Another cracking day at Thornbury RFC

After a week of snow and ice, and many regular fixtures cancelled just before Christmas, it was good to get back to some Rugby before the year finally ends.

Thornbury RFC were receiving PROPS for a second Christmas game, first one was in 2008, and this was another tremendous day ooot for all PROPS players as well as many Thornbury supporters.
PROPS Babaas were from Cleve RFC, Frampton Cotterell, Avonmouth RFC, Sodbury RFC, Old Bristolians RFC, and Anthony Crocker (but I can’t remember which club he plays with).

Anthony did a fantastic job in centre, second time he had to play in a position not familiar for him, caught some great passes and ran like hell when needed after selling beautiful dummies. We will not see Ant for a few months as he is off from march 2010 to Afghanistan. All the best to you mate, and see you in September when the PROPS season is back on!

So, the game was against Thornbury Vandals, and this was a decent side, against a PROPS side that was unusually lacking in numbers on the day. After a thorough warm-up that lasted about 10 minutes, could have been 12 actually, thinking of it… we were fit and ready to burn off the excess food and drinks accumulated in the last few days over Crimbo. But so was Thornbury, and they had a side including current first team players as well as past first team players, all oozing with class even if for some this was the first game in many years.

PROPS scored first, great break from our Captain Nick Trivett who found support from Dan Marsh, I think, who scored. Honestly can’t remember, but this was the only converted try on the afternoon. Then Thornbury scored, and didn’t convert theirs. And it went on all afternoon like that, PROPS in the lead, then the Vandals catching up, then PROPS getting back on top. Cracking stuff, and good fun to watch from the side line.

Many guys played superbly on the day, Jon O’Hara zooming from full back and creating some lovely opportunities, one of them a superb score from the man himself. Jon had support from Matt Broad, who had a lot of work to do on the day and tried his best. Paul Beet, AKA Mad Dog, was on top form and those two stones he lost running showed up, he was more extraordinaire than ever!

Daddy Ray Stevens was impossible to stop as always, and with him where the Bulls Brothers. Nick (taller with dark hair for those of you who still can’t tell them apart) was tackling like a demon all afternoon, and he had lots to do with their bulky flankers and No 8. Alex (the surfing Dude) was solid as always, running and to the despair of Mad Dog not passing the ball, but still scored a great try. Matt Clark was on his own all afternoon, not his fault as he has not got that many mates, but his family felt sorry for him and came along after the game was over. Clarky played well, although he kept laughing when tackled or pushed out of the way in force by some Vandals, quite disturbed lad if you ask me, and to think he soon will be a Dad…

Paul Dolan was having a lot of fun too, and played hard all day. Those shifts working over Christmas are not all that bad, be Jesus!

Matt Eccles and Jon Mc Gee were again showing how you should play your Rugby, and did a fantastic job on the flank and fly-half respectively. Gareth Lodge found himself on the wing, we were rather short of players in the backs, but other than been bored out his mind, he did put some good tackling and even a couple of good runs. Shaun Pine said he would play 10 minutes at most, and ended up most of the game inside centre, not bad for a Prop. His mate Dan Marsh played prop, and had a cracking afternoon in the pack. And finally our Cap’tain Nick Trivett was doing great at scrum-half, and even managed to keep his cool with our favourite Welsh referee (we had him last year and knew what he would be like), well done Triv.

After a great game, and with only minutes to go, them Vandals came back on the score at 27-22 to PROPS. They were really throwing it all at us, kitchen sinks and gold plated taps included, but the PROPS defence held them out and the final score was the official PROPS draw, 27-22 to PROPS though.

After the game, it has to be said that the food laid by the Anchor Inn, in the lovely spot of Lower Morton, was fantastic and really tasty. Thanks again not only for arranging the food, but also selling raffle tickets, great work by their excellent landlord Mark Sorrell! A cracking pub, worth a visit: http://www.anchor-inn-oldbury.co.uk/

And Thornbury RFC were also fantastic hosts on the day ( http://www.thornburyrfc.com/ ), with many players taking part and a lot of supporters came along to a good afternoon of clean Rugby and good fun. Together, between the efforts by Thornbury RFC, the efforts from the Anchor Inn and the money raised by PROPS, we raised a grand total of £500.

All in all, a great day, and we look forward to the 2010 return game. Thanks again to all the PROPS players, Thornbury RFC and their Vandals, and to the Anchor Inn for a great day, and raising £500 is some fantastic achievement.

Next game on 7th March 2010, at Old Bristolians. Senior and Mini Babaas will be involved, and this will be another great day oooot!

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