Match Report

ACT Vets Regular Fixture - Sunday 6 June 2010

It was a miserable winter afternoon as the Vets rolled up for their regular internal fixture.  A few showed up early, demonstrating their keenness to play or their inability to recall the correct match start time.  Some limbered up with conventional stretches and warm ups whilst others demonstrated their capacity for the unconventional. Troy “Swami” Latter surprised onlookers with a well balanced headstand on the grass whilst someone commented that it was simple to do that when you possessed such a good square platform.

Today’s game saw the return of Craig “Ribs” Wilkes to the paddock after an injury to the area that gives him a new nickname.  A number of visiting players lined up including former ACT Vet Shane “Joombie” Paton from the Mandurah Raw Prawns in WA and Andy Lane from Thredbo for his first ever game of rugby.  Jayson “City News” Hinder arrived sporting a new coiffure sparking thoughts that he wouldn’t be playing.  But no need to worry, he soon pulled on a blue jumper.  Jayson was worried though as the next six players pulled on red jumpers.  The peanut gallery was concerned about a possible lopsided competition as someone yelled out to big Mick Trotter “what colour jumper are you going to wear Dad?” to which he replied “the colour of the jumper that fits me.”   Elsewhere on the grass dressing room a helpful soul asked “so what size jumper are you looking for?” and back came the reply “well I used to be XXXL but that looks like a slimfit these days.”

With formalities finished, 14 a side lined up under the watchful eye of referee Jack as Gareth “Grizzly Adams” Ellem kicked off to start the proceedings.  After the normal first minute of spirited running, the game moved into its normal pace before Woodsy makes a bust and unselfishly unloads to the younger Sean Harrington to open the scoring for Blue.  Soon after, Jason Smith finished some good running rugby to score for Red in the corner.  Blue tried to complain that they had been distracted by Red’s David Creagh seemingly writhing in pain on the ground, which could have been true as his pain eased when the try was scored.  A minute later and Red was in again to take the try count to Red 2-1.

Red looked to have the better of the running when Troy “Swami” Latter flicked a lovely little behind the back flick pass to start a number of good phases.  Out of nowhere the Creagh Express erupted with a 500 metre burst before offloading to a much slower Chris Parker who sprinted in for the try and a Red 3-1 try count.  Just to prove it was no fluke, Red moved the ball through 300 sets of hands before scoring another try courtesy of the visiting Raw Prawn, Red 4-1.  Then again for Red 5-1 at the first break.

The peanut gallery went wild when the second period started, with Papa Old Crock Smurf making a break and soon after Sean Harrington ran onto a good pass to score.  5-2 Red.  The scoreboard was ticking over but not as fast as the injury count.  Troy hobbled off with an ankle injury, Ashley left courtesy of a knee, Machine exited with a left ankle and a blue left wrist reduced the 14 a side starting lineup to 13-11 in favour of Red.  Seizing on the extra numbers, red scooted over to score, 6-2 Red.

In the interest of fair play, a Red ‘defected’ to Blue but that and a valiant, thundering chase by rampaging Woodsy was not enough to catch, Red 7-2.  In the blink of an eye, Jason Smith cops an elbow to the hooter (by name suppressed) and Woodsy is off on a charge once more, breaking through before offloading to Grizzly Adams, but alas no cigar as the break is signalled.

The last 20 minutes started with a try to Red (8-2) despite the desperate chase by “Ribs” Wilkes. 9-2 then 10-2 before Sean races over to pull back to 10-3 Red.  A last minute breakout by that man Woodsy and a deft flick to Ribs looked impressive for a minute before the ball is scooped up and Bruce Henry scampers over for the final try of the game, 11-3.  Referee Jack rattled the pea for game end as a breath of wind rattles the numbers on the scoreboard.  The wind ceased, the numbers steady, the scoreboard tells the story, 9-9.

Ian Jiear

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