Campion vs Welwyn Players Match Report

Campion 7 Welwyn 20. RFU Senior Vase.

After Welwyn’s win against Hampstead the previous week at Handside, they were breathing confidence in the lead up to the first round game of the senior vase away to Campion in Essex, who incidentally were languishing at the bottom of London 3 North East.

The 1st XV squad had a rendezvous meet at Welwyn rugby club for 11:45 to leave the club for 12, believe it or not the majority of the squad did not turn up for quarter to 12 or 12 so there was some serious fining before we even left the club and as you can imagine the sock was bulging. After all outstanding debts were counted up we were on our way down the motorway to give those Essex ‘’Chumps’’ a jolly good thrashing. We arrived at Campion at 1o’clock and quickly got changed into our shorts, socks, shirts, boots, lycras and air compressed leggings, ‘’aiding blood circulation around the body to make performers work to their highest potential level’’ (aka. ‘’bloody stupid, girly leggings’’ according to the front row!). The match was due to kick off at 2:30, so after a fairly intensive warm up we were up and raring to kick some Campion ass.

It didn’t take long before the Welwyn contingent scored their first points of the game with two penalties converted in quick succession by full back Gareth Hughes followed by a superb try from the back line starting in our 22 with lovely handling from Lordy, PJ and Owen culminating in a fantastic try by outside centre Puke Williams, (yeah, that’s right forwards a try made by the backs! Except for Owen but he’s a wannabe back!). The forwards eventually started pulling their weight, sucking the Campion players into contact for Pukinda (eventual MOM) to break the line after a majestic pass from the fly half running three quarters of the length of the pitch to score under the posts, it was converted by Garthy leaving the half time score Welwyn RFC 20 Campion 0.

The half time talk lead by coach man Pete left us with confidence even though we were going to be facing an up hill struggle (literally) in the second half, Peter had also had made some changes with nubees Dean and Anton coming on at flanker and left wing respectively and later on in the half Dave Hayward at prop. It was becoming increasingly difficult to defend up the slope being in our 22 for twenty minutes and Campion scored a consolation try followed by a conversion by their fly half toward the end leaving the final score 20 – 7 in Welwyn’s favour.

We then proceeded to shower and got changed into our formal nightwear with the theme ‘’Loud and Proud’’ some of the players looking incredibly homosexual, Morton with his short shorts and cowgirl ensemble, Mannequin with his Rio de Janeiro beach look, Lukey looking like he had stepped out of snatch, I especially enjoyed Banksy's attempt to rekindle those days of old when he actually had hair, Sauvé with that oh so 70’s look, classic, PJ with his rather fruity pink number and coach man Pete wearing the clothes he had pulled out of his wife’s wardrobe without her knowing, to name only a few. I would agree that without doubt it was a good day especially as we look forward to continue our cup run in the same fashion, but thoughts now turn to next Saturday as we take on Enfield Ignations away at Donkey lane in the league. With a big W on the score sheet I leave you with a little gem of mine ‘’ Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing’’!

Louis Richards aka LDB