Old Whitgiftians 2nd XV 12 - 24 OC’s

Old Whitgiftians discover it’s a Mann’s world

Founding father of the modern Chinese state Mao Tse-Tung famously remarked in his Eight Points of Attention before he and his followers undertook the Long March that ‘The longest journey starts with the smallest step’. Fast forward 70 odd years to an autumnal south London, and this maxim’s relevance was crystal clear as the OCs put their own size10 forward in their quest for the domination of the Surrey Combination. Played one won one. Forget this was a friendly against a large but ultimately 2nd best Old Whitgiftian XV, this result will send reverberations around the Surrey rugby firmament. For Saturday 17th September 2005 saw the greatest rearguard action since Michael Caine politely requested 20,000 homicidal Zulus to stop ‘chucking those bloody spears’ as the OCs started their 2005/2006 season in great style and with no little grit.

Whether Owen VJ or the Secretary of Surrey Rugby were responsible for the fixture and location of the opposition is a moot point. For some people whom, quite rightly not trusting public transport, decided to drive, the Close at Clifton College would have been easier to get to. Despite the gridlock on the A236 and the somewhat vague travel instructions from the OC Committee, all sixteen hardy yet slightly apprehensive souls turned up for a stint at the coalface at what was a very picturesque and accommodating ground. At full back, honorary OC Phil Fretwell made his OC bow, with Tino and Owen VJ (making a long-awaited return to first-team action after back trouble). The centres, the Little and Horan of Surrey rugby, Euan and Matt Mann lined up next to Ben Gelder, who had come out of retirement for another bash pulling the strings in the big time. Gor took up his now customary position at scrum-half, and skippered the side. The front row contained the usual suspects of Greg, Steve and Mr T, fresh from a summer of wine tasting, punting on the Thames and nuptials to the lovely Anne-Marie. Josh and Rich Mann formed the engine-room, and the back row of George, Si PW and Tom DW envisaged a long hot afternoon chasing round on a pitch with such a severe slope that would get Chris Bonnington drooling.

Very soon into the game, it was clear that the OCs had hit the ground running, with the forwards winning plenty of ball (at the set-piece and in open play) and the two centres dovetailing well using a myriad of dummies and switches. Gelders, after a long absence out with knee injuries, especially looked settled as he got the back line going with an aplomb that would have Serge Blanco purring. However, his dreadful luck with injuries continued as he was forced to leave the field with yet another bad knock to his knee. Matt Mann moved to No 10, with the only replacement available, Mark Li coming onto the wing. This enforced change paid immediate dividends, as Matt was able to cross the whitewash, not once, but twice after superb breaks. The second time, slightly fortuitously. The ball had been held up off the line, but as the referee took so long to walk round and spot the ball, Matt, using all that cunning gained from years in School House under Bald Man Rees, simply moved the ball onto the deck. 12-0. Despite vast amounts of territory and possession, the score stayed this way until half time. Indeed, it could have worse for the OCs had Euan not made a great cover tackle in the corner on their flying fullback when a try seemed odds-on.

By this stage of proceedings, the OCs had lost their second player to a knee injury, as Steve Hartland had to leave the pitch. Mark moved to hooker, and the opposition very kindly loaned us a player, resplendent with tattoos the likes of which were last seen in ‘Japanese Yakuza’.

If the 1st half was about the forwards winning quality ball, and the backs smooth and incisive, the 2nd half gave everyone a chance to test the efficiency of their pre-season fitness regimes and defensive qualities. None more so than Gor, who, to delight of several of his team mates, performed a strong contender for Hit of the Season, lifting a much bigger lad in the air and sending him backwards. By this stage, after a close range score for Rich Mann to make it 19-0 to the OCs, came the try of the match. After Josh stole the opposition line out on the halfway line, the ball went right through several pairs of hands, keeping the ball alive, off-loading like the All Blacks until Gor and then Matt took it close to the opposition try line. Tom DW was, for once, in close proximity to the play, and he fired out a long scoring pass to Tino who was lurking unmarked on the right wing. 24-0, game over, thanks very much. The collective gasp of amazement from the crowd bore testament to the champagne skills and finesse shown by the OCs.

The last twenty minutes was spent in desperate defence, giving away countless penalties, and running the risk of a ten-minute breather in the sin-bin for continued running off with the ball having conceded the penalty. Taking his lead from Gor, Rich Mann stepped into the breach and time and again put the massive hits in on the opposition big men. Time and again, he lined them up; time and again, down they went. For selflessly volunteering to join Josh in the engine room, leaping like a salmon in the lineout, putting his body on the line and his try, he was a deserving winner of the Chausettes D’or. If ever a man played himself into a position, Rich Mann just did.

Despite the OCs conceding two late tries to make the score a more respectable 24-12, the result and more importantly the performance suggests that good times lie ahead. The forwards provided quality ball from set pieces, and supported the backs round the paddock all afternoon. Especially pleasing was how the front five coped admirably, in both scrum and lineout, with their much bigger OW counterparts. With this steady platform, the back-row was able to get about and support the backs. Gor, apart from his big hit, was his usual combative self, testing his fly-half’s pick-up abilities and therefore their hamstrings. Gelders looked good before leaving the field: and Matt and Euan complemented each other at centre; the broadsword and the rapier. The wings of Owen VJ, Tino and Mark all had chances to show their paces, and Phil is an excellent addition to the team.

As has been mentioned in previous correspondence, this game was only the small step on the long road to success. If the team were to lose to Bec Old Boys on Saturday, the significance of this game would mean Sweet FA. Building on the high skill levels, cutting down on the penalty count and continuing to put bodies on the line should stand the team in good stead. With more players coming back, this will enhance the options and the replacement bench, which on Saturday looked as sparse as the meat on Kate Moss’ body.

Tolstoy