A decent warm up set us off with some newer players starting to get a feel for the team and a good understanding of our game style (run and smash).

Kick off began and it was a difficult start with the opposition keeping us well pinned down within our half and scoring 2 tries within the first 10 minutes. After this we tried to shake things up a bit, for some players a bit too much with an in team scuffle almost breaking out on the pitch.

We kicked back to them again and started to play some proper rugby. Line outs were made tricky by not having too many lightweight players to throw up, so George Rees had to make some brave jumps into the air to try and retain the ball. It wasn't a bruising game, but when we broke through, we broke hard, eventually letting newcomer Tom Brown make a clattering run through breaking 4 or so tackles each time. A break down the blindside making our way into the enemy territory and allowing us to set up a penalty on their 22 metre line. We hit it up again, got close and couldn't quite manage to work it out to the backs due to muggins dropping the ball on a perfectly decent pass. Scrum down, and a few kicks later, we were back hitting their 5 yard line and after making his way almost there, Bill Camm stopped short by a yard or two, another dive for the line, and then he returned to pick the ball up and dive over the top to get our first try.

They came back hard, fighting their way back into our territory and scoring another try with a successful overlap proving too much for our defence. We tried very hard and nearly scored another after a blinding run, again down the blind side but a deliberate knock on by the opposition back did not yield a penalty try.

HT 15-7

The second half proved better in terms of defense and attack and for once it was looking like we were tiring the opposition out without an unlimited amount of subs. Jamie Alexander making some cracking runs through the lines and shipping it out to George Rees on the wing to score another Ath try. We were close.

After some battering runs by the opposition they managed to score some more points including a cheeky tap penalty near the line where they tapped, were stopped, tapped before the whistle, stopped, and then went again to score. We hit back with another breath holding kick from newcommer Joel Baker kicking wide to flanker Josh Lorenzo to set up and ship it back to the 10 for another try.

We were holding out at around 24-17 and then it all began to unravel as we just could not hold out the attack and suffered another few tries in the final 15 minutes or so.

FT 41-19

Man of the match: Difficult one because a lot of the guys had a cracking game on Saturday. George Rees, for stepping up into jumping in the lineout as well as being impressive on the wing. Jamie Alexander for being a monster in attack, as well as Tom Brown. Man of the match is no 10 Joel Baker for on his debut, scoring a try, but also managing the back line fantastically well under pressure of the opposition.

DOTD: Damo for allowing the red mist to appear mid match with another 'Ath'lete, but by proxy, Tom Brown for not scoring a try on his debut ;)

Captains note: Thanks to all the newcommers and Carl Jones for recruitment of them all. Was a blessing to have a fantastic back line of ability and forwards with some energy. I would like to say though, we are a team, and whatever happens on the pitch between players, stays there, and we cannot let the toxicity of on pitch gripes seep out after the game. Respect each other, and listen to one another, and keep your cool. Its embarrassing having your own team arguing with each other and makes us look bad as a club, as a team and as individuals. We shall however come back fresh for Bosworth, a must winner for me personally :D

Have a good week fellas