office.

This will concentrate on the rugby side of this latest challenge against our friends and rivals from down the road.

Put simply, today we were outmuscled up-front and as a result won little quality ball to play rugby with; what little rugby was played in the game I would (undoubtedly with some bias) say was played by us however we just did not have enough ball to play with and that cost us against a bigger more physical side who themselves were most dangerous when one of their bigger forwards (and they seemed to have a lot of them) ran at us - they did not threaten at all in the backs and for all their possession ( I would estimate at 75%+ to them ) until the last few minutes only had a couple of tries to show for it.

Whilst we lined up with a few not playing due to illness and injury there were a few who took to the pitch not quite 100%, showing how much we are in need of a few more reinforcements in the ranks. The coaches are always concerned when the team are quiet during the warm up and the concern was well placed as the team started slowly again - we do need to help the lads start with more aggression and passion and hunger - maybe we need to insist that they get to bed on Saturday nights at a more sensible times, sleepovers, building websites and chatting on Facebook are not Premiership standard preparations for a big game!!

I thought there were some good individual performances today - the whole of The Heap Tribe saw some rumbustuous running from The Ram (I must have counted at least 45 of them, including two young ladies asking the Tanned Prop for his autograph at one point (I did say they should wait until after the scrum!!). Jonesy carried on where he has been for the last few weeks which was with some great ball carrying and Wolfy (I always think he should chase the Sheap .... lol!) showed some searing pace on a number of occasions.

Although about 100 yards form where Scribbler was stood, tackle of the day will go to Sutty - none of us on the side were quite sure what happened other than seeing the sparks flying in the air, bodies moving quickly to the sidelines and an elongated ooooohhh from the crowd - well done Sutty, great effort.

I would give plaudits to Mazzer who I thought managed Mark Ray, the Stockport 9 very well - they will spend a lot of the next few years competing and I thought today both would have walked away with an honourable draw.

Not withstanding the physical encounter that was the A team game - well done to all the boys for putting their hands up and agreeing to play in the B team game where there some memorable highlights, Tom Royle at fly half (secretly where he wants to play and sometimes it shows in the A team game) executing a drop kick which on the poor drop kick stakes was only equalled by one from Young Clarky who was trying his hand at 9 at the time - I’ve seen everything now, nimble, agile, quick flat pass to 10, a dummy to send the whole of the defence the wrong the way - NONE of these in his armoury, but at least he enjoyed it!

Finally a special mention for debutant Hassan who I though acquitted himself very well today, there will be easier matches to make your debut in but a huge vote of thanks for his efforts today.

Today was a tough rugby lesson that all maturing sides have to learn and hopefully not learn too often.

Sorry there’s not much quippery in there this week - for some reason I am not quite in the humour!