TEDDINGTON RFC (86) v (8) FARNHAM RFC: Surrey League 1.

The full spectrum of human emotions was on show at Bushy Park on Saturday, but which one would prevail:

EXCITEMENT: Jamie ‘Pies’ McKAY our Director of rugby arrives from Torbay on one of his regular pilgrimages from his home in Devon to play for his beloved club, “but just until the end of the season” he had promised his wife Lyn, who had also made the trip together with their 2 children Seth and Theo. They were all looking forward to a weekend of fun and excitement in London, especially Lyn who would later be off out with friends for a rare Saturday night on the town.  

ANTICIPATION: From 30 players tentatively stepping on to a rugby pitch, for many the first time in over 5 weeks. It had been a long but active hibernation for the Teddington squad who had trained hard over the previous weeks, and now just wanted to put all that practice into meaningful action. But Farnham were a side on the up having beaten Old Freemens on their last outing, and rumours rife that a Roman Abramovich figure had recently invested in the club. Would Ritchie McKaw and Dan Carter be lining up in the black shirts of Farnham?

RELIEF: The game kicked off and there were no rugby ‘Galactico’s’ in the Farnham ranks.

CONFUSION: by the flattened and dazed Farnham fly half after he had attempted a head on tackle on our “19 stone hulk of pure Devonshire beef on the hoof” (thankyou Bill McClaren) as he bulldozed his way over the try line for the opening Teddington score. Ferg FARRELL’s try after 10 minutes was the spark to fire up the Teddington engine, full operating temperature was soon reached when second row Martin EWINS powered his way over for try No 2.

PRIDE: Even Vince HARTE managed a beaming smile when his fully recovered son Jonny finally got his chance to prove his family rugby credentials to the watching coach. Vince’s chest swelled a few more inches when HARTE junior scored the first of two well taken tries, and so ending his 18 months in the rugby wilderness. Jonny appears to have finally recovered from his knee reconstruction surgery with no apparent loss of his blistering speed and dancing feet………...Although he’ll never be as good as his father Vince tells me.  

DETERMINATION: They were 17-0 down, but Farnham did not crumble, instead they knuckled down, started to secure a share of the ball and with some gritty phase play began to put Teddington under some concerted pressure. They were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty and then a try. It was now 17-8.

AWE: Farnham belying their lowly position at the foot of Surrey 1 looked like they were  building up a head of steam, a sweet move down the left, a missed tackle and suddenly their left wing had a 40 yard unobstructed sprint to the try line to score and bring Farnham to within 2 points. But Teddington fly half and ‘Man of the Match’ Paul MANLEY had other ideas, he raced across from midfield and at full throttle put in a bone crunching train-stopper of a tackle. This magnificent piece of timing, strength and courage not only saved a certain try but also seemed to knock the wind out of the Farnham comeback. In fact within minutes Teddington were back in control and on the attack, which led to a Glen BOYLING try.  With Mark NITSCH finding his range with the boot Teddington were sitting comfortably 24-8 up at the break.

FRUSTRATION: Mark NITSCH is Teddington’s metronomic goal kicking right wing and club top point scorer. With 219 points already notched up this season it seems impossible that anyone will overtake him. During this game he worked his socks off for the full 80 minutes, making sure he was always on the shoulder of any player who made a break. Strangely he always seemed to be overlooked for a ‘better’ option on each and every occasion. The ball was either passed to another player if there was one within 20 yards, if not then a wayward kick in the opposite direction, or a forward pass, or as a last resort an inexplicable knock on. Anyone would think that his team mates didn’t want to give him the ball. Surely not! As it was he still managed an impressive match tally of 21 points. You’ll have to try harder chaps.

DISMAY: With ten minutes to go and the scoreboard ticking over nicely Jamie ‘Pies’  McKay (him from Excitement)  is  found in a crumpled heap on the ground after a scrum. The instant diagnosis is a ruptured Achilles tendon and his season and possibly Teddington career is over in a flash…………. Seth and Theo are upset and in tears when their father gets carted away in an ambulance. Understandably they wanted a ride in the ‘Nee Naa’ too.

SATISFACTION: The game must go on and we’re down to 14, but the score ticks on past 80 and ex fly half turned coach MATHER purrs as Teddington No 10 Paul MANLEY dots down his third try of the afternoon, this caps a wonderful performance for the ‘chosen one’.

DISBELIEF: Scrum half Simon HALL had waited 4 years to score his first Teddington try and here we are a few games later and he's at it again.  In the changing room after the game I'm picked off the floor as Tim HOLDSWORTH actually pays his match subs.

BEWILDERMENT: Mrs Pies misses out on her Saturday night out with the girls as ‘babysitter’ and husband is otherwise engaged for the night at the Kingston Hospital A & E dept. On Sunday morning he gets his dangling Achilles tendon reattached to his foot and finally gets released on Monday afternoon. Mrs Pies drives crocked husband plus 2 small children back home in Devon and now has three helpless ‘children’ to look after. By the way Pies, don’t worry about retiring.  I’m sure there’ll be a few Saturday afternoon ‘business meetings’ to attend in London come September, you can keep a pair of boots hidden in the same place as mine.

There was a full house in Crumbly Corner after the game where it was agreed that all of the above emotions fitted exactly the trials and tribulations of a sailing weekend under the Captaincy of Dave LEA and Rod BROMFIELD. There was of course much to celebrate including the 3 fine victories and talk of a 4^th XV being put out next Saturday. 

All in all it was a weekend full of EXCITEMENT