Tough day and grazed knees at Edinburgh away

As the rain subsides and the clouds part, the sun tries it's best to break through and bathe the 4G pitch behind Murrayfield Stadium in light and warmth (although such an imposing backdrop does cast a pretty awe-inspiring shadow in which to play). The breeze does it's best to counteract such conditions but, nevertheless, Birmingham Bulls line up as travelling opposition at this, the home of the Caledonian Thebans.
The Thebans were hungry to avenge their previous defeat to The Bulls but would those travelling up the M6 be able to pull off a double victory over the Scots ?

Umbrella's down, the rain has ceased, tighten that scarf against the elements and let's get stuck in...KICK OFF.

Straight after kick-off by Mike 'Werthers', Shy tackles the recipient straight into touch giving the Bulls their first line-out. It's won by the Thebans but after a brief spell of play in which the ball changes hands, Thebans have their first scrum. An early Theban try is stopped but the resulting breakout by the Bulls is also stopped by a knock-on close to the try line. The Thebans attack again and Bulls are forced to defend their lines once more. Another try scoring opportunity is thwarted by a knock-on by the Thebans. Back to the 5 meter line for another scrum, this time to the Bulls. The Thebans aren't going to let another opportunity slip them by and before you can break out the All Butter Highland Shortbread, it's a TRY. An early period of pressure from the Scots gives them the lead but the conversion goes whistling by.
5-0
Mike 'Werthers' kicks off the restart and Capt James 'Spaedo' is straight on it but he's pulled off by the boys in blue (no, not the Police...Thebans). A swift breakout by the Thebans sees them head up the wings but their hunger for a quick 2nd try is thwarted by a Russian Tank in the form of Denny, who pushes them into touch on his debut. Line-out to the Bulls which we win but a penalty goes the way of the Thebans on the halfway line. The play goes cross-field and attention quickly swings from the centre to the wings. Breakdown in play again and another scrum to Thebans. Pressure from the Bulls, another scrum to Thebans, more pressure from the Bull-ish front row and before you know it, a penalty to the boys in Blue, Red and Yellow.
More scrappy play follows with the ball swapping hands between team mates and opposition players alike. More breakdowns and another scrum to a Theban side getting used to knuckling down to a Bull front row. Oh well, I'm sure they loved it really (they're in the front row...a strange lot).
A breakout on the wing, more scrapping and next thing we know, Jockey is is pushed into touch. Lineout leading to a centre line breakout by the Thebans but the play follows the pattern of a scrappy match and it breaks down, a penalty to Bulls leading to another lineout which is won by the Scots which, in turn, leads to a heavy drive in play as they can sniff the Bulls try line once more. They score....or do they ? NO. Ref disallows the try and it's back for...yep, yet another scrum. It's a good job this pitch isn't real grass or else it'd be torn up with all this heavy scrumming ! The ball goes the way of the Thebans again and, again, they head for the Bulls try line with success in their eyes. A sure fire try goes begging though as another knock-on occurs. Back for a scrum. Those poor forward packs ! This Theban pack is hungry, pumped and passionate and, with missed opportunities having gone begging they keep up the pressure on a beleagured Bulls squad and their number 8 gets over the try line without dropping it. The conversion goes wayward though again.
10-0
Substitutions are made by the Bulls and James McGann is swapped for Sean Coates. James playing in his first big match up in his ancestral homeland of Scotland has been given a mauling and is sporting a lovely big graze up his ribs, having had them come into contact with a set of Theban studs (ones on their boots...I'm not saying they're Studs. Well, one or two are fairly nice to look at but...what's that ? Oh I'm sorry...I've got slightly distracted. My apologies).
After the restart, it's a scrum to the Thebans and they clear it out but it's wrestled off them by John 'L'Oreal' who passes it forwards giving the Thebans a scrum just inside our half. Don't worry John...we've all done it in the heat of battle (not me though, obviously *cough*). The forward packs experience a stalemate and a good hold-up by our Bulls boys gives the Thebans something to think about. Eventually the ball is turned over and ends up in Theban hands again leading to another sustained period of attack. Bulls do a really good job of defending their lines and another try looks close...but no, it's back to the 5mtr for another Theban scrum. Bulls push 'em back, not giving any quarter and it's back down for another attempt at the Theban put in. They try more cross-field tactics but it's driven back by some Bulls pressure and we win a scrum halfway into our own half. The forwards defend the put in and a fantastic lightning breakout by our very own Sam 'Scrumdog' is linked with a powerful run by Shy for some great gains in territory and a boost to team mates and supporters alike. The passage of play goes back to the Thebans however and they break straight back but the ball goes into touch, back half way into Bulls territory. Thebans take a short line-out and sniff more try line antics but it's fumbled at the last. Scrum to Bulls close to the posts. Thebans push hard but it's spilled. It's getting scrappy again. More scrums, more line-outs and more breakdowns all happen within spitting distance of our try line but it's still not happening and a clearance kick by Nigel virtually ends the first half.
Half Time: Caledonian Thebans 10 - Birmingham Bulls 0

Anyone need a stiff drink ? I sure do. Intense, scrappy play, scrums a-go-go, testosterone definitely evident and tempers flaring from time to time. Still, the sun is out.
Half Time substitutions mean Denny Vedernikov is off and Eric Heathcote goes on for his first taste of action in a Bulls shirt. One debutant on for another.

Eyes down...it's Second Half time.

