Another weekend another new experience! We welcomed Northampton boys brigade old boys (BBOB's for ease) to the Chicken Shack this week, we have never played this team before, and when they confirmed 22 lads were travelling, we as coaches thought oh another well organised Northampton unit.

I must admit I was worried, the night and morning whatsapp group kept buzzing as we lost 1 third of our team in total, however Mark in his optimistic and innovative fashion cobbled our team of 14 into a true unit and we had some players step up into unfamiliar positions. A worrying call I received in the morning included a certain Daniel Allan, who had tweaked his back the night before the game, and was unsure if he could play. A little Mercer pep talk along with Frank and Jack persuaded him to play..... well the rest is history.

The line up was
Mahid the munch Hussein
Josh swivel hips Hickman
Max the marauder Chamberlain
Joe origami Toomey (He folds players in two) Starting for the first full game and new to 2nd row
Isaac lightfoot Hall (In as 2nd row also, not his favoured position)
Frank the tank Taylor
Dan "dont stop me now I'm having a good time" Allan (Trying out the back row)
Owen the wizard Dollard
Jonah the illusive Charles
Alex dumptackle Tulip
Will flash Parsons
Ed "i'm sure he has been playing all his life not just this season" Simpson
Rupert twinkle toes Thackery
Jack the lineout king Mercer

That was it..... no subs, 14 players but the determination to step up and smash the game.
Something that hasn't gone unnoticed is that the unavailable players coming to support the side, these lads helped the team more than they ever could realise and we as coaches are proud of them and thank them for coming to support. 1 New addition this season will be Vlad, we will get him signed up and have him wearing the shirt in the next couple of weeks!

BBOB's agreed to go uncontested and 14 per side and the referee set out his rules.

GAME ON

The first 10 mins were a battle of attrition, our boys defended like trojans, the work in training on defensive lines and securing our ball in the break down was clear to see.

Then the magic started, a clean set of hands from the backs after a superbly won ball from the forwards saw the whippet Will tear off and score the first try of the match, in typical fashion he outpaced the whole of the opposition back line, conversion kicked by Owen.

The rest of the half the boys defended brilliantly, Mahid, Joe, Alex and Dan had some noticeably big hits and we counter rucked superbly.

The second half we flew away, a brilliantly worked interplay between Max, Owen, Rupert (actually most of the team) saw us break down the club house side of the pitch from our own half for Frank to bundle over for his first try of the season, Conversion missed by Owen.

Then something clicked with Daniel, he wanted the ball, he wanted to take on the whole team he charged like a wild rhino, BBOB's hanging off him multiple times, brilliantly secured ball by the forwards saw Tulip take a ball at pace and ran half of the pitch for a Ashton esque swallow dive try, stitching up Jack for the tricky first conversion (Butters we need to have words about this, even with your excuse of being "gassed") Conversion missed by Jack.

BBOB's kept fighting and we conceded a try against the run of play, but this was the only real tarnish of the attacking display the boys were delighting the large Chicken Shack crowd with.

Mahid kept making big tackles, Isaac, Jonah, Jack, Max, Josh, Rupert, Frank, Joe all made great runs, hitting the gain line causing disarray in the BBOB's defense, this led to one of the moments of the match Daniel took the ball at pace from the ruck (I think Owen) and he powered his way over the tryline for his 1st St Ives try, I have never heard a team celebrate someone's try as much as our boys did for Dan. Some of our spectators were asked by the opposition parents where we had got this powerhouse from, the answer was we have had him for a while but this Dan was just a monster!!! Jack converted the try.

The display was capped by someone else who had an outstanding display, MAX! He wanted the ball, he took it at pace and I would like to think he has finally taken on board what we want him to do! Try converted by Owen.

We did concede another try in the last play of the match, however we didn't care. Everyone and I mean everyone on that pitched deserved this result, the manner of the victory is exactly what we as coaches knew they have in them.

As Henry Ford quoted "Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success:"

Sponge, Mark and myself haven't stopped grinning since the full time whistle. I ended the last match report with "we have a bright future". That future turns out to be now!!

Well done lads, rest up and we go again

Up the Ives!!