The chips were no longer down

With coach messiah Harrison May missing this week it fell to Jedi master Jay Howells and his Padawen Adam Hollidge to lead this team out. Adam added himself to the growing back row injury list after classing heads and being ruled out by the fine medical staff at #fortressmeads with concussion.
After a deluge of rain we arrived at Old Cranleighians, setting of some epic battles over the years and wondered whether the pitch would hold up to the other weather. Warm up conducted by Hollidge while Howells and chairman Barney Ratcliffe discussed tactics( ps can anyone tell barney he doesn't have to wear his rwc jacket everywhere he goes)
captain Loz Harrison rallied the troops and got the boys fired up and the game kicked off. The pack dominated proceedings in the first 5 minutes and the pack drive the retreating hosts back from the half way line to the 22. A penalty awarded a scrum was called again and the boys knew it was time for 'walkies' we pushed them from their 22 to the 5 m where t
He ref awarded us another penalty advantage no8 Ryan Dupe picked up and carried 3 players over the line but the ref was unsighted so sensibly we took the 3 points to put us on the scoreboard.
5 minutes before half time and Ryan went off with a cut on his eye and was replaced by debutant George Moody. Those last 5 minutes was sustained pressure from OC's and they got a try that they probably deserved but they didn't deserve the half time lead of 7-3.

Half time team talk was harsh but true this game was there for the forwards to win but we had to do the basics well. It turned about to be true the defence was outstanding and the passion and commitment for the badge and royal blue & gold was evident for all those who braved the weather to see.

Ryan now vassed up, the forwards straightened up and ready to show the league that we could battle and challenge anyone in our league after some disappointing results so far.

A crash up the middle and offload by Ed Bush, set off Ryan Dupe for a mazy run who made it to the opposition 22 who chipped ahead it stopped perfectly a cm before the try line and captain Loz pushed their player dead to ensure a 5 m attacking scrum.
From the resulting scrum it was going forward before their 9 realising the inevitable kicked the ball out. Therefore a penalty was awarded, quick thinking and a tap from Ed bush saw him crash over the line just to the right of the posts. The ref went back to the oppo 9 and yellow carded him.
Conversion missed (I don't know how)
George Moody put in big hits on debut,Kyle Smith out scrimmaged his opposite number and Michael 'Boz' Mason was a menace at the breakdown .

The game was on a knife edge till the final whistle but resolute D ensured a 8-7 win and put a marker down for Surrey 1.
It was pure darkness by the time we dropped into the changing rooms, but the fun was still there as after we showered we were told that Naughty Nige aka Nigel 'lineo' Robinson had missed placed his keys with everybody's valuables in the said car. The look of disbelief on Captain Loz face was a picture, thankfully there were found however it won't be last he hears of this with the players Christmas dinner to be had.
Next week sees us return to #fortressmeads to take on Kingston. #chipsfam