What a game Shelford 5ths 21 : 14 March 2 & 3rds (written by Richard Craddock)
 
William Bank,Benjamin Gimbert,Louise Hazel , Martin Peerson , Kevin Painter ,can you hear me, your boys took a hell of a beating. For the youngsters google Bjorge Lillelien
 
Agincourt 1415
Spanish Armada 1588
Trafalgar 1805
Waterloo 1815
Bletchley Park 1942
Wembley 1966
Great Chesterford 1990
March (the place ) 2012
 
When I'm laying on my death bed waiting for the lights to go out I will remember certain events , those listed above and probably I will leave this mortal coil with the feeling I left the pitch with yesterday. I cannot described the emotion , but I'm writing the match report so I should try ! We brave band of few travelled north into the Isle of Ely (ancient capital - March) and knew we were in for a tough days sport. March 2nds having pulled their game against Cambridge and were waitng for us like Japanese soldiers dug into Iwo Jima. We were helped by a couple of friends but we were still recovering from the Xmas break, but as Clem tapped my stomach I knew I had to step up to the plate (or away from it in the case of seconds).

The tram arrived a bit like the dambusters squadron after the raid, in one's and two's but ready for action. We'd lost a few over enemy territory but we were going to play for the mighty Shelford 5ths and nothing was going to stop us. The line up was shuffled again and these are the names that will be carved into the granite wall I'm having commissioned for the club house wall. Dave T,Nick ,Eric,Lee B, Lawrie,Julian , Shaun,Gus, Will McG, Clem , Jim R,Ed, Nigel, Tom Q, Tom M, Fraser, Les and Henry + team supporter Crispy.

 

The game started at an alrming rate and this time we were dominant in the first half. Everybody played to their limits. Clem charged around the pitch like a man possessed (quietly), James W ran and tackled all day long, Will McG and Jules were great in all departments as was Lawrie right up until the point he had his nose broken - ouch ! The backs were electric and Tall Nige's run sucked in the opposition with Tom Q mopping up anything loose and running straight as always. Jim R and Ed made a brilliant half back pairing, all against quality backs.Tom M and Fraser on the wing didn't get that much but what they did was done perfectly - including a hit on Fraser that he is still feeling (his rib cage is like a memory foam mattress with the imprint of their no.8 still there)

 

Our first two tries were well worked moves with man of the match Tom Q darting through to score (their centre is still wondering where he is after a great side step. We went into half time 2 tries to nil up and although completely shattered were ready to take the fight to March. They brought more of their 2's to crack our resolute defence and eventually superior numbers meant they pulled two tries back but terrific try saving tackles (I now have a dislocated heart !) meant we held on until the dying minutes. It was time for the big men to step up and James W and the rest of the pack pushed up the pitch for Clem to score a typical Clem try under the posts to confirm our greatest win so far.

 

It was emotional , they had thrown everything at us (kitchen sink imprints everywhere) and we had triumphed, it will stay in my memory for a very long time and I hope it will in all the lads. We can now go on and repeat this more often if we can stick together and play like that every week. we are loosing a few players for a couple of weeks so I hope those missing yesterday will make a return to fill their boots.

 

Thanks for the effort and we'll do it all again next week and the next, and the next , and the next ,you can see where I'm going with this.