After the restart, we get another dose of swift Bulls magic as Sam 'Scrumdog' and Mike 'Werthers' combine to use their speedy talents. However, it's turned over by the Thebans and, still in Bulls territory, they get over the try line for an early sting. The conversion goes the same way as all the others though...wide.
15-0
Mike 'Werthers' resumes his restarting duties and kicks us off again leading to a line-out to the Bulls boys, which, in turn, leads to a turnover by those pesky Scottish blokes. Nigel gets in on the action again and gets to do his favourite thing. No, not deliver a pithy one-liner, he got to kick it clear but a penalty goes the other way. After another batch of scrapping the Thebans take advantage, breakout and get over the whitewash for a try. Another failed conversion goes by to make it 20-0. Someone get that poor Theban 10 a new pair of boots, will you ? Surely, Lord Forrester can afford to splash out ?
20-0
More substitutions get their chance and this time it's Stuart 'Babyface' on for Leon 'Health & Safety'. Unfortunately, Leon can't quite fit into Stuart's top so makes a Baywatch-esque appearance, running along the touch lines topless. Pamela Anderson eat your heart out.
Another restart for Mike's boot to contend with.
Another attack from Thebans.
Another scrum, this one to us Bulls. Some good pressure and some stoic defensive duties and strong resilience leads to a breakout by Andy 'Chunderf**k', running with the wind in his hair before passing to Shy who continues, importantly, away from our try line ! It's halted by the Theban pack who win yet another scrum (I'm almost getting bored of typing that word...! lol) which leads to a returning breakout but Stuart 'Babyface' makes a great tackle on their big 22 on his return.
More scrums, more breakdowns and the Theban 10 (ya know, him with the dodgy boots) almost gets over the try line himself but it ends with a line-out to the Bulls and, not much later, a Penalty kick. Mike gets to kick something other than a restart !!
A slow line-out by us (almost resulting in a penalty for slow play...eek), which we win, leads to a scrum to the opposition and that number 10, having maybe found a new set of studs for his boots, makes another breakout. He passes to the big 22 who scores. Those new studs don't seem to be helping though as yet another conversion goes wide.
25-0
Mike's restarting leg must be getting tired by now as his restart kick goes way deep and straight behind the try line. Back to the centre line for another restart which leads to a swift brace of passes and play by Thebans for a try by their No9 to drive another nail into the Bulls. Something different about this one though....it's converted !
32-0
Nigel's been in the wars (well we all know he loves nothing more than getting stuck in) and his ear's dripping claret all over the place. Blood replacement ! What's that ? James McGann ! Get back on ! Your foray back to Scotland isn't over yet !! Nigel just says to put boot tape over it. They don't make 'em like that any more. Luckily he disappears for a proper bout of treatment and returns later with some bandaging (and boot tape) around his head.
Meanwhile, the restart was knocked on by Thebans and Capt 'Spaedo' and Rob 'Bob-a-Job' are all over it. Eventually, the Thebans take control but a scrum to Bulls leads to another greased-lightning breakout by the hard to catch character that is Sam 'Scrumdog'. More cross-field play and another run toward the Theban try line...yes, THE THEBAN try line, by restart King, Mike 'Werthers' is *just* stopped agonisingly short. Devil. The next line-out going to Thebans leads to a penalty for the Bulls boys and, deep in enemy territory, we don't want to lose this chance to get our names on what is looking a very one-sided score board. We don't.
Shy doesn't let the chance to be noticed go by and gets over for a well deserved Bulls try. A Shy Try.
Mike's weary kicking leg can't convert.
32-5
Thebans restart (for once) and their pack drive forward but are once again stopped just short by another bout of defensive passion from the Bulls. These boys have defended for most of the match but aren't about to give up now and the attack, having been muscled into touch, win their own line-out but are caught out and the Scots invade south of Hadrian's Wall again, scoring another try late in the game. Converted.
39-5
Another restart from the Bulls is spilled by the receiving Thebans...but spilled backwards. They don't get two bites of the cherry though and they even out the Forward Pass column by doing one themselves. Scrum to Bulls. You can tell everybody is getting weary now as the put in goes sailing straight through the two marauding packs and out the other side. Oh dear. We'll try that one again. At the resulting breakdown, post-scrum, Bulls win a penalty but it's all going on as we have a big MEDICAL MOMENT and Nurse Moose leaps into action to help a stricken Theban. This, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the game of Rugby. You get Mark 'Moose' leaving his team behind to assess and carry off an injured member of the opposition before assessing him further in the dug-out. You can hear Capt James 'Spaedo' screaming for Moose to get back on but that 'Duty of care' is an overriding, internal switch that can't be turned off. Only when Moose is satisfied the other bloke isn't going to die (ok, maybe not THAT dramatic) does he return to the pitch to carry on what's left of the game.
A scrum goes to Thebans as the final whistle is blown and it's all over.

Final Score: Caledonian Thebans 39 - Birmingham Bulls 5

Now...back to the changing rooms to check who's still got some skin left on their legs/arms (that 4G pitch is rather damaging on the skin !), dress wounds, clean up and get up to that Club Room for some well earned grub and a drink or two !
Well done to the guys on both sides making their debut.

It's all square. We've both lost away from Home.
Fair to say it was a game of broken play, scrums (I counted almost 30), line-outs (approx 15) and scrapping. Passions were high, no-one wanted to give a quarter and no-one was disgraced. The defence of the Birmingham Bulls was put under a lot of pressure by a Theban pack, Hell bent on not getting beaten twice. The scoreline doesn't tell the full story but it does give the Thebans their win and well done to them.

Thank you Caledonian Thebans for your ever-present hospitality and welcome.