University of Liverpool Medics 22 – 29 Lymm Eagles

Eagles Return to Winning Ways Against Youthful Medics

Following last week’s defeat to league leaders Moore, Lymm Eagles knew that they would face another severe challenge, away against a youthful and strong team from the University of Liverpool’s School of Medicine at their Wyncote ground.  This was a very important match for the Eagles. For several valid reasons, the Eagles had been unable to fulfil either of their home or away fixtures scheduled against the Medics before Christmas earlier this season.  This scribe was informed that it had been agreed that this match would be a “double header”, with the winning team taking credit and points for both the postponed home and away fixtures.

During the week, Captain Olly Brown was pleasantly surprised to find himself with a squad of over 20 available players with a number returning from injury (true or alleged). Newcomers Gareth Evans, Sam Cook and Eddie Vearnals together with wily veteran Martin Henderson, were, for some inexplicable reason, still willing to return and put their bodies on the line for the Eagles. It was also good to have youngsters, Finn Henderson, (son of veteran Martin), Finn Crow, Patrick Cummings, and Louis Hind (spectator) coming along.

In view of the virtually continuous rain during the week, captain Olly, spoke to his opposite number at the Medics to assess the chances of the game being called off. He was informed that the pitches would probably be playable, but the Medics were struggling with numbers and might only have 12 players. Olly sportingly agreed to lend them players if required to ensure that the fixture could be fulfilled.

Despite the good weather on Saturday morning by the time the squad arrived at Wyncotes the grey skies threatened rain. We were surprised to learn that the match would be played on their spanking brand new AGP pitch instead of the usual grass pitch located as far away as possible from the changing rooms and usually frequented by large numbers of incontinent Canada geese. Although the AGP would still be playable in the rain, it was not popular with the Swamp Donkeys (Forwards) who tend to prefer the softer feel of mud as many of them usually spend most of the game on their hands and knees. It was also reassuring to learn that the Medics had managed to raise a full squad and a few subs.

As the referee blew to start the game, the heavens opened and the rain fell in torrents. In fact, the rain became persistent and it persisted down all afternoon with little or no let up. The wet ball skidded around the AGP with everyone trying to grasp it while blinking and trying to see through the rain. Well inside the Lymm half, the loose ball found its way into the hands of outside centre, Reece Forrest who set off on a sprint to the line a full 60m away.  Reece almost made it in a great solo effort but was intercepted by a flying Medic a few metres out. Still on his feet, Reece manged to slip the ball into the hands of rampaging Prop David Coon, who had shadowed Reece’s run. David crashed over the line for his first try of the season. Scrum half Chris Fuller added the conversion (0 – 7) after 4 minutes.

The Medics seemed a bit stunned by this early score and for the next 15 minutes were decidedly on the back foot. Lymm were pressing hard with flanker Marc O’Connor having a strong game just denied a score by being held up over the line on a couple of occasions. Eventually, the Medics changed their gameplay to avoid the dominant Eagles forwards and move the ball out wider to their fast wingers. With 25 minutes of the clock a well worked move through 3 of 4 pairs of hands saw the Medics winger nip over in the corner for a good but unconverted try. (5 – 7). Buoyed by their effectiveness of their new strategy, only a couple of minutes later the Medics managed an almost identical move resulting in a try under the posts to make the conversion easier (12 – 7). With the score reversing so quickly, the Eagles seemed to become a bit frustrated that some of their classic moves (up the jumper and drive it forward) was having less effect than earlier in the game.  This produced a series of unforced errors for which the Eagles were repeatedly penalised. The referee issued a couple of warnings about repeat offending and with 30 minutes on the clock, flying fly half, Alan Reddecliff was the recipient of a yellow card and 10 minutes rest in the dugout.

Captain Brown, used to the break in play to bring on some of the subs and speak to his troops about changing the game plan. This appeared to have the desired effect and forced the Medics to use long downfield kicks to clear their lines as Lymm pressed hard. Liam “Sully” Sullivan at full back fielded these running at pace and was able to slice straight back through the opposition closely supported by wingers Patrick Cummings and Finn Crow. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the scoreline remained unchanged for the 10 remaining minutes to half time.

Half Time: Liverpool University Medics 12 – 7 Lymm Eagles

More strong words at half time from Olly, with the emphasis on supporting the ball carrier, accurate passing and retaining possession. The referee spoke to this scribe at half time to say that his notebook had become completely waterlogged and he was unable to keep a written note of the score. He said that I appeared to have an honest face and handed the scorekeeping duties over to me. I informed him that I was just as PWT (Piss Wet Through) as him despite wearing two Lymm branded so called waterproofs at the same time. (PS. They aren’t waterproof).

From the restart, the Lymm forwards worked hard to gain possession in the loose and the set pieces, but the Medics seemed to have found some beefy subs to bolster their game and nullified the effectiveness of the Lymm pack. However, the front row of David Coon, Olly Brown and new boy, Gareth Evans remained rock solid allowing regular locks, Ben Stroud and George “Ringo” Harrison and Craig Capewell at No.8 to provide the grunt from the engine room. With clever support from Finn Henderson at flanker, scrum half Chris Fuller whipped around the back of a Lymm scrum to spin a quick ball out to Alan Reddecliff at fly half who dummied and swerved his way past a couple of grasping Medics to score near the corner on 46 minutes. The distance proved a bit far for Fullers conversion (12 – 12).

