All buses are expected to be back from matches and visits by 5.30pm.
Saturday 26th November, 2012.
So we approached the end of the season with a short jaunt over to Gilling to play our old friends at The Castle. It is a hotly contested fixture, as proved by the size of the crowd - I reckon that every single parent from both teams was in attendance and the banter was flowing nicely as we kicked off. The first half belonged to the opposition: they outrucked us and they had plenty of pace and skill in the backs too. A couple of missed tackles resulted in a half time deficit of 3 tries, with our lads unable to sustain pressure and cross their line. After the break, S.M.A. scored again, but we finally woke up, thanks to an astute tactical change, placing Joe Browne at second row for line outs. We scored immediately and suddenly we were back in the game following a brace from Gabriel McGill. At 4 tries to 3 down, we threw everything at the opposition, but left our defence a little stretched as a result; St Martin's broke out twice and their speedy centre punished us. It was a fantastic game and perhaps the better side won, but there was no lack of commitment from either team, nor from either group of parents for that matter. I would like to take this opportunity to quash a spurious rumour that has been doing the rounds, namely that the aforementioned astute tactical change was in fact prompted by a text from Mr James Browne. Not true. At all.
Thanks to the superb parents for their support, our hosts who looked after us as brilliantly as ever, Adrian the excellent referee and Mr Peckitt for the beers afterwards.
Terrington Hall 19 - 38 St Martin's, Ampleforth.
Nick Witteveen.
