We won this game 71 – 0 with 7 tries and 1 conversion in first half, then 6 tries and 2 conversions in second half. With a record squad of 24 (from our total squad of 27) we had our work cut out in terms of giving everyone at least half a game. We had a slightly delayed kick off of 12.15pm with bright and still weather conditions. My usual reports are built around our tries and interwoven with exciting spells of play but with 13 tries, I will write a shorter piece today as it was a one-sided, yet exciting affair.

Try scorers:
Alex Moore – 3 tries
Isaac Evans – 2 tries
Charlie Houlston – 2 tries
Harry Burridge – 1 try
Barney Heath-Smith – 1 try
Max Stanley-Jones – 1 try
Ryan McBane – 1 try
Angus Walker – 1 try
Fabian Karadia – 1 try
Conversions – 3 (Adam Ryder, Johnnie Hogg, Sam Stevens)

We all know how talented our boys are against the toughest opposition that Gloucestershire has to offer, but it was hard to take too much away from today’s one-sided game. First, tribute must be paid to the Cheltenham North (North) players and coaches for playing our weather delayed fixture with a full squad and is evidence of the hard work they are putting in to build their team. It is important for the development and improvement of our team that we have competitive games, and I felt the North’s did well to remain positive against our talented team. Whilst they met us head on and had some good spells, they did not have any answers to both our firepower and champagne style of attack play. With any of our lads able to act as a strike runner getting across the gain line and with the subsequent quick ball there was a lot of space out wide which we clinically capitalised on, hence our 13 tries.

With 9 players on the bench, we were also able to try some new combinations and had some lads playing out of position (but hopefully not too much out of their comfort zones) which is important for the versatility and development of our squad particularly when we may have less players available for forthcoming matches. A special mention to those players; Captain Marvellous and usual centre, Alex Moore, played on the wing today allowing us to experiment with his position. He showed his devastating power to score a well-deserved hat trick. Usually a scrum half, modest Harry Burridge put in a skilful cameo appearance in the centres which was hopefully useful learning for him, and he was rewarded with a lovely try running in from the 22 when a ball spilt out of a North ruck.

Isaac Evans is our talismanic winger but performed equally well in today’s position of fullback scoring 2 great tries for his day at the office. Jack ‘Faf’ le Roux, who is often a hooker or flanker and sometimes a scrum half (for North last time), took one for the team at prop today which he found ‘interesting’ but had another great game in the loose.

Angus Walker, usually a loose forward, also found himself out of position in the lock but his time in the engine room did not diminish his impact and he was rewarded with a well worked try. Finally, Barney Heath-Smith was also out of position for part of the game at scrum half and scored a well-deserved try. Thank you to you lads for allowing us to try something different in a lower risk environment and hopefully you enjoyed the experience.

There were many moments, particularly interplays, to be proud of and I will mention just a few. First in attack; From a penalty quick tap, the ball found prop, Luke Smith, on one of his trademark rampant charges and he made important yards before offloading to very aware lock, Josh Hansen, who was right on his shoulder and still had a lot of work to do before getting over the line for what should have been a well-deserved try but unfortunately the ball was dislodged from his grasp.

It was also pleasing to see the backs trying their pre-rehearsed moves which gave our attack variety and from which we scored a number of tries. Also, having never personally witnessed a 50-22 kick, I have seen 2 in consecutive weeks with today’s magnificent effort coming from sublime fly-half, Ryan McBane, who launched a howitzer of a kick from deep in his own half.

Finally, few will forget almost unstoppable hooker Jack Harrison’s bullocking run up the touchline. After he was eventually tackled, Ryan received quick ruck ball timing his onward pass to Jack le Roux to perfection and allowing him to make precious yards before an off-load to everywhere man lock Charlie Houlston who was running a great line to score one of his two tries.

Whilst we did not have too much defending to do, North did put us on the back foot several times often through their dynamic and hard running prop Will who had a really impressive game. During one particular spell of concerted pressure in the second half, North looked like they would score their own well-earned try and it would have been understandable if we had let them in given their pressure on the back of our massive lead. However, with parallels to the waves of Zulus attacking Rorke’s Drift in the film Zulu, our boys somehow held them out which was a testament to the incredible mindset of our tenacious lads. This was a team defence, and the perimeter was held against the odds!!

Again thank you to North for hosting us on an enjoyable afternoon and well done on their efforts to build their team. Thank you to stand in ref, Mike Scourfield, from North who had a great game making sure both sides had a safe and enjoyable outing.

Training on the 4G this Tuesday at Tigers. Most importantly, well done to our boys for their humility and modesty after such a big win and this was evidenced in the after match debrief. The Old Pats bandwagon marches on to next Sunday’s home game against Drybrook which should be a cracking affair.

Pieter Hein le Roux