Today a trip to Ilkeston RFC who at present are in 5th position in the league an uneventful journey with Wayne the navigator and Bean the travelling beer taster.
On arrival at the ground it turned out to be Ladies Day at the club with a red and black theme,hats and fascinators to be worn,games through out the day.More of this later.
The match official for the day was Andy Brown it says Barker in the programme so Andy who ever you are, works in Leeds in the office of constable,that is also the name of Sir Robert Marks autobiography,ex chief constable of Leicester City Police and Commissioner of the Met Police.He sold a few tyres as well.But never officiated a rugby match Andy,so you are one up on him there.
The wise sage of Ilkeston Harold predicted 40 or 57, whether this was the number of ladies having lunch or the score I have no idea.Bean pronounced the beer Gold by Hobgoblin as excellent and the game got under way.
After 12 minutes Jacob Heath crossed the line for Ilkeston and moments later Kevin(Bungle)Curtis slotted over a penalty,Ilkeston then put the Belgrave defence under pressure it held out for a while but then Jacob Heath scored again.
You had better sit down before you read this,Belgrave on the attack the ball came to Dave(twinkle toes)Towl who scored a drop goal from the 22 yard line.He will be running a drop goal clinic on Tuesday night for you Belgrave backs to attend.Belgrave still shocked and dazed by this incident allowed Isaac Taylor to score.Belgrave pulled a penalty back through Kevin Curtis.Halftime saw Ilkeston in the lead by 17 points to 9.
My search for famous people continued,all Ilkeston could come up with was one of their players looked like Herbert Lom,a film star of some 60 years died in 2012 aged 95.Was in the Pink Panther films.Also died in El Cid when Charlton Heston rode his horse over him.
Belgrave went onto the attack from the start of the second half and spent 10 minutes inside Ilkestons 5 yard line,Ilkeston put up a stout defence and during this time had 2 players sin binned.All this pressure resulted in a penalty try to Belgrave.More good work by the Belgrave pack resulted in Ivan(evergreen)Wright dropping on the ball to score after a driving maul.Ilkestone 22 Belgrave 21.
Another first for Belgrave,you better sit down again. Joe(legohead)Pollard sent to the sinbin.Will our family name ever recover from this.I think so but visiting the solicitor next week to write him out of my will.
On the last play of the game Jake Lamb scored to make the final score Ilkeston 27 to Belgraves 21.a hard earned losing bonus point for Belgrave,which they would have took at the kick off bearing in mind both teams position in the league.
My thanks to Nick Pettitt,club president of Ilkeston for his help with this report,he is a man to be looked up to.Mainly because he is 6 feet 8 inches tall.Thanks Nick.After the match with the ladies day function in full flow,drinking games and much laughter and merrymaking.I would have described the goings on.But some of my readers are of tender years .
On driving away from the ground a plaintive cry was heard "I'm not coming again" I have no idea who it was.Not Herbert Lom who was last seen crushed under Charlton Hestons horse.
No game next week,the next fixture at home against Kettering on February 21st see you there.Just off to the Tom Hoskins,good news won 1st prize in the meat raffle.