The Bandits league game was called off at the weekend as the opposition was unable to field a side, as the struggles of grassroots rugby but a home friendly was hastily arranged with Belsize Park.
Belsize, like Club, seems to be one of the few clubs with strong adult playing numbers as it was their 5th XV, with a smattering of their 4s players. The Bandits side was also a mixed bag, with a strong starting back line many of whom played in the OEs game recently, whereas the pack was largely made up of players who were in the Bandits Extra XV that weekend. There were also two home grown players from Club Juniors making their Mens debut, another two playing only their second game and at the other end of the scale there were several Vets in the team – the age range spanned 37 years to the day.
Club got into an early lead with two rapid scores but our visitors soon fought their way back into the game. Given the excellent tactical kicking of their fly half, the strength of the pack and good lines from the backs, it looked as if the game would be a lot tighter than it proved to be but it was Club’s defence that stood out, being much more organised and aggressive, forcing more kicks from Belsize than perhaps they would have liked.
The spirit in which the game was played however is perhaps best summed up at the end where, when time was up and game clearly won and the ball only needed to go dead but both teams refused to kick it out With possession changing hands several times both teams kept at it for just over three minutes of ball in hand until Club finally scored with Alan Onyango bouncing off several defenders to score his second.
Final Score Bandits 42 Belsize Park 10.
It’s a weekend off for the Bandits this weekend but the Club Vets, the Buccaneers, have Friday Night Lights away to Beccahamians Vets. Kick off is 8pm.
LATEST NEWS
