With the crocuses already out and the ewes getting ready to lamb, it should have been warm, but winter is dragging on and today felt freezing for this second home game against a much more professional looking Cirencester team who had clearly been eating a lot of steak since our last meeting with them.

Even with our Gloucester lads playing in Porthcawl of all places, we still had a strong squad of 20 and whilst we won the toss, we opted to kick off meaning that Cirencester choose to play downhill with the wind in the first half. In addition, we again had no society assigned referee, but we did have the talented international ghost referee and generally good bloke ‘Winky’ Barnes (aka Chris Woodward) who stepped into the breach but more about that later.

From the mis-fired kick off, Cirencester were awarded an attacking scrum in the middle of the pitch and, using their big forwards they ended up camped on our line and could have scored on several occasions but for our heroic defence. After a knock on from us, they ended with a scrum in our 22 and went blind to score a well worked TRY from their winger in the corner but with the conversion missed.
0-5 Try to Cirencester

As quick as a flash, Cirencester again worked their way into our 22 and from quick phase ball close to the break down they went over for a well worked TRY and an ominous 10-point lead which looked to be a harbinger of things to come.
0-10 Try to Cirencester

To be honest, during the opening exchanges we looked sluggish, dopy and a bit shell-shocked against this powerful Cirencester side. We had little ball and were on the back foot with their dynamic forwards dominating much of the loose. It looked like we might have met our kryptonite today and would finally be undone by this well drilled side who played to their strengths – O ye of little faith!!!

Our lads rarely panic and the encouraging words coming from the team behind the posts during the opposition conversions focused on the need to get possession and play ‘our game’. When we did get the ball, we looked dangerous but could not convert this pressure into points. That was until chaos causing and insurgent-like hooker, the gutsy Jack Harrison, took matters into his own hands during a period of scrappy loose play in the opposition 22 and crashed over from close range for an important TRY just keeping us hanging on by our fingernails.
5-10 Try to Jack Harrison

Dominant Cirencester continued to turn the screw on us and this time their strong running centre broke our line and scored a well-deserved TRY which they converted starting to leave us with that queasy feeling you get when you have an imposing mountain to climb.
5-17 Try to Cirencester

There followed a period of see-saw with Cirencester, using the slope, often dominant which must have been tiring for us to take all that punishment. One particularly memorable interplay came from our inspirational captain and lock, Charlie Houlston, who showed great hands to make an important interception and then awareness to off load to sizzling winger, Charlie Langmaid, who beat a player on the outside and then put a tricky kick up the far touch line to give us such much needed respite.

With the seconds ticking towards half time and down 17 – 5 we were just about hanging on for the second half. Fortunately, our multitalented prop, Ben Lord, who has the body of Sam Underhill and the hands of Joe Root, had other ideas feeling another try before half time would aid both our cause and our morale. After some loose play he showed his killer instinct getting hold of the ball and then out muscling the opposition to go over from short range for a crucial TRY which must have psychologically hurt our visitors.
10-17 Try to Ben Lord

The half time whistle followed shortly thereafter, and it was a relief to be only 7 points adrift against this decent opposition with the downhill ahead of us. I feel lucky to be able to listen into the half time words from our lads which are always wise beyond their years. Due to the combination of everyone trying their best and the trust that exists, this team have created a psychological safety to be able to talk about their challenges without making it personal. This means that the lads can focus on problem solving rather than arguing which they almost always seem to do through encouragement and positivity. It looks to be a winning recipe.

With us now playing down the slope, the Cirencester kick-off found dangerous and ever dependable Sam Stevens who scampered slightly across field appearing ready to attack but it was just a feign as he then launched a kick which mirrored the Saturn V rocket trajectory with an added sonic boom for good measure. This, together with the team’s rapid follow up, meant Cirencester were pinned deep in their own half with us skilfully winning possession back. After several phases the ball found, who else, but our wonder boy, Ben Lord, who still had a lot of work to do and again showed his great prowess and mobility, taking several of the Cirencester team with him, to score another fantastic TRY.
15-17 Try to Ben Lord

The next bit of play left us all thinking ‘What the ……. ?!!’ With us still behind, Cirencester were on the charge building some momentum in our half, but lionhearted flanker, Max Stanley-Jones, was on hand to put in another one of his thumping tackles dislodging the ball which loitering Ben Lord was able to pounce on. It all happened so quickly, but somehow the ball ended back with mesmeric Max who showed his incredible power and awkward pace to break through several opposition tacklers to run from half-way and score a phenomenal solo TRY. Today Cirencester were a good defensive team who made their tackles, but they had no answers to Gladiator Maximus.
20-17 Try to Max Stanley-Jones

We needed another try to secure the game and had several more opportunities. Wily, now scrum half, Barney Health Smith, who had another influential game particularly in defence where he was fearless against solid opposition lads, put in a clever kick into space behind the Cirencester defensive line, with flying fullback, Isaac Evans, making the important follow-up tackle and then sneaky winger Charlie Langmaid picking and going down the blind followed with a cheeky chip, but Cirencester just managed to diffuse this threat. Shortly afterwards our hooker and Hercules look alike, Sam Woodward, was also unlucky not to dot down a wayward pass behind the Cirencester line which would have been a just reward for all his unsung efforts over many games. Finally, our daring captain, Charlie Houlston, was on hand to apply the coup de grace with one of his trademark charges from medium range to go over for a great TRY under the posts. Cometh the hour, cometh the man!! Bazooka Ben Lord capped off a fantastic personal effort to converted with aplomb.
27-17 – Try to Charlie Houlston with conversion by Ben Lord

What a game and another great team performance but with a few special mentions. First, they call Ollie Thorley Gloucester’s 100% percent man for his effort, and we have our own 120% man in Daniel Coolican Davies who had another important game today for us on the often-lonely left wing which he always anchors with his big heart and brave defensive effort.

Wizard like flyhalf, Ryan McBane, had another great game for us with his authoritative kicking and his unique ability to deceptively take the ball to the opposition line where he conjures up a spell-binding indecision in the defenders’ eyes allowing him to craft a precious moment of time and space to then almost always makes the right call with either great distribution or the odd half break allowing us to get over the gain line. In defence he is not afraid of anyone.

Finally, understated, and modest centre Sam Stevens has been such an important player for us over so many games. He seems rarely ruffled, with plenty of time and has a bit of Gloucester and Scotland’s Chris Harris about him in his ability to always take the right option whether that be running intelligent lines, distributing, launching rocket-like kicks, or helping to organise our defensive efforts. He had another great game for us today.

A big thank you to Chris Woodward for stepping up to referee this game which is difficult at the best of times especially when done so rarely and in real time. Ever the gentleman, he needed his trademark and endearing calm aura about him at times today – thank you Chris. Finally, to our lads, every game we come away thinking that was your best game but then the next game you surpass yourselves. The skill and flare you display makes all of us supporters so proud to be associated with you. More importantly, despite being an eclectic mix of lads with different personalities and from various schools seeing how inclusive you all are, particularly to your wounded, shows that you would never leave anyone behind on the battlefield. This is a sign of the high regard you hold each other in – an important trait for a formidable team with a humble culture that is always eager to learn and improve.

Hein le Roux

(Posted by Laurence Hale)

27

Tries 5
Conversions 1

17

Tries 3
Conversions 1