Quins Vets v London Irish - what a game!!

The Team (oh and what a bunch of Vets they were)
Jan, Mack, Gav, Jim, Brian, Kirk, Si, Bakes, Welshie, Loizos, Fab, Marren, Ray, Si, Alain
Our subs (spare team):
Darren, Karl, Ian, Fozzy, Tom
Two games in a row is always hard work for Vets and was always going to be the case in our annual battle against London Irish. Up for grabs were the bragging rights to the big one of the season for Quins and London Irish knew that we were up for revenge after last year when they ran riot with a centre of giant proportions who scored more tries against us than I care to remember. The week of the run up to the match was a bit of a tough one for your skipper as we lost some of our top talent – no Budge, Adi Mawson or PA available so it was great to get Jan on the team sheet and Fozzy returning for the first game of the season.
But we were still struggling in our bogey position of hooker so it was as if the gods were shining on the Vets when we managed to pick up a young lad Mac ten minutes before the game who said he was a rugby player and was a hooker. Now I am not sure what they feed kids on these days but Mac obviously been on the maxi-muscle since birth and with a perfect throw into the lineout it was looking like we had the complete team. Speaking of the line out, has anyone noticed our new second row pairing – the new lithe and slimmed down Jim with Brian make quite a combination so Mac had lots of options all day.
So from the starting whistle we started off well and aggressively and put enough pressure on Irish to keep them in their 22 for the first 15mins. They are a top team and were not going to let us cross the line easily so we had to settle for 3 points courtesy of a Loizos penalty. The game started to get quite feisty in the first half and Irish got close to our line but top defending from our ever stronger back row with the hit man Bakes, ably supported by Si and the big tackling Krik kept them score free. Our backs were playing some great passing rugby and their tackling was spot on, with Fab to the forefront of aggression and commitment. Thankfully we managed to get back into their 22 for a lineout which we drove through 4 phases before Bakes went over for the first try. Game on.
Not long later we lost Si to a shoulder injury but unlike last week when the balance of the team was knocked by changes, Fozzy came on and slotted in perfectly and as ever gave us more lineout ball than we deserved. But the Irish were not going to lie down and they got over from broken play to score a well worked try just before half time, 8 – 5 to Quins.
The second half was a fairly feisty affair and Irish were clearly rattled by our pack being on top all day. There were a few more yellow cards for Irish and that certainly helped us create a bit of space for the backs to run into. All day we had Loizos keeping us in their half with some wonderful tactical play and he managed one more penalty to start to stretch the lead. With a bit of restored confidence we started to run the ball into open play and from a cracking move that started in our half the ever faster Nic Marren battered his way over the line for a much deserved second try to Quins that was down to sheer commitment.
At this stage our pack was really dominating and the front row was inflicting a lot of damage on Irish. Gav, Jan and Mac were winning every ball and giving the Irish boys a real test. Even on open play they started to get some space and the sight of Gav on the hoof in space with ball in hand is wonderful for Quins but not one the Oppo will enjoy. But they kept coming at us and scored a great try from a well worked overlap by their backs which brought the game back to 19 – 10 with ten minutes to go.
With Jan having given his all we got Karl on for a run out and he got stuck in straight away and was trying to maintain his try a game record. He nearly got it but Mac just beat him to a wonderfully delivered ball from our all commanding out half and he sprinted over from outside the 22 right under the posts. Well done to the new boy and very much deserved. So another conversion from Loizos and that was it game over.
A top day for Quins and a great victory over a very strong London Irish team. There will not be many harder teams for us to play this year and in the Waldy afterwards it was great to have a few pints with them on slightly more friendly terms.
Man of the match was voted for by London Irish (so no suggestion of a fix) and as I am sure you will all agree that on the day the commitment from Gav Miller was exceptional in every phase. Strong in the scrum, committed in the loose and like Usain Bolt with ball in hand. Well done – 2 games on the trot.
The evening was finished off (I seem to recall some pubs) with a great Vets night out. Lots of old faces committing to come back and re-live their glory years so I look forward to seeing our numbers swell even further.
One last note for me is to the highlight of the day – it has to be the rendition of Delilah in the Waldy Arms from our Welsh Wizard Mr Loizos. What a performance. With reserves of talent like this in the Vets it is going to be quite a season!!
Cheers
Neil