Stoke Old Boys vs Bedworth 53-10(w)

After what had seemed like months of build-up, after concerns regarding the condition of the pitch and training ground bust ups, the big day was finally upon us. Bedworth, at home, on VPs day, in a game where a win would see us crowned champions.

For probably the first time this season, all 20 players arrived before the set meet time. As players greeted each other, smiled and nodded in silent recognition, took in the atmosphere emanating from the immaculately laid out changing rooms, the pre-match playlist blasted from the speakers. It’s hard to describe, but absolutely everyone in that room emitted an energy and built the atmosphere in the room further. There were clearly a few suffering with a bit of nerves and others who took everything in their stride but importantly this was the day where we were a team, not a collection of individuals or even different cliques within the group, a team completely united in their goal.

The VP days crowd continued to swell as the warm up progressed and as the boys made their way back into the changing rooms Elv and Sam delivered their final words.

Personally, I had mentally prepared myself for an absolute nerve jangling battle of a game, the single point win earlier in the season and the infamous cup game were at the forefront of my mind. Although completely confident that the occasion would prevent a reoccurrence of the total capitulation that occurred during the latter I in no way expected the game to transpire as it did.

From the off though, you could see that the Stoke forwards had turned up to play. Making their tackles, smashing into rucks and carrying hard in attack, they were winning the mental battle over their opponents and when they held and got a slight nudge on in their first scrum the momentum swung.

Everyone deserves plaudits for this performance, and I’ll try my best to ensure they get them, but I want to particularly call out the forwards and tell them all, how proud I am of them from 1-8 and the replacements. The unspoken pressure was all on their shoulders pre game. Elv had talked all week about the importance of earning the right to play wide by being strong in the forwards, and after our encounters with Bedworth earlier in the year, we knew they would target the set piece as the area to dominate. The Stoke pack rose to this challenge with style and allowed us backs both quick ball and tired bodies to run at.

I’d like to take time for a special mention here. Daniel Falcini, who unfortunately missed the game by cruel circumstance. After the season Daniel has had, I’m absolutely gutted that he missed this game. Daniel has been an almost ever-present in the front row this season, and in my humble opinion, has had the season of his life. Gone are the days when we ran sweepstakes on what minute in the first half he’d have to go off injured and his performances this year have drew plaudits in these very match reports. Seeing the sheer excitement come through in his messages into the chat as he was kept up to date with the score and the beaming smile come across his face as he arrived at the club late in the night was incredible and I’m so glad he was able to join us for a celebratory drink.

Within the first 5 minutes, the Stoke forward domination paid dividends, as Bedworth committed too many to the breakdown and were too loose at the guard positions, Scrum half Sam Watson, who by the way, has come under intense scrutiny and has copped a fair amount of stick this season…mainly from me, had the absolute game of his life and scored the first try, making a sniping break through the opposition defence, sprinting over the line and dotting down under the posts. Dave Pretty stepped up to slot the conversion and make the score 7-0 to Stoke.

Callum Hill then went over shortly after, the backs, given the instruction to play fast and get the ball wide did exactly that. Following a free kick awarded at the scrum. Sam Watson acted fast to get the ball to his fly half Dave Pretty. The two centres Mikey and Tom drew their men before passing the ball through the hands and gave Callum the outside of his man, Callum sprinted away and finished brilliantly. A text book backs try. Uncharacteristically Dave was unable to add the two and the score remained 12-0.

The forwards continued to dominate at the breakdown and draw their opposition into giving away countless penalties, as the referee blew for yet another Bedworth infringement Captain Sam handed the ball to Dave Pretty who calmly slotted the penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

At this point, Bedworth had their first notable attack, off the cuff backs play saw them carve through covering tackles and make their way up the field towards the Stoke try line. As the big number 8 came charging towards the line it took a herculean effort by 3 Stoke players to drag him down just short of the line. Ben Griffiths worked tirelessly to win a spectacular turn over and stunt Bedworth’s attack. They did however, get onto the scoresheet shortly after by slotting over a penalty from infront of the posts.

I remember thinking that that would be the tester for the side, Bedworth had come very close with their first real opportunity and had now got themselves onto the scoresheet, would the momentum swing back towards the green and blacks?

In a word…..No. This Stoke side has shown throughout the course of the year that they are made of stronger stuff. Again, simple hands was enough as Mikey Tyrrell drew his man before releasing his centre partner Tom Elves to go over the line untouched and circle round under the posts. Dave Pretty added the conversion to make it 22-3 at half time.

Im wary of this match report varying between being written in both the 1st and 3rd person but I must to call this out. I remember walking back from under the posts towards the gathered pack, breathing much more heavily than I’d like to admit after desperately trying to sprint through the boggy bottom half of the pitch and looking around at the faces of my team mates. Each and every one of them, steely eyed, not letting the occasion and the increasing score line get to them, celebrations were at this stage, still muted. I think this shows the increasing maturity in the squad, in seasons gone by we may have lost our concentration, allowed our opposition back into the game, but not this season and certainly not this game.

