'Never touch your idols' - Gustave Flaubert

3 new starters this week, welcome to Nic, James, Chris – fantastic to see the group growing, they all said they enjoyed it and would be back for more. When we saw how out of breath they were we realised that it must be doing something for our fitness.

Photo: Usual exuberant warm up

Nice warm up just simple passing drills we need to keep this up as often our simple pass lets us down. This was developed into drawing the man and passing, something which, if the author had done on at least two occasions, would have made an easy try in the corner. As numbers were a bit low we started on a smaller pitch but quickly realised it was too small so we went to full size touch pitch. Yet again defence was strong on both sides, communication and keeping a line are the key and both teams (including one team consisting the 3 new players) did exceptionally well at this, as a result lots of handling errors while attack tried some intricate moves to break the defensive line. Have to say as usual great fun this week, fast game and we were impressed how quickly the new players picked up the game.

Mentions of the night go to: Brad with quick feet and good balance did break through a few times for ‘easy’ tries. But try of the night goes to one of the new players Nic, with quick thinking right on the try line made a quick restart and dived below the opposition hands for a well-deserved try, we ignored the fact that dummy half can’t score and awarded the try anyway. The ignoble prize goes to Iain Lock: who stood as dummy half in the middle of the field calling for a runner, a short stroll up to make a touch meant an easy changeover, I think Iain is still waiting for a runner!

Each week I’m going to post some rules here so we can eventually lean them all:
Dummy Half cannot score, sanction: changeover restart with a roll ball.
Performing a restart over the mark, sanction: PENALTY.
PENALTY is awarded 10M forward from infringement, opposition must be 10M back.

Next week a friendly away to Royston. Royston have recently been in a tournament and will share their experiences especially Referee sanctions!

Kenny