Fullerians 2nd 42 v 19 Hoes

The new stateside phenomenon has reached our shores and our neighbourhood.

Report by Ian 'Chippy' Collins:

The new stateside phenomenon has reached our shores and our neighbourhood. Fake news. It's here folks. Apparently we were slapped with some on Saturday and I missed it. Apparently your Hoes fixture was incorrectly published as being at HQ. Nothing wrong there I hear you say, what's all the fuss about?

Unfortunately when the correction was made; we are now away at Fullers, apparently it coincided with a local outbreak of the aforementioned FN. Apparently anyone leaving the comfort of SG12 would fall off the edge, never to be seen again. Apparently everyone but 15 Hoe Lane warriors, and Ged, heard this folly and decided to stay safe " I'm not going anywhere today" was the cry from the hills. The 15 oblivious souls, and Ged, made the unbeknown treacherous trek to Watford of all places, crazy fools.

With Animal and ARob on international duty the Hoe Lane faithful didn't even flinch at the thought of facing a well drilled early season pace making side in Fullerian 2s. The opening flurries were furious with some big hits on both sides, MoM and captain for the day Moss joined Simpson, Alsan and Cox in some bodies on the line stuff. We minced them in the scrum in the early stages with young Groves offering to hook for the first time. Tatts and Aslan shored defences and threatened on the break.

The lack of regulars and cobbled numbers from the gift that keeps giving, aka The Termites, eventually showed and Fullers breached us 4 times with conversions to our one try courtesy of Tatts. This was no mean feat bearing in mind our MoM had a 10 minute breather after our Eagle eyed and stealthy ref pinged him for a dubious low high tackle. I'm going for 28 v 5 at half time but we know there is room for improvement on the counting. What the boys didn't hear was the praise being heaped on them by the oppo in the half time chat. Praise indeed.

What the Hoes did hear was their own belief. Fullers came out possessed. Your Hoes replied in equal measure. I tried to keep out of the way but but there was no where to hide. I forgot how quick these kids can run. The old man got some rousing encouragement from the stand in manager, " ffs how did Chippy get to the that breakdown first, he's 87?" Praised indeed, what he didn't see was me staying out wide as 3 phases drifted across and back across the field. Thomas and Walters steered and hoofed us out of danger, Hedley broke his nose, Frederick and Collins grafted with some fine play in the loose.

The boys opened up with Webby and Tatts grabbing a couple of scorchers (Webbys scorcher is an early try of season candidate) we won the second period, Or it might have been all square. Note to new boy and journeyman James Evans, great enthusiasm and encouragement, stop wandering, this is the club to be at.

There was no shame in this effort and the club should be proud. And no one fell off the edge. I was a bit disappointed we couldn't out noise the oppo with some tunes after the match in the changing room "I've only got some Billy Joel" squeaked one of the stars. And someone asked someone if they were married?? I'm used to being in a changing room where the blokes have had more wives than cars.

Gerhard VDR, Groves, Evans, Collins, Collins,Fredericksburg (love that predictive text, I'm not changing it) Hedley, Moss, Thomas, Walters, Tattershall, Simpson, Cox, Caplan, Webb.