Wanstead Snatch Victory As Extra A Step Up A Level

Playing rugby the first weekend in September is not something the dinosaurs from the Extra A are very much used to. Give me the softer pitch and colder climate of a late September, early October Saturday any day!!

Any how, there the old boys were, a full ten minutes before kickoff, plying their trade this season in the Essex leagues. The clubs usual late arrival caused a certain amount of disruption with the home side's preparation as the kick off was delayed by ten minutes so they could return to the changing room to mentally prepare!!

The old boys had arrived with the bare 15 after a couple of late withdrawals. Use2be manfully stepped up to prop to ensure a competitive scrum.

The game kicked off and it was immediately noticeable that this was not going to be a walk in the park as the home team tore into our former Thornwood legends with great pace and strength. In fact during the first twenty minutes Clapton struggled to win any quality ball but made countless tackles, the centre pairing of "cup final" Des and LESLEY STACEY (Stacey Leslies alter ego (but this one catches AND passes)), were both making bone shuddering hits.

On the 25 minute mark the pressure finally told with the Wanstead winger finding some space to race in.

Now I'm not sure if this try caused Wanstead to take the foot off the accelerator or the club upped their own game but from the kick off the old boys regained possession and started recycling the ball. 5 minutes later the ball found Lobbo out wide who ran in after a neat break from LESLEY STACEY.

Potato failed with the extremely difficult conversion attempt from the touchline which meant Wanstead went into half time with a narrow 2 point lead.

At this point Use2be who had started to struggle in the front row was forced from the field with hurty ribs. Kenty stepped up to the front row with Barks, who had been watching, quickly found some kit on the touchline and joined the fun on the wing.

The second half started with the club, showing their superior fitness levels continuing where they left off in the ascendancy.

The old boys were now returning the first half pressure and got to within 5 yards of the oppositions line. Unfortunately a loose pass from Lobbo was intercepted by the grateful Wanstead winger who ran the length of the field to score (he could have walked it as none of us were going to chase him that far).

You would think game over but this was not the case as Clapton again attacked. They were finding success out wide which resulted in two tries over the next twenty minutes. Lobbo crossed for his second and "cup final" out sprinted a guy half his age to score as well. Potato also chipped in with a penalty to give the club a 6 point lead going into the last quarter of the match.

Clapton’s resurgence was having quite an effect on the home side's supporters with the referee losing patience with one bloke and sending him off to the changing room. He then called the two captains together to inform them that if we couldn't control our supporters then the game would be called off. Quite simple for us as we only had Diddy and Marion cheering us on.

The game restarted again but no sooner as it had the referee blew to abandon the match due to the continuing naughtiness from the touchline. There then began some intense negotiations that eventually allowed the game to restart, all quite amusing actually.

Wanstead were now on the attack as they desperately tried to claw back the 6 point deficit. With time running out and with Wanstead deep inside the Clapton twenty two the referee awarded Wanstead a series of penalties as Clapton’s defence teetered on the brink. The ref finally lost his patience (again!) and with the final play of the game awarded a penalty try much to the delight to everyone in a Wanstead shirt. The conversion was made for the narrowest of victories.

Although a defeat the old boys (with only two players under 40 in the team) should be extremely proud of the way they performed, especially as Wansteads first team didn’t have a game that day!!

The Man of the Match Rosette went to LESLIE STACEY, we would like him to play more often please, although he still squeals like a piggy!

Next week the old boys have a second merit table match, this time at home to Dagenham.