Deja vu For Trojans Blue

It was definitely Deja Vu for Trojan Blues, another good performance from the entire squad only to be beaten by one star player from the opposition. A few of our players were missing from last week due to injuries but the TEAM ethos continued. The opposition had a few big lads on their side so we knew we would be up against another physical side with plenty of tackles required to stop them. Stoke came out strong from the start passing to their star player most of the time however our tackles and teamwork worked well but we were soon 10 – 0 down. However yet another cracking run from Tommy P from inside his 22 to score another great solo effort from the 22 3 weeks in a row got our boys back into the game. Then their player swung Sam Pitt to the ground and Sam hit the ground hard. He was treated on the pitch but fortunately was able to walk off but that as his game done for the day as we needed to ensure there was no after effects from this judo throw! There was some more great work by our forwards and then Joe bull was rewarded after his huge tackles and good support play. He received the ball well within his half and set off like a Gazelle. He had two of the opposition hard on his tail but out ran them both to score to level it 10-10. More good work followed by the forwards and a few “Danny Care” like runs from Mattis but we kept getting sucked into the breakdown and with only 2 backs left in our back line Stoke won the ball and pass it through their hands to score another try to make it 15-10 at half time.
The second half started and once again their player was hitting our boys hard and also he ran in a couple more tries to make it 25-10. However not once did the squad drop their heads and always ran back to the half way line and was ready to go back at them. We started to have better shape in the backs and once again Joe Bull received the ball to run in a well deserved 2nd try for him and a 3rd for the Blues. Now being 25-15 the boys started working again and pushing forward. By now we now had most of the play and we were linking well between the forwards and backs. But with a knock on being missed by the ref Stoke regained the ball to run in another try and another was soon to follow. Now being 35-15 and the final 7 minutes of the game we really starting to hit them with our forwards and we were winning 90% of the loose ball. We kept Stoke in their half and kept putting them on their back foot and with our 10th or 12th phase we were 7 meters from the line and Toby O picked up the ball from the deck and saw the line. There was no one on that pitch that day who was going to stop Toby from scoring and he went over the line with great strength and determination. Now being 35-20 we had a scrum just outside our 22 and the ref shouted last play. So instead of kicking the ball out the boys decided to run the ball out of their half, this they did and then were tackled into touch. With us all expecting the whistle to blow Stoke played the ball in and after a few tackles they had a penalty just outside our 22. The ref allowed this still to continue and they pass it to their player and he ran home the last try of the game. Final score 40- 20
The last 15 minutes of the game was the best rugby of the day and at no time did they give up or drop their heads. Once again Trojans Blues were the best team on the day but were undone by 1 or 2 of the opposition. Once again the blues coaching team walk away a very proud set of coaches. Once again no star player this week and the entire squad worked their socks off and all deserve the credit for that.

We do need to work on our shape in the backs during breakdown and this will be something we will work on in training over the next few weeks.
Next weekend is a rest day as we are all paintballing and if I am playing against any of the blue team I will be a very worried man as they never give up and their commitment to each other is second to none.

WELL DONE BLUES