Normski seals 2 points at CIYMS

Sunday, 27 September 2009 13:55

CI 14 – Academy 17

We have had an excellent start to the season, but this is where it gets a bit more serious: the second of five season defining games from mid-Sept to mid-Oct.

We had a few changes this week – Nasher slipping in to the #3 shirt, The Bull returned at #1, Hubby returns from his Ashes duties, and Andy Eggleton started at centre. Unfortunately, Coop picked up our version of Swine Flu during warm up when his "McCarthy" muscle tightened, so Gav stepped forward into the#15 shirt. All change then! Some familiar faces around at CI, so all to play for.

CI’s jumbo pack set about beating us up, slowly…… and we met them full on as we’d planned – get in their faces…..Our defence was sound, as was LO and scrum and we showed more flair out wide than CI early on. On 7 mins, we moved into the CI half and from quick ball at the ruck Robbie H sniffed a gap at the fringe which he slipped through to go 30m to score: 0 -5. We had some decent possession without really doing anything – this must have distracted us a little as we started to make errors in defence, one of which led to a CI score on 18 mins as they engineered a serious overlap: 7- 5

In the final 20 mins of the first half, the game got more competitive and at times got away from the ref – he did manage to bin a CI player for a cheap shot, and towards the end of the half we created, then blew, 3 or 4 excellent scoring chances which we hoped we’d not regret. The main CI ploys were biff bang up front with a big hoof from McIlroy-junior at #10. Half Time: 7 – 5.

Early in the second half, we suffered some nonsense from the ref which sent many on the touchline into fits. On 66mins, the ref binned Gurt and their #7 for a dust up that resulted from both teams taking matters into their own hands as the ref was invisible. We still seemed to have an edge if we got decent possession and maintained our composure – Gurt was in the prime spot to see our next score on 70mins (under the posts with his greatest fans) – we pushed CI up field – Hubby tormented their defence, fed Norm coming in off his wing who kicked through for Jedens to rush through and touch down, Norm converted: 7 -12. CI’s chief tactic still got them in good positions to score – we held them out until 78mins when they eventfully pushed us over from a 5m scrum: 14- 12. They thought the game was won!!

In previous "lives" we may have buckled, but with a reasonable amount of injury time likely we still had determination and hope…..on 81 mins we broke up field with ball in hand for Andy E to strike in midfield, just as he was being dragged to the ground, 15m out from the CI line, he slipped a BOD-like pass to Norm cruising up on the wing – game over now!!! 14 -17.

An excellent showing, great performances all round – more to follow??!!

MAN OF THE MATCH: ANDREW EGGLETON

The Management……