Yeah, it really was that cold, wet & horrible - and that was just watching from the side lines...... I'm pretty sure rolling round in the freezing mud did not make it any more enjoyable for the players.

New year had started with a cup game, then a friendly and now we were going to finish our January fixtures with a League game - we're certainly packing it all in for 2018. Big ask for the boys to follow up last couple of games with yet another big performance - forecast was grim with rain, mud and more rain being the order of the day (well that was until the rain turned to sleet & snow obviously).

So Bancroft, on a high from recent games, came up against our local neighbours Eaton Manor. Unfortunately Eaton Manor had clearly not read the script and were bang up for a proper full on game of rugby and roll around in the mud. Things started well enough with Bancrofts early opening try from Theo but Eaton Manor kept their heads and came back with, not only an equaliser, but then followed up with a well deserved second try to take the lead after 20 minutes.

Bancrofts turn to refocus and dig deep now. Bancroft managed their own equalising try (Not entirely sure who scored it as on other side of pitch, and from a serious of rolling rucks where the ball seemed to go every which way but forward, but I'm going with Jordan). Louis managed the only conversion of the day - Brave attempts from both sides on the conversions all through the game but a pretty hopeless task in the conditions - to give Bancroft the narrowest of leads. Last play of the half saw Benedict extend the lead for Bancrofts with a vital try to establish a bit of breathing space on the score sheet at half time.

Second half starts with the rain turning into sleet and then snow. Everyone is giving everything in attack and defence for both teams. Bancroft keep the ball alive during an attacking phase which sweeps across the width of the pitch. As the play is stretched Benedict sees the opportunity to switch back in and finds a gap just big enough to get down for another try.

With the scores at 24-10 Eaton Manor come back hard and there is a battle royale in the middle of the pitch as both sides attempt to gain control. As the play gets stretched the spaces open up and this time Louis finds the gap. He breaks Eaton's Manor's defensive line and gets in the corner to score a try.

Game restarts and everyone is bogged down in the midfield mud. Bancroft get a penalty - all the coaches are shouting - kick it off, line out, simple ball, go through the phases - awful weather conditions absolutely dictated the required course of action. Needless to say the boys did their own thing and, to the coaches frustration, Ollie kicked an up and under into the corner ........(and to the coaches increasing exasperation) Louis managed to run onto it and get another try in the corner. I'm pretty sure that Ollie & Louis will say that what happened was planned (including a couple of very fortunate bounces off opposition players) but needless to say I don't think we'll be seeing a 'successful' repeat of that particular play any time soon.

If Bancroft thought that was game done then we were very wrong on that account. Eaton Manor got the bit between their teeth and came back strong with two tries in the last 10 minutes to set up a very nervy conclusion to the game. With full snow coming down, and all 30 players looking like they were wearing a fetching mud brown kit, both sets of players were fully committed right to the end.

Bancroft will certainly have easier games than this one in remainder of season but not sure we'll have much harder. Both sets of players were a great credit to their respective clubs and this was another excellent display of competitive youth rugby - the report highlights the effort, determination and commitment of all the players (from both sides) but should also say both teams played a lot of fantastic running rugby in ridiculous conditions. The knock on & dropped ball count was nowhere near where it should have been considering - a real testament to the rugby playing ability on show.

Simple stats - 34-20 - scoring went as follows:
First Half - 11.05am 5-0, 11.10am 5-5, 11.20am 5-10, 11.24am 12-10, 11.31am 17-10
Second Half - 11.47am 24-10, 11.51am 29-10, 11.58am 34-10, 12.02pm 34-15, 12.06pm 34-20.

Anyway - phew - that's the January fixtures done now - Bancroft get a week off and then back on the 4th Feb for a HOME friendly - never know kits might have been cleaned up by then (good luck with that Paula).