Good Start for the Old Boys

In conditions more suited to a weekend in Ibiza Clapton’s Old Farts once again donned the black, white red and yellow stripped shirt for another bloody season. With the late withdrawal of Shelford 4ths Northern managed to pick up Stortford, a team that have had the better of the results against the two teams over the past few years.

Clapton themselves had a few absentees but with the influx of players in the senior teams the old boys welcomed several young’ns into the squad. None of them however were second rows so the club began the match with the overbearing figures of Damo and Stephen “No Name” Errickson at locks!!

It was decided to split the game into 4 twenty minute quarters but unfortunately Marion Von Twinkle Toes, who was referee, got a bit carried away in the first quarter and played 31 minutes….knob!!

The sides were evenly matched with Clapton looking slightly more dangerous in the loose. The home side took the lead in the first quarter after a break from Damo finally found Lobbo on the right wing who sprinted in. This was to be the first of 3 tries for the Welshy, who was enjoying the hard pitch, although I did have a chuckle after he had discussed at great length before the match about the various fitness sessions including hill sprinting he had done during the summer in preparation for the season, yet was breathing but of his arse after his first twenty meter break!

Clapton led as the second quarter started and to the relief of No Name, Big Kev (or Medium Kev as he is now known as he has lost 3 stone during the summer), had turned up. Stortford had the better of this twenty minutes with their young nippy fly half finding gaps in the ageing home sides defence….I would like to point out that this was Timmy Philps fault as he didn’t make my tackles as any good inside centre should. Talking of Timmy, comment of the day must go to him as he requested to only play a half as he hadn’t done any fitness during the summer, a reasonable request I hear you ask until you look at the state of the rest of the balding fogies……

Stortford fought back during the middle two quarters to take the lead after crossing for two tries before Lobbo first brought the teams level then crossed again with two minutes left to complete his hat trick and more importantly secure the win for the now knackered Old boys. Potato converted two of the tries and earlier narrowly missed with a drop goal attempt that just shaved the wrong side of the post.

This was a fantastic result for the team who are looking to complete the triple double this season. There first merit table match is this Saturday when they make the long trip to the very serious Harlow 4’s, 3pm Kick off

Many thanks must go to two true Old Farts in Pete “Old Git” Buckingham and Chris “enough said” Mackman for their positive contribution made from the sidelines!!!!

The man of the match rosette went to Paul “Sin Bin” Bacerra who was a revelation in the line out, aggressive in defence and wasn’t a naughty boy.