At the half, this was exactly the message given by Elv, Sam and Mikey. We’d more than dominated the first half but Bedworth had shown glimpses of the side that had caused us trouble earlier in the year and desperately needing the win, were sure to come out in the second half with renewed determination.

As Elv had spoken about for the last two weeks though, Bedworth were weak out wide and Marc Brittain had the beating of his man on multiple occasions. Within minutes of the start of the second half, he had crossed the line and scored his 10th try of the year. Ben Griffiths with the assist after breaking defenders ankles in midfield with his trademark step.

Vice-captain and top try scorer Michael Tyrrell was next to cross the line, turning defenders inside out in midfield and sprinting past the fullback to cross for his 20th of the season. The Stoke backs were running Bedworth ragged and the Stoke pack continued to dominate at scrum time, the pressure again directly translating to points as the Bedworth number 8 fumbled the ball at the base of the scrum, Sam Watson acted quickly to kick the ball through twice, collect it off the floor and release winger Marc Brittain to cross over again unopposed. Dave Pretty kept the scoreboard ticking over adding both conversions and closing in on his target season total of 200 points.

Bedworth managed to cross for a consolation try in the second half that threatened to put a dampener on events but when the Stoke backs dominate, it goes without saying the Ben Griffiths gets in on the party. After carving through the Bedworth side on numerous occasions and taking an incredibly late shot to tee up Marc Brittain earlier in the day, Ben more than deserved his try and it must be a strong contender for try of the day. I wrote here, no more than two weeks ago that Ben’s step had ended the career of a number of Tenbury defenders. As Ben stepped past 7…..read it….7 players, turning them inside and out and leaving a few of them rooted to the spot to cross for his try I genuinely wondered how on earth I would do it justice. Both myself and Michael Tyrrell have been on the receiving end of the step during training last week and we both acknowledge there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it happening. Pray for Ben’s knees in later life because I don’t think that the dynamics of that step should be medically possible.

The Bedworth side were weary and tiring, although opportunities went begging, Kyle Timms in particular made an incredible break, threw the naughtiest of dummies before failing to find his man with the pass, and although Ricky Birtley’s pace and power was beginning to cause
Bedworth problems, it was down to inside centre Michael Tyrrell to score the final try of the game. An excellent line out call saw the ball spread to Tyrrell standing at first receiver, playing the one two with Dave Pretty he arced his run and siphoned through the Bedworth defence and dived over the line in front of a packed clubhouse corner.

Throughout the game the atmosphere on the side-line was indescribable. I know myself and all the lads would like to thank all of you that came to support us on Saturday and provide the encouragement from the side-line.

As the referee drew the game to a close, the 53-10 win saw us crowned champions with two games to spare. A mention here for Andy Whittle who arranged for a trophy to be ordered….in true Stoke Old Boys fashion though we broke it within 2 minutes whilst celebrating.

Back in the changing rooms post game, the beers flowed, the hotly anticipated Champions playlist absolutely banged and Paul O’Brien (Pobs) led the boys in a rousing rendition of Queen’s ‘We Are The Champions’. Pobs has been a stalwart of this young side and announced to us after the game that having won the league, he now intends to retire from first team duties at the end of the season. If picked, we have decided to honour Pobs’ commitment to this club by making him captain for our final game of the season against Burbage.

As the celebrations went long into the night, most of which I cannot remember, it began to dawn on me just what this side had accomplished on the day and throughout the course of the season. Unbeaten before Christmas with two more wins to follow after before defeat at the hands of surprise promotion package Coventry Welsh. Rallying in the league before defeat in the cup against Bedworth, before rallying again to remain unbeaten at home all year and seal the title with games to spare.

Early in the season, I hashtagged a post on Instagram #Wearecomingtowinyourleague I don’t know if I truly believed it then, when numbers at preseason felt low and so much uncertainty over the unknown quantities that had come down from the league above, but each and every week this side has grown in stature and experience. We’ve answered every question that has been asked of us and we sit at the summit of the league today, averaging 30 points a game and conceding less than 8, with the gift of 3 HWO’s we still sit second in the points scored table with a game in hand.

The season isn’t over, and the talk after the game was about continuing the momentum through the next two games and into next season. 19&1 is the target before we focus too much more on our achievements for the year.

I wanted to round off #ChampionshipMatchReportMonday by saying to anyone that wasnt specifically mentioned by name above, that your efforts in the game never go unappreciated even if I can never remember them on a Monday. Those that do the hard work often go unnoticed.

By saying thank you to Elv, who turns up every single Tuesday and Thursday and makes us better players, whilst also scaring the sh*t out of all of us and has led us to this title.

To Andy Bolton and Rory Mcbride, who were unlucky to not make the side on Saturday, thank you for turning up to support the boys that did and for your efforts throughout the rest of the season.

To Liam Hill, Jake Sturman and Adam Nailor, who all suffered season ending injuries throughout the course of the year, we’re immensely glad we got the job done for you and we hope to see you in preseason.

And to anyone else that has pulled on a Stoke Old Boys shirt this season. This is as much your title as anyone elses!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.

Next week – Birmingham Civil Service at Home – 3pm Kick Off
Maybe a guest reporter on Match Report Monday if anyone can be bothered 