Demolition Derby

We’ve not had the pleasure of playing Weston Hornets for a couple of seasons and as the beautiful crisp morning progressed it became obvious it was not to be a rekindling old friendships but more so a building of new enemies!!!!

Rarely in all my years of playing have I witnessed such unnecessary animosity between two teams. Those responsible for the ongoing “additionals” will of course feel they had reason to act and react as they did. I really do find it very understandable that under the pressures and aggression that rugby football requires of its participants it’s very easy to switch into “chest beating” Neanderthal mode. However civilization has moved on from the “good old days” when it was more than acceptable to bludgeon someone to death for “looking at you funny”, eat him for lunch and fashion his carcass into this seasons gillet !!! Modern day rugby requires all the fight, determination and survival instinct that lies somewhere deep within but this also needs to be coupled with the calmness, respect and discipline that successful rugby play requires.

I have to say that I actually don’t hold our troops responsible for starting off the distasteful behaviour on this particular occasion. But unfortunately we were very much guilty of reacting to situations. In the senior game it is very often the reaction that is penalised. Moving forward we need to understand that even if something has been said/done to you, if you react, then you are in fact just as guilty, and therefore no better, than the individual that started it.

I’ve been lucky enough to have played this game more than a thousand times and can honestly say I’ve seen all types, not much surprises me. There are times when a “wrong un” slips through the filter system and gets to play rugby for the sake of violence – they don’t last long. In the main, Rugby is played by hard but humble, tough yet intelligent, and aggressive but respectful people – it is these players that succeed to the highest level, it is these players that play on and on, it is these players that enjoy Rugby for what it is, and it is these players that make Rugby so great. In my opinion the greatest ambassador of this type of behaviour in the modern era is Jonny Wilkinson. There is actually a Guinness advert currently running on television that encompasses this perfectly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIr8xfycngM

In short, we all need to be a bit more Jonny.

Of course we need to aspire to tackle, pass and kick as well as this gifted man. But more importantly (and more achievable) we need to aspire to conduct ourselves as he did – the most fierce competitor but the greatest of gentlemen. Acting this way encompasses all that Rugby is about and is just as much a skill as passing and kicking is. And in that respect it can be practiced and improved. So let’s move on from Sunday’s game – DO NOT REACT in the future and CONCENTRATE ON RUGBY. I think you’ll find that when an opposition player becomes disruptive it’s because they’re frustrated that you are the better side. That’s when you smile, maybe afford them a cheeky wink, and turn the screw a little more.

Let’s not forget that in amongst some classless rubbish behaviour there was actually some pretty good rugger too. The first quarter saw us continue last weekends excellent display, with forwards providing good clean possession at every opportunity. We continually pinned Hornets into their half and came away with two skilfull crash overs from “Dancin Dog Dan” and the “Mighty Mac”. The second 10 saw much the same with lots of entertaining rugby culminating in another score for Captain KFC. As the third quarter got underway play began to get a bit scrappy and lazy. Now far more intent on arguing the game was only sparsely sprinkled with some good stuff. A fantastic run by McCauly saw him blaze over – although unfortunately this was in a Hornets jersey!!!!! Clevedon then hit back with the move of the day that saw the ball being secured in the loose before being spun through all the backs to the wing and into the solid hands of the grateful Finnster sliding over in the corner. Into the final quarter of the day and with the undesirable tensions finally bubbling over, individuals became selfish and preoccupied with running the ball themselves with no regard for teamplay whatsoever. With the day not going to plan Hornets began to drop off tackles allowing free passage for “The Welsh Wizzardo” to balance his account by scoring for the correct team on this occasion followed up with another route one crash by the “Fast Food Giant” and in doing so wrapping up his hatrick and proceedings for the day.

Massive thanks to the seven chaps that volunteered happily to pull on a Hornets jersey to provide balanced teams. Well done to Finn who walked away with Man of the Match after a very accomplished all round display. As well as Woody who took “Most Improved” for his relentless unselfish driving over and securing in the loose. And finally, well done to the captain. In the past it could be argued he has been at the centre of all things unsavoury, however yesterday I saw an unusually disciplined young man who conducted himself very well indeed. Scoring 3 trys and keeping relatively calm in testing situations is quite a turnaround – the team need to look to their skipper because he just may have turned a corner and is ready to lead by example. Well done Mac.

And so the day ended with plenty of good, a little bit of bad and a smattering of ugly! Our rugby is definitely slowly evolving in the right direction. But as it becomes inevitably more competitive we all need to remember it’s not war, it’s a game of rugby, and we could all do with being ……..a bit more Jonny.