Fixture

Was a smash hit way back in 1991 for the follicley challenged Curtis Stigers, a classic karaoke track and one which Coach Rhys loves to sing in the shower (must be something to do with Curtis’s mane). It is a great way to start off 2018 but the score line on Sunday didn’t match as the Crazy Eights went down to their bogey side, Senghenydd, 17-14.

With eighteen players attending on a fine and brisk morning in the January sunshine we had to ask for eight a side and a sub for both Apples and Bananas. Sneggy were happy to oblige and the game got underway.

The Dale got off to a good start when Max Baldwin crossed for the first try of the new year but if it wasn’t for some great tagging by Albie Wynn and Amie Lock then the home side could have scored more than the three tries they scored without answer. Kingsley Parry Lewis ran hard and set up another try for Max before Sneggy got two more of their own. The gap between the sides after the first ten could have been big but Olly Morris got the ball in his hands after a pass from Josh Bowen and set his sights on the line. No matter how hard the defenders ran back Olly stayed ahead, scored the try and the half ended at 5 – 3 to the home side.

The Bananas stepped onto the pitch with the message ringing in their ears from Coach Rhys to listen to Coach Julian (if only!!) and with the blast of the whistle they took the re-start and off they went, straight over the line with a try from Josh Johnson. Alfie Short & Kian Davies were like terriers hunting down those tags and this gave Griff Tovey the space to get over for his first try of 2018. The home side ran in two tries of their own before the Bananas cut loose with further tries from Harri Williams and Brody Baker. Elliot Hall made some hard yards and Olly Bishop took the ball forward at all times and the Bananas brought the Dale right back into the match by closing the gap to 7-7 score line.

The Sneggy coaches were happy to play two more ten minute periods and maybe we should have packed up and gone home then as the third period was where most damage was done. Curtis Maggs, making his debut for the 8s, took the ball forward and sidestepped quite a few defenders and Hannah Benger & Poppy Crewe were strong both in attack and defence but it was only Albie Wynn who could get himself over the line to reply to the home side’s five other tries that were conceded in the half and the Dale fell behind with a 12-8 score line to the home side.

The last ten minutes was a try fest with one scored every minute and the Bananas were hell bent on bringing the team back into the game. All the players showed great strength in attack and resilience in defence but it was Griff Tovey that really lit up the game with four tries to add to his season’s tally and he was ably supported by Josh Johnson who was always there in support to get two of his own. But the home side stayed with the Bananas and scored five tries to keep themselves just in front. Coach Rhys, who was an excellent ref on the day, blew his whistle and the home side triumphed with a 17-14 score line.

We scored fourteen tries so should be happy but we are setting ourselves high targets in 2018. We fell into some bad habits but we hadn’t played for six weeks so we will put that down to experience and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes against another strong team, Caerphilly, next Sunday. The Player of the Match trophy was awarded to a player who warms our cockles most Sunday mornings with his silky running and even better side-steps. Griff Tovey , with his five tries on the morning was asked to come up and receive the trophy and thoroughly deserved it was, he plays well every week and certainly deserves this week’s recognition. Well done Grifter……..