Back in the hot seat of Ashley Rugby’s media department after a three week absence and what a day to come back, huge thanks to the Simo’s for keeping you all in touch whilst I completed my world pub crawl up north, I’m not going to do an individual match report today as yesterday was about so much more than just one team, it was all about Ashley and the boys (& girls) came through with flying colours leaving an even larger than normal light of success shining over the Domain, I arrived as Daniel and Brian were building up the U11.5 Green to a huge game that was to end their season on a high leaving the changing sheds full of smile’s after putting Oxford to the sword in some style, U11.5 Blue away at Saracens but keeping the Ashley flag flying high when they took out Saracens at Southbrook winding up our U11.5 season in style, the boy’s from U13 Green were slowly filtering in preparing themselves to make a statement against Kaiapoi Gold/Blue combined and at the same time the boys from U13 Blue were starting to fill the changing sheds with only one thing on their mind after the going’s on in the U13 grade this season and that was to finish their season in style, I managed to watch the first few minutes of the U13 Green game before I had to move up top with U13 Blue, Euan Richardson was tasked with keeping Al Sim, Josh Sim and myself updated on the score down on lower 1, Blue got off to a flying start finding themselves 14-0 up in minutes while news filtered through that Green were in front, nervous times down below I suspect with Al Couch commented ‘I’m going to try and stay calm this week’ but by all accounts this lasted about as long as the blast on the ref’s whistle and he was into it, the principals nervous look suggested a puckered sphincter would be in place until Green were behind a safe blanket of points, Stu Nielson looked to be the only calming influence on the Green bench while back up top Nick Stewart and Will Taylor were pounding the Oxford try line making it a case of déjà vu for travelling Oxford, by half time Blue’s game was all but won so wholesale change came and had little impact on their performance so the onslaught continued, down below things were tensing up as the game progressed with Euan Richardson tiring from his hill exercise’s whilst conveying the score to the top until the tension was relieved and Green had sent Kaiapoi packing leaving themselves in next weeks final, I’m just happy I wasn’t too close when Craig unpuckered ;-). I managed to secure myself a nice spot on the top of the bank so I could watch U14.5 move up a gear when they came out for the second half leaving shell shocked Woodend unable to find an answer to the home sortie’s into enemy territory whilst down on Lower 1 U16 were having a battle and a half against Ohoka/Woodend and it really was anybody’s game until the last ten minutes when the Ashley boy’s piled on the pressure to the visitors touchline whilst defending their own line with intense vigor, the whistle on both pitches sounded that three Ashley teams were taking part in next week’s finals. It was the turn of the senior side to step out onto Lower 1 in their bid to keep the Ashley momentum of five wins from five going to make it six from six, with a late tactical change Sam ‘waterboy’ McCloy was replaced by Daniel ‘mad dog’ Flemming on liquid logistics and lolly distribution and it was good to know this vital role was in safe..well safe-ish hands, this was always going to be a monumental battle with both side’s not so much wanting to win but not wanting to lose, mistakes were going to be the win or lose factor so both sides kept it pretty tight but it was to be Saracens who were going to be the first to capitalise on errors taking a six point lead from two penalties, an eye injury mid half saw Alex Mumford leave the affray to be replaced by Dave Ermerins at half back, Alex claims he only saw half of the remaining game (is he now officially one eyed…)…time went by and after prolonged pressure Andrew ‘Bus’ Dunbar proved unstoppable when he barged over in the corner, the unconverted try left Ashley trailing 6-5 at the interval and this was how it stayed until late into the second half a penalty was awarded so up stepped Dan Cook with a kick that came down with snow on it to put Ashley 8-6 up, it was now all about defence with most of the play in midfield but steadily moving towards the visitors line when the workhorse Andre (the fast one that is) made the visitors pay severely after a handling error giving Ashley some breathing space and with Dan Cook adding the extra’s Ashley just had to keep Saracens pinned in their own 22, seizing an opportunity from 20 metre’s in front of the sticks 1st5 Dave Woods took a shot at goal which would have pleased many a Brazilian striker..I somehow don’t think you’ve heard the last of this one Woodsy. Mr Stokes kindly blew the whistle and celebrations started, well done fella’s. Go the Slime !!!
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 20:31:01 +0000
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