A brisk Saturday afternoon saw Ts return to Parkfields for their first home fixture of the New Year, against G&F who always bring a tough fixture. The weather held out for the boys in black & red but it by all means was not a walk over fixture.

After last week’s performance Ts knew they needed to rectify what went wrong the previous week, the side to do it;
Forwards; Fyles, Ricky & Frazer the trio in front row, skipper Banks & Dowden partner again at locks & Chris, Jasper & Mooro finalise the pack as back row.
Backs; Biff & Mike partner at halfbacks, Jash and Bucko the vets back together in the centres, completed by Rose, Lurch & Fozzy
Replacements; Griffin (Not Peter but same body shape), Puff (Not the magic dragon but just as magic), Goddard (Just Sam).

The game got underway and form the off it was a different Ts side from the week before, although G&F brought a physical and pressure start to the game, pinning Ts deep into the half and piling on the pressure in defence. But Biff, Mike & Fozzy were all on hand to help relieve the pressure and get Ts out the danger zone.

Credit to the G&F back three who in their previous encounter got them out a lot of difficult places and put Ts into a lot of difficult places that continued to manage the ball coming through.

It was early on the Ts pack got to exert their dominance on the field as they packed down and won the penalty. It is however worth noting G&F did look like they were missing some of their big names from earlier in the season. But the corner was opted for and Ts begun again to express their control over the game, then came the scrum that was completely dominant. After 10 minutes of deadlock Ts opened up their account and Rose went screaming through of a back play from a well worked lineout and Fozzy makes it 7-0.

This spurred on the Ts serge, the wider expansive style of play Ts are well known for began to take shape on the pitch. Banks, Frazer, Ricky & Chris all carrying ball very well outside Mike. But the likes of Jordan, Dowden, Mooro & Jasper managing to get on the end of offloads/tip ons that put them in space. Although they didn’t know what to do in the space they were still there. Then Jordan gives up and Joey makes his way onto the field.

Well taken box from Fozzy & Stock setting up the phase, Biff takes it blind where Bucko releases Rose once more who gallops/swerves his under the sticks from 50 meters out. Fozzy makes it 14-0. Not long after G&F opt for the corner from the penalty, a G&F mistake releases cannon ball Ricky up the middle who makes a mess of the defence, Biff reverses play once again, Mooro’s inaccurate pass falls into Lurch’s hands.

THIS IS IT….. THE MOMENT WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! He beats one, he fends another and sprints 40m to dive over and get his first score for Ts 1’s. But Fozzy misses 19-0.

The next 5 minutes are all Gos, they come steaming through with ball in hand, opting for their physicality and strong runners Gos begin to play the game in Ts 22, and really testing the D. However the black & red wall withstand the barrage and clear their lines.

Frazer comes onto the offload with a dummy, a spin and worms himself out of 2 tackles to then offload to Fozzy who does the same, but falls 5 meters short, Jash & Banks link but unable to find Stock. Penalty coming Ts way Fozzy opts for the drop goal but has Rose & Bucko screaming for it with a 3v1 available….

Still not long passes, a strong lineout and short line from Mike puts Ts inches from the line just for Jasper to come on an angled line and dives for the line to get the bonus point try on the stroke of half time, Fozzy makes it 26-0 before the break.

Ts start the 2nd half with the momentum they finished with, unlike usual Ts form post half time, Biff, Mike & Fozzy all orchestrating the game plan we set out, Frazer finding himself behind enemy lines once more before Mike hits Jasper who spill just meters away. Puff is now on the field.

Fantastic play from the lineout once more finds Fozzy running hard down the wing into the red zone but unable to convert, but he was brought down illegally and opt for the lineout. But Gos don’t rollover that easy, they turn the ball back and clear their lines once again. Nobody knows what happened next, the Gos defence must have thought the whistle had blown, as Jasper picks up the ball and darts for the line from the 22m.

For certain he’s about to be nailed by the 15 but somehow Jasper makes it over for his brace and Fozzy gets his grove back (With a little assist from the wind) 33-0. Shortly after Ts again pin Gos deep into their own half, with wind into face it’s not easy coming out from deep.

Rose cleans up and brings infield before Stock and Dowden link up to set up good phase ball. Biff mixing up the style of play once again, then Jash & Fozzy linking well with Bucko on a 3v1 to find Bucko over in the corner, Fozzy makes it 40-0.

With 15 minutes on the clock the game looked finished, but Gos having their dogged determination we know oh so well, come back fighting. With their never say die attitude they push forward and don’t take ben 40-0 down too well.

Strong running, well organised attacks and speed of play seemed to be upped an extra 20% and Gos begun to dominate the possession and field position. This shortly lead to 2 unconverted scores and 1 more held up. The game ended 40-10 with Ts finding their stride again at home, but that was not the same Gos side they played earlier on in the year as they have much more in the locker than shown on Sat.

A weeks rest before Ts take on Eastleigh away then Old Reigations at home the week after.

MOTM; Fozzy, Rose, Stock, Frazer, Jasper & Ricky all proving their capabilities but one man lead by example and Banks took the award.

DOTD; After such a great week previously, he asked his girlfriend to pack his kit, forgot his boots, then ordered a cab, then he forgot his ones which she was kind enough to bring down for him also Dowden was a complete shambles.

Thanks guys
Until next time
JH