A wet and windy win to go top!

This was further compounded when Old Dustonians trundled out to the KO with two props with a combined weight of at least forty stone and the rest of the pack not far behind. It was not hard to work out their game plan.

The match started out as expected, with ODs dominant in the scrum and trying to play it through the forwards and Combe showing more adventure and a resilient defense. A close game from the start ODs led for large parts but with Combe constantly coming back. What OD's large forwards were achieving in the line out and scrum was being thrown away by their lack of invention and weak backs. Tries were traded as were kicks with Combe coming out the better. Nick Pace latched on to a great Matt Ody pass and broke through numerous defenders to score. He has now scored more this season for the threes (1) than his brother Alex has in two seasons on the wing. At a crucial point of the game with us trailing, Matt Ody showed great vision and skill to see the OD winger up flat and placing a great kick over his head for Garry O Dwyer to chase. Garry caught up with the ball and place a lovely fly hack over the try line which was greatfully pounced on by Ody chasing his own kick. Combes skill showed through and the forwards must be praised for their all round effort and the backs for continually trying things out on a day not made for silky skills.

Unfortunately the last 20 minutes became the referee show. I am not one for moaning about referees. I am aware of the great job they do (Roy Maybank has told me) and that decisions have to be made without the aid of touch judges and video refs with the games interests at heart. One thing I do dispair at is when a referee decides to try and influence a game. Until the last 20 the game had been tough, hard fought and close but well mannered. In a game like this tempers tend to fray and handbags are thrown. This happened with a little niggle that should have been sorted with a quick chat and we could have all moved on. Instead the referee lost his control and gave a series of terrible decisions to OD's that threatened to lose us the game with them camped down in our half. I may have to take some blame as, due to JT getting injured, I decided to bring some experience on to calm our boys down. I uttered those fateful words "Nobby, warm up" After this substitution we seemed to be constantly marching back ten, with Nobby offering the referee numerous pointers on how to run the game and also advising the opposition what they should go do to their own Mothers.

Still all good things must come to an end and we finished up winning a top game 20 - 25 and Nobby ended up fifteen foot in the air after a rather large prop decided to try a hand off.

Many thanks to those who braved the rain to come and watch. Your comments as always are appreciated. - Chris Fuller.