2nd XV
Matches
Sat 29 Oct 2011  ·  Division 4 South
Didsbury Old Bedians RUFC
2nd XV
21
22
Trafford MV 3
Last Second Loss

Last Second Loss

Paul Makinen10 Nov 2011 - 16:03
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By Stevie Cook

Bedes turned up at Millgate Lane for their game against top of the table Trafford MV with a full compliment of players, quite the opposite of the previous week’s unprecedented ‘45 unavailable players’ injury crisis.

After an energetic warm up Captain Cook elected to take the first half with the wind at our backs and this proved to be a great decision to give Bedes the start they wanted. Early pressure from Bedes resulted in an open game and was rewarded after 5 minutes with Paul ‘Pauly Mak’ Makinen breaking from the left wing of the pitch after a lovely last second off load to run in from the half way line, Bedians 7-0.

However, Bedians weren’t about to rest on their laurels and kept up the intensity, which Trafford were struggling to match. After some great rucking out on our own 22, Steve ‘Shit Steve’ Tarling turned over the ball superbly and popped to the advancing Bedians support. The break was on and Bedians linked up with each other well and moved the ball quickly up the pitch to put Ritchie Swailes, continuing his impressive comeback, over for the score, which was expertly converted by Richard ‘Tommo’ Tomlinson for a Bedians lead of 14-0.

Trafford, however, slowly upped the intensity of their game and worked their way up the pitch for the first time in the game. However, they saw there was no way through the solid Bedians defence and when the opportunity presented itself the Trafford fly-half nicked a well-taken drop goal to bring the score back to 14-3 at half time.

With confidence growing, the half time team talk focussed on keeping our heads and doing the simple things well, Captain Stevie Cook emphasizing that the change in ends meant the Bedes would be in for a tough half defending their lines.

This proved to be true, with Trafford coming out of the blocks strongly, their fly-half utilising the wind to play a territory game. However, it was Bedes who were to take next blood, with the back three showing some great counter attacking skills when returning a kick, and after only a single phase, following some great work on the deck from Jay Lau and Eddie, Paul ‘Pauly Mak’ Makinen picked up and used his pace to outfox the Trafford defence down the blind side to score his second of the afternoon. 21-3 to Bedians.

However, following a rearrangement in the backs with talismanic full-back Andrew ‘Elton’ Welsby departing, Bedes allowed their concentration to slip and didn’t help themselves with some soft tackles straight after the re-start, allowing Trafford to restore some pride and go over in the corner to reduce the deficit to 21-8.

The Bedians pack had dominated the first half, with a lot of turnover ball and great work in the line out. Things were to change though when the replacement Trafford hooker came on. Let’s just say he was well versed in the dark arts of the game and changed a competitive but fair game into something a little more sinister.

Bedes had to endure great periods of sustained pressure as a marauding MV pack kept on coming at them. Steve “Average Steve for the day” Tarling earned his post match pint with a fine hold up on the line before MV eventually crashed over for another try to bring the score to 21-15 with 10 minutes to play.

Eventually that sinister side spilled over and after the MV Hooker was stood there waiting the wrong side of the line out before Andrew ‘Welshy’ Welsh had even caught the ball in the air, Captain Stevie Cook made the executive decision to remove said Metrovick player by hook or by crook and the resulting scrap saw both players sent to the sin bin.

Cook had to endure further agony watching on from the side as with 15 seconds to go, the MV number 10, who was impressive all day, shipped the ball to the centre who stepped to slip a couple of tackles and scored under the posts. The conversion of which brought about what Cook later described as “my most devastating moment on a rugby pitch I have ever had the misfortune to be a part of” as Trafford took the game 22-21.

Overall if we can show the form that only allowed the top club in the league to be ahead against us for 15 seconds then there is no doubt this club will move rapidly up the table.

Match details

Match date

Sat 29 Oct 2011

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Division 4 South
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - identityFS
Club Sponsor - Manchester Self Storage