The medics continued to use long kicks from deep in their half to try and drive the play up field. Again, Sully Sullivan and Ash Caffrey now at the wing worked well to bring the ball back into play.  On 52 minutes, the ball was run back in from deep and was cleverly switched inside into the waiting hands of Reddecliff allowing him to angle his run to score under the posts for an easier conversion by Fuller         (12 – 19). Reddecliff was also instrumental in the next Lymm score only 3 minutes later when his accurate crossfield kick was collected by Sully travelling at full tilt to go over in the corner for an unconverted try. (12 – 24).

Despite being ahead on the scoreboard, the Eagles now seemed to lose a bit of discipline which did not go down well with the ref. He marched Lymm back 10 metres on a couple of occasions for backchat and even advised a certain forward (temporary on field captain David Coon!) that his job was to keep the front row up and not to referee the game. Only a few minutes later, on 60 minutes, he judged a hard tackle from lock Ben Stroud to have been made with his shoulder and no arms which earned him a 10-minute rest in the sin bin. All this happened 5 metres out from the Lymm line and the Medics were able to capitalise from disruption caused by the incident to dart over for a simple try. The conversion was surprisingly missed (17 – 24).

Lymm quickly gathered their composure and resumed doing what they were good at. Gaining possession in the loose and getting the ball through the hands to the fast boys out wide. One of these well worked moves reached the outstretched hands of Finn Crow on the wing, who first demonstrated his expert juggling skills involving both hands and feet before setting off at a blistering pace from within his own half to score a great individual try in the corner on 64 minutes. The conversion was close but unfortunately no coconut (17 – 29).

Over the next 5 minutes Lymm continued to annoy the ref with much muttering and unforced infringements with repeated warnings that any more penalties would be rewarded with a yellow card. True to his word a couple of minutes later, The Medics worked their way up towards the try line and the ref gave several penalty advantages before the Medics flanker managed to crash over for an unconverted try (22-29).  No.8 Craig Capwell was judged to have overstepped the mark in some regard (“I f*cking held that ball up SIR”) and was duly given his marching orders for 10 minutes to complete Lymm’s hat trick of yellow cards to the Medics single yellow earlier in the match.

This led to a nervy final 10 minutes of the game as the Medics continued to press hard for another score and it was only ferocious tackling by the whole team that prevented them getting across the Lymm line. Shortly before full time young Patrick Cummings, who had played extremely well all match, almost got his deserved reward when he crossed the Medics line to score in the corner on 77 minutes. The referee initially signalled the score and was so convincing that this scribe even took up his position behind the posts to flag for the kick. Unfortunately, when the scoring of the try was reviewed by the referee after an appeal from the Medics, it was disallowed. This scribe is not sure, why the decision was changed as I was still dancing up and down behind the posts and did not bother to enquire why.

The final whistle followed shortly afterwards which was accompanied by an almost immediate reduction in the volume of water falling from the sky and the parting of the clouds to provide a bit of watery sunshine. Bloody typical!

Full Time: Liverpool University Medics 22 – 29 Lymm Eagles

A good win for the Eagles in a difficult and hard-fought game. A few issues with discipline from the Eagles which earned them 3 yellows and the wrath of the referee. Although the referee commented on my honest face, when he asked me for the final score, I may have inadvertently reported it as 22 – 34 in Lymm’s favour as I had already written Lymm’s last try in my notebook and he seemed happy with that. In the pub afterwards, I went through my arithmetic with the Eagles, and they pointed out that the last try had been disallowed. Therefore, I have given the adjusted score in this report.  I was unable to correct the information given to the ref as he jumped into his BMW and disappeared from the ground without getting changed.

Once again, an excellent performance by all the lads as a coherent team and reminiscent of the Eagles playing abilities of recent years. As for Man of the Match, due to the blinding rain and the fact that I lost my spectacles at some stage during the afternoon, my vision was even more suspect than usual. Therefore, I will leave that decision to those on the pitch in a better position to decide. Next week the Eagle’s meet Liverpool University’s Veterinarians at Crouchley Lane. Please answer Olly’s call to arms and make yourselves available to keep up the winning momentum. As ever, all welcome.

Tries: David Coon (4), Alan Reddecliff (46), (52), Liam Sullivan (55), Finn Crow (64)

Conversions: Chris Fuller (4), (52)

Team: Gareth Evans, Olly Brown (C), David Coon, Ben Stroud, George Harrison, Finn Henderson, Marc O’Connor, Craig Capewell, Chris Fuller, Alan Reddecliff, Patrick Cummings, Sam Cook, Reece Forrest, Finn Crow, Liam Sullivan

REP: Jim France, Martin Henderson, Eddie Vearnals, Ash Caffrey

Match Report: Pete & David Coon