Broadstreet RFC

Back row (L-R): Steve Devoy, Chris Price, Mark Atkinson, Pierre Dubuy, Steve Allen, Mike Bednell, Trevor Court, Henry Mensah-Brown, John Brown, Bill Vennard, Dave Stevens

Front Row (L-R): Andy Hirons, Aidy Jones, Jamie Richardson, Dirty Beaver, Chris Harrison, Danny Rowstron, Jon Beale, James Downes, William Vedreine, Nigel Deakin

As a result of our late withdrawl from the Beavers/Badgers fixture (apologies to Cov Welsh!), the 3^rd team began proceedings with an unusually large squad of 23 for this league fixture against local rivals Earlsdon RFC. For the 2^nd time this season, our league opponents kindly allowed us to use all of our replacements in exchange for rolling subs, and the pressure of an eager and willing bench seemed to have the desired effect on the starting XV – as we ran in 5 tries to 1 in the first 40 minutes!

Undoubtedly the boys were up for this game. Our 2^nd team ran out 33-7 winners in last week’s cup game against Earlsdon RFC, but had warned us that they had switched off at times against a strong Earlsdon scrum, a mistake we were determined not to make. Early on however, it looked like the referee was going to have fun trying to control the scrum, with Broadstreet loosehead “Night Night” having a head-butting competition with his opposite number, a battle that was to continue all afternoon and eventually result in a deserved red card for Earlsdon’s noisy tighthead.

The pre-match jibes directed at outside centre Danny “Banana Boots” Rowstron seemed to unsettle him somewhat as he missed a sitter of a penalty early on in the game. It probably didn’t help his confidence by suggesting that we’d be better off giving the kicking duties to our club mascot for the day, Dirty Beaver, seen below entertaining the kids after the game.

Not longer after this horrendous miss, first blood soon went to Street with a well-worked try by the irrepressible back-row Henry “Knees-up” Mother-Brown, scoring his 3^rd try in 2 weeks, which must surely force him into contention for a recall to the 2^nd’s. By this stage Danny “Easter Egg” Rowstron had put his boots on the right feet and as a result successfully kicked the conversion. Broadstreet 7 - Earlsdon RFC 0

Against the run of play, Veteran scrum-half Paul Lydster then allowed Earlsdon briefly back into contention, when he gave away 2 quick penalties in succession for childishly throwing the ball away and then for backchatting a referee who was already on edge due to the endless dribble being spouted by Earlsdon’s chatty tighthead. To add insult to injury Earlsdon’s scrum-half skipped past Lyddy whilst his back was turned to score the first of their two tries. Broadstreet 7 - Earlsdon RFC 5

The next score came directly as a result of a lover’s tiff between number 8 and skipper Chris “Lopez” Harrison and the menopausal Lyddy. Lyddy had pointed out that Henry Mmmmmmm-Brown was stronger and quicker off the base of the scrum, however following a course of horse tranquilisers during the week Loper was in no mood to take this criticism lying down.   From one of his trademark tap penalties Loper let out a bizarre war-cry as he dragged two spotty teenagers over the line with him. Broadstreet 12 - Earlsdon 5

Street’s 3^rd try went to debutant full-back, Cov Uni’s Lee Betts, who displayed a nice set of wheels to gas Earlsdon’s youthful back-line. Broadstreet 19 - Earlsdon 5. Next to score was tantrum-throwing number 9 Paul Lydster, turning on the style to give Banana Boots an easy shot at goal. Broadstreet 26 - Earlsdon 5. The next try came from loosehead prop Squarehead Jones, who stole the ball off Lyddy to claim the try following a superb driving maul from the forwards.

Half-time score - Broadstreet RFC 31 - Earlsdon RFC 5

Street began the 2^nd half as they ended the first, with the experienced half-back partnership unlocking Earlsdon’s young defence once again. Quick-thinking yet still stroppy scrum-half Paul Lydster saw a strong run from fly-half Steve “Yam-Yam” Allen, and the barrel-chested Brummy managed to power through several tacklers to score a well-deserved try. Broadstreet 36 - Earlsdon 5.

Unfortunately, we then let our guard down and allowed Earlsdon a 2^nd consolation try. Broadstreet 36 - Earlsdon 10.

Now according to PROP FORWARD Jones his second try of the afternoon came about because Lyddy didn’t have the pace to beat his man, and with Aidy in support he (in his own words I kid you not!) “sidestepped the first Earlsdon player and carried the 2^nd tackler over the line on my shoulder whilst deftly placing the ball squarely between the posts”. However given Night Night’s on-field antics this season the more likely version is that he bored the 1^st tackler with his never-ending “sledging” and then invited the next defender into a cuddle so he could cop a feel. You decide! Broadstreet 43 - Earlsdon 10.

French centre Pierre Dubuy, playing in his preferred position, seemed far more confident throughout the game and was justifiably rewarded with a try. It’s just a shame that he seems to have borrowed his hairstyle from a 18^th Century French aristocrat. Credit goes out to Earsldon’s development side who had a yellow and a red card to contend with but stuck at the task in hand right through to the very end. However our tactical combination of reach-rounds at the ruck and s**t French curly hair proved way too much for them. Vive la revolucion!

FULL-TIME - Broadstreet RFC 50 - Earlsdon RFC 10

Pierre Dubuy – desperate to borrow Eddie Simkiss’s hair straighteners

Broadstreet and Old Laurentians are now the only 2 sides in the league with a 100% unbeaten record but Street only remain top of the table on points difference, and Stratford & Old Laurentians are both close on our heels after 42-0 and 0-48 crunching wins against Leamington & Barkers Butts respectively. Our next league fixture, away to Stratford on October 30^th, is pivotal to this season’s success as a loss could see us slip to 3^rd place, assuming OL’s beat Leamington that same day. If you’re not playing why not come and drink with us!

MotM –

“Reach-around-the-Cock” Jones, primarily for putting up with the whingeing Earsldon tighthead, but also for his “one GCSE” banter, his 2 tries and for not getting possessed by demons (again!). Close second was “Knee-ups” Mmmmmmmmmm-Brown who had another great game in the back-row.

DotD –

As you can’t really pick opposition players, this week’s award goes to Loper, who picked a tussle with a midget and lost. You can see him below rubbing salt into Loper’s wounds as he goes for him again in the showers after the game!!!

*IMPORTANT* NIGHT OUT –

Please keep 20^th November free!!!! We are hoping to do another fundraiser at the Club for Myton Hospice, in honour of Faz. It will be ELVIS fancy dress!!

TRIES – Aidy Jones (2), Loper (1), Paul Lydster (1), Henry Mensah-Brown (1), Lee Betts (1), Pierre Dubuy (1), Steve Allen (1)

CONVERSIONS – Danny “Banana Boots” Rowstron (5)

Team:

1.Night Night, 2.John Brown, 3.James Downes, 4.Trevor Court, 5.Mike Bednall, 6.Jon Beale, 7.Henry Mensah-Brown, 8.Chris Harrison (c), 9.Paul Lydster, 10. Steve Allen, 11.Steve Devoy, 12.Pierre Dubuy, 13. Danny Rowstron, 14.William Vedreine, 15. Lee Betts
 

Replacements:

  16. Dave Stevens, 17. Andy Hirons, 18.Jamie Richardson, 19.Mark Atkinson, 20.Milky, 21.Bill Vennard, 22. Nigel Deakin, 23. Connor McFeely