Quins Vets v Barnes Vets

This is becoming a recurring theme...before we go on, our best goes out to Garry McCarthy who had a nasty injury in the game, which almost caused me a heart attack more of which I will come onto later.

Ok chaps, the game was an awesome battle at Barnes albeit one which we ultimately lost something like 26 - 17. If you missed it, it was the reason we still play rugby!

We turned up to a freezing pitch and were tempted to ask to toss a coin for the win and watch the six nations. As you know, we were short of numbers and 10 mins before kick off Big Jim asked if we had 15 players to which we replied, sure we just need another couple to turn up. Eventually 15 players turned up although 3 were already half injured with Ryan, Ian and Wally all carrying knee / hamstring injuries and Hugh having to play full back out of position. Also Jan Low was making his season debut. Barnes had no such issues and we observed a well drilled full squad with a number of youngish looking big players, going through a good warm up. Despite the motivating team talk everyone was slightly concerned at kick off.

Immediately Barnes crashed into us and despite some valiant defence after a few minutes they scored with their fairly massive back row going over under the posts. Realising this was going to go one of two ways, the team rolled up their sleeves and got seriously stuck in! Jan Low took the ball up and handed off a number of their opposition. Out of position Hugh tackled like a demon at full back. Then at the first scrum the pack smashed them off the ball to the disbelief of barnes and Garry stuck us into the corner. After a line out which we actually won (well done Karl) Lister and Ryan led some good crash balls and made ground. Everyone gained confidence and Karl and Matt also made good ground into the oppositions defence. We started gaining confidence with the forwards realising we had parity. Eventually we won a penalty and Wally took a quick tap ball and burrowed over making it 5 all. However his hamstring went after this point and had to hobble off to the wing with Marren coming into the centres (no subs therefore going off injured not allowed!)

Barnes couldn't believe it and redoubled their efforts and after the kick off eventually worked the ball out wide and scored in the corner making at 12 - 5. To the teams credit we went straight back at them. After series of phases up the middle of the park, marren scored from 2 yards only for the referee to disallow the try allegedly for barnes players with their hands under the ball (could not see them myself!) Mawson made good yards from a planned back move and Big Jim and Languish also then made further ground at pace. Eventually 5 yards like, snorting like a wounded buffalo, Gavin Miller crashed over to make it 12:12 at half time. Barnes were seriously confused about this half time score....

Both teams realised they were in a battle and at kick off Barnes redoubled their efforts, their enormous second row took the ball at kick off ran straight at Gavin and was smashed backwards. Mawson and Marren were tackling hard in the centres with Ian covering a number of kick overs and booting the ball back. Languish was also chopping down their very useful back row. Dave now playing at full back also stopped a couple of certain tries with some desperate last ditch tackles.

Then Barnes chipped over, Garry Mcarthy ran back and grounded the ball over the try line only to see their fullback slide and cause a serious injury. This did require leaving the pitch (and an ambulance) which meant we were down to 14 in numbers although with the injured players actually we were down to about 12 and a half.

Barnes realising the space now out wide and behind us, chipped over and although their player appeared to drop the ball over the try line, try was awarded (unconverted) making it 17 - 12. Sense of injustice prevailing, Quins redoubled their efforts and after a good counter attack led by Hugh, Mawson and Wally on one leg, we gained a penalty, which after some crashing play by Ryan, Lister and Big Jim, Gavin managed to score a second try making at 19 - 17 with 10 mins remaining. Unfortunately in the last few minutes Barnes kept at it and eventually scored a very good try in the corner as we eventually ran out of numbers in defence due to injuries and being a man down. Congratulations to all players and an epic performance by everyone that ended in a valiant defeat.