The first visit to Grists of the season saw the return of (relatively) local rivals Warlingham in temperatures exceeding 25 degrees. The games between the sides last year saw a second-half 50 point capitulation by Tiffs in Croydon before they exacted revenge in a solid home win in the return fixture. With both sides also winning on the opening weekend, the scene was set for a bruising encounter on an unforgivingly dry pitch.

During a characteristically flat warm up, Tiffs looked on in quiet amusement at the 8 coaches, 3 physios and massage table that Warlingham had elected to bring with them. In comparison, Victoria was handed a plastic bag in place of the physio bag going walkabout and was told to expect a busy afternoon with a number of returns from injury and fresh faces.

The first half was an attritional affair with Tiffs looking solid in attack and being rewarded with 2 penalties kicked by Sharif as they established control in the game. The lineout was messy from both teams but Ts somehow had their oppo in the scrum with Loz and Carvs marching forward despite the Warlingham pack looking to be at least 60kg heavier. Tiffs defence, as it was throughout the game, was indomitable. Marshalled by a vocal Blackers at 9, wave after wave of Warlingham pressure was repelled with only their 12 looking dangerous. Big hits came in from Bards, a rejuvenated Cass and JGJunior as the mighty Warl ran out of ideas. Only discipline would see Tiffs retreat and they duly obliged and began creeping offside for no apparent reason. Territory was conceded and the visitors scored a good try in the corner with 3 separate offside advantages called by the ref during the move signalling the sloppiness that had crept into the defensive line. Conversion missed 6-5.

This pattern continued as Warlingham smelled blood and they got a further penalty score after infringements at the break down had pinned the home side back. They may well have had another try with 10 minutes of the half left to play by virtue of a penalty try had the ref seen a cheeky deliberate knock on but he instead went back for an earlier penalty which they knocked over. The break in play saw changes with the workhorse Jazza feeling a recurrence of his knee injury and the impressive Max in centre injuring a tendon in his hand. The substitutes couldn’t be more different, the first young Hugo Nichols on for his first senior cap looking spritely and innocent and the second, well...was me.

Despite being under the cosh somewhat there was still time for a final flourish of the half from floppy haired and curiously accented Pedro who stepped into centre and with this first touch there received a delicious pass from Taylor and ran the length of the pitch to touch down in the corner. This eased the pressure on Tiffs and left the game in the balance at 11-11 HT.

Clear messages in the half time team talk about discipline were communicated with Tiffs keen to not let a win slip from their grasp. Everyone seemed to take this on board and the second half can be summed up with OTs being thoroughly professional in their performance while Warlingham’s discipline and entire game plan fell away. Cooke was instrumental in the lineout and carried well, accompanied by the rampaging Carvill. Taylor was running things at fly half with Fawsett, Angy and Nips-the-Younger making yards and bullying the Warlingham defence. Penalties came in abundance as Tiffs kept their cool and Warl lost their heads; Sharif kicking mercilessly and squeezing the oppo out of the game. Good work from JGJ saw him follow one of these kicks that dropped short of the posts, allowing Jae to score in the corner a few phases later. The now veteran hooker cum 8 cum centre cum KK had another brilliant performance leading from the front.

In the middle of all of this Sharif scored 2 tries, neither of which I can remember but I am sure they were good well done Sharif. The young centre enjoyed perhaps his best game for Tiffs and has ironically become one of the very ‘leaders’ he has always mocked Carvs for asking for.

There was still time for one last Warlingham foray forward having being locked out of the Tiffs half once the home side decided to be onside after the break. This reporter naively went grappling for the ball on the ground only to be shoulder charged to his head by a Warlingham forward who had enough of being pinged and punished in his own half. The ref waved play on, which infuriated Carvs no end and, after realising his best friend and all round good guy Apos may be hurt, exacted his own revenge on the closest oppo player. Luckily this was their hooker who had been naughty all game and he got a good off the ball shot to take home with him. Carvs was sent to the bin and Warlingham got their consolation try. An entertaining end to what had been a brilliant performance by Tiffs to make it 2 wins from 2.

Special mention also to Oram who put his hand up to help with the prop crisis at the club and held strong in the face of the gargantuan Warlingham FR when he come off the bench on debut. And also to Lozzer who came back on after the sin binning despite being injured.

Overall, a fantastic result for Tiffs against a decent team in exhausting conditions. What will please Blackers most is the way the issues were identified at half time and swiftly dealt with to ensure we got the victory we deserved. On next week to a tough away fixture at USP. IFLOT. IFLPS.

Tries: Sharif x 2, Jae, Pedro
Conv: Sharif x 3
Pen: Sharif x 4

MoM: Sharif x 1
Dick: Think this was Cooky but no idea why, chopped 2 or 3 pints well at the end regardless.