Are we getting too old for all of this??

As the rain piddled down the Extra A rather sombrely trudged out to play another merit table match against local rivals Harlow. Upon hearing that it was a 3pm KO and not a 2.30pm as originally thought, the realisation that they may for the first time in 9 years have to warm up was quickly put to bed as back to the changing rooms they went (and at a greater pace than earlier I might add) At this point also it was noted that they were without a referee.
With Marion in the clubhouse nursing a hurty back and no other suiter available it was ledt to Mr Versatile Stephen "No Name" Erricson who was originally selected at scrum half, moved to the wing to accommodate Sin Bin, moved to the bench to accommodate Louie Spence and finally agreed to ref, all in the space of the morning!

With referee in place and no other excuses available back out the old farts went and at the stroke of 3pm the game commenced.

Harlow had arrived with a mix of youth (rather big youth to be precise) and seasoned veteran While the club fielded old.

The game was a mere 5 minutes old when shouts from the touchline indicated that the ref had finally arrived and so Mr Erricson was despatched back to the bench.

The game itself was an extremely physical encounter (I can confirm that by the state I woke up Sunday morning in) but played in good spirits by either side.
Both packs had success with there driving mauls while in the backs the Harlow centres tried but failed to break through the Clapton defence. The baldy partnership of Chatters and Piggy both outstanding (don't tell them I said that though) Clapton took the lead midway through the first half after a series of drives ended with PAT (said in a raspy Frank Butcher kind of way) bulldozed over from close range. That was to be the only score of the first half.
Harlow had the better of the exchanges during the opening spell of the second half. A penalty reducing the deficit to two points and then a try out wide to take the lead.
Clapton however were not done and back they came with a Kenty try to recapture the lead...wow this was exciting stuff.
Harlow had made some forward changes that benefited the home side as the pack took control and saw the game out by keeping it tight.

As said earlier a great game played by two experience teams in excellent spirits.

The Big Kev sponsored MOM medallion (if I can ever find the bloody thing) went to Mini Me who ran his little legs into the ground, aww bless him.

No game next week for the Oldies which is just as well as it will take some time to recover from that!