Fun in the Mud

Another exciting match was seen by a good crowd for 3rd team level in a close encounter up on the 2nd pitch for the first game of 2016. Tring had the stronger start in very muddy and wet conditions with several players struggling to see at times due to mud in the eye and near drownings in a puddle. Tring started well, which is unusual but Aylesbury scored an intercepted try after 10 minutes to take the lead and their kicker added the 2 points from beneath the posts. Aylesbury then had a period of strong play in a match that constantly changed hands in terms of dominance. Tring went back to basics and decided to do what we do best in these conditions and use our strong experienced pack to gain some control. The pack worked hard for a push over try from a 5 metre scrum with Matt Adams the beneficiary showing good control and timing to pick the ball up and fall over the line from No 8. Nick Game then converted from around the 15 metre line, something their kicker was unable to do in the last minute.

Tring continued to press with the forwards and when we showed good ball retention we were able to control the game. Another scrum and a well timed pass from Matt Adams put Luke Patterson in the corner. He had a bit of work to do and showed good strength for an impressive finish in the corner. Luke was a very close contender for man of the match and has shown a lot of improvement at scrum half in the last couple of months.

My memory is a bit hazy, Aylesbury had scored another try at some point!! Maybe before or after Tring! Anyway at some point it was 12 all.

Tring then started to play again in the 2nd half and after making 5 substitutes at half time still managed to play some good rugby. The ball finally made it's way to Nick Game (which cheered him up for about a minute) after some more strong forward work, some good hands through the backs and Nick created a 2 on 1 to put Toby Sayers in the corner with his first touch in senior rugby, a good start to his Tring senior career. Nick then converted from near the top touchline to make the score 19-12. Tring continued with some good play but then decided to make the game interesting. Fair play to Aylesbury, in what is called a friendly, they never gave up and believed they could win. It turns out Nick Games kicking was crucial (hence I would not take him off the pitch) as Aylesbury continued to batter the door down of Tring's courageous defence. With the last play of the game Aylesbury scored in almost an identical place to the aforementioned kick that Nick converted from the Matt Adams try. Their kicker, unfortunately for them could not convert and Tring hung on for the win.

All in all this was a really good game of rugby. If I was neutral a draw would have been a fair result, but I am not and a win is a win. Tring have built a good habit of grinding out win's against good opponents and if we keep showing this grit and determination we should have a good 2nd half of the season to back up a good 1st half.

There were several contenders for man of the match. The entire pack played well, Matt Boswell is showing good signs of being a very decent 12 and it was great to see Rob Jones return to Tring colours after a 4 year absence. he was a very good addition to the squad. Man of the match however was Andy Sherring-Lucas for running around like a Duracell bunny and hitting anything that moved, stealing ball and being a general nuisance to the opposition.