Teddington v G's

The bubble that didn’t quite pop!

Going into the game knowing the Teddington team, unbeaten for over 550 days, had finally faced defeat playing a team too good for them (Well done Tiffs). Grinstead went in with all the optimism in the world. A good week of training, working on our ruck defence, aggression in the forwards and the backs fine tuning their running lines. Saturday couldn’t have come soon enough!

Teddington, with rather lackluster facilities given their stature, seemed to have brought every man and dog to their first game since being slayed the week previously, seemingly needing all the support they could get to try and get back to winning ways. The coin toss completed and the magnificent Ryland elected to play up the hill first, to assert ultimate dominance on this very beatable Teddington team.

An average kick by the Teddington flyhalf, saw Grinstead running hard into the centre of the field, when an unfortunate rolling penalty was awarded to the home team, which seemed somewhat marginal. Grinstead knowing all too well how Teddington operate from their lineouts, defended well from the resulting clearance, but it was all in vain as the Teddy backs found some space through the middle and under the posts. First blood to Teddington. The roars from the home side supporters made it feel like we were at a world cup final - if only the pitch matched their enthusiasm.

Grinstead working hard up the hill and dominating the majority of play, with scrums holding firm and backs running hard with great support and soon it was G’s chance to run a well orchestrated set move from the base of the scrum, but some miss timing out wide saw the ball into touch - the first opportunity missed.

The game soon found its rhythm with both teams testing each other out and some great verbals going back and forth, mostly from us to them, given the losing streak they were currently on!!

Teddington, living off G’s scraps, soon found themselves on the Grinstead 22 for another lineout. This was well turned over by the Grinstead second rower Sam LM and Connor Leggat boshing it up gave a good opportunity for clearance ball. Another lineout to Teddington, who this time managed to spread it out wide, before Brimo had the idea to see how heavy one of their players was and lifted him above 90 for a penalty. Teddington, usually clinical with their lineouts, seemed flustered with the aggressive nature of the G’s pack and struggling to hit their mark, over throwing for Aaron Bozcek to recover, again though it was all for nothing as the Teddington backs managed to zip the ball wide and found some space out wide for the 7 to trot over the line.

The second half started with a great kick off by Dan Poulton and the Teddington pack, obviously with the fear of God put into them by their earphone wearing coaches, wanted nothing to do with the ball, allowing it to bounce into touch. The backs with an opportunity to run at the Teddington pack, made some ground with Sam Musgrave unluckily being tripped as he found some space, but good ruck support saw the ball swinging wide the other way! Unfortunately, in a moment of madness, Totty decided to walk over the Teddington 3 who was laying behind enemy lines. The ref didnt take kindly to this and saw him off for 10. Teddington with another opportunity, were luckily awarded a dubious try with their winger somehow dotting the ball down in touch, but these things happen - there was still more time in the game to get something out of the match, even if just pride.

Another yellow, this time by our ever present Aaron Bozcek, still learning the laws of the game bless him, running in the Teddington backline from an offside position attempting to steal the ball, it was a sight to behold with his Maradona attempt at a hand of God which the ref didn’t find all that amusing!

Teddington seeing G’s one down in the pack again, elect for the scrum and after some great defensive work soon found themselves with space out wide for an easy run over the whitewash.

Final score 26 - 0.

The score may have been against Grinstead, but the game was not one to be down heartened by! A Teddington team coming off the back of a loss, after however many days, attempting to prove they aren’t the weak team they showed the previous week, gave it their all and were matched for the majority of the game. A few mental lapses allowed for tries to be run in, but some great grit determination and rugby aggression was shown through the full 80 minutes.

Eastbourne next, in what I’m hoping will be a packed out affair! Lets march onwards and keep the momentum going.