Another level, but Tring fought hard!

This was another very tough fixture for the 3rd and 4th team combined XV. To be greeted at OMT's club by their team manger, with a clip board, we knew we were in for a tough afternoon and not against perhaps the expected opposition. Having spoken to said manger, who told me they had one or two who were pushing first team and that the pitch was of international standard we realised we had a tough afternoon in hand. The pitches were unbelievably amazing and even the evergreen Bruce Ferguson commenting that after several years of playing rugby it was the best pitch he had seen. The opposition looked extremely well drilled and went through their patterns of play whilst we had an enjoyable game of touch to warm up. Undeterred by the opposition Tring combined side gave a great account of themselves, each and every player gave everything to the cause with each man putting their body on the line for the Black and Gold. With Tring's supporters doubled this week to four (Shane, LUKEY's dad, my mum and Bob) it was clear OMT's may have had a few more than a couple pushing first team as their rather large and fast prop scored the opening try, by running over a few people.

We did fight back though with a brilliantly crafted try with some solid and quick ball from the pack and some great hands out in the backs for Aiden Manning to put Nick Game away in the corner. We turned into the 2nd half at 19-7 to down. Tring really stuck at the task and some of the defensive work was nothing less than courageous. Eventually the opposition's patterns, strength and fitness told, but I can't stress enough how well we played. If we play anything like this in the league we will do well. Credit to all the players for their commitment, including Matt Adams for showing all of his experience and dark arts as man of the match. I have to mention also Henry Morgan playing his first match for the club and Matt Gleave only his 3rd who both got stuck into the game as though they had always been a Ranger.

All in all, we came up against up probably 10 players of fairly equal ability and 4-5 who were clearly a level above and given a run out. However this game will actually have done us a lot of good and we will certainly be battle hardened for this weeks physical fixture against Letchworth 3's. We were grateful for the game and the chance to play on that pitch.