Sunday 22nd Mar: 09:30

Apologies for my absence last week. I don’t know how many people read this here drivel but we are definitely one reader less. My dear old mum, after a long period of suffering, departed this earth for a better place last Wednesday morning. She only ever read the controversial stuff anyway. You’ll be missed mum.

Life goes on, and she wouldn’t want it any other way. For me that meant being at the club on Thursday with other loyal Friday Club members preparing mini-pitches for today’s U9 festival, then again back there on Friday to finish the job. Friday night was the club quiz. Extremely well attended and a very good laugh too. Our team, The Wooden Spooners, yes, we were Welsh, finished a very creditable joint 5th, ahead of the English contingent in 7th.

So to yesterday and the visit of Gillingham Anchorians. The pitch looked a picture. It is amazing how it has dried out, in fact, our training pitch has dried so much it is positively hard. It was ‘ladies day’ yesterday with our burgeoning ladies team front and centre. Great lunch as always, with added fun and games led by the wonderful Sharon. I think it is fair to say our two guests at lunch from Gillingham were mightily impressed with what we do, and how we do it.

So to the game. The Bard is back so if you want a blow by blow account it is on the website. We started like greyhounds out of the traps. Within a blink of the eye Will Pitman was going over in the corner after some great handling to free up the space. We were playing some scintillating rugby. Backs and forwards linking beautifully, great support lines and crisp handling. Young Mason Rosier, making his 1st XV debut in the centre, did not look out of place. We played the simple stuff well and before you knew it we were over again, and again, and again. The whippet Pitman bagging three of the tries for himself. Jarrod Hermann’s boot was working well slotting the conversions from the touchline, but also looking at total ease at outside half.

Gillingham Anchorians have had a good run of late and as the game progressed you could see why. Their #10 controlled proceedings well, with their fullback adding spice with powerful runs. They were’t going down without a fight and to their credit had us under pressure. In the main our defence held up well but the ‘As’ did put points on the scoreboard before half time.

The second half was a more even contest. We still held the whip hand with Andy Kidd, Adam King and Will Creasy making bullocking runs into the heart of the visitors defence. This set up a solid attacking platform for the backs allowing us to add yet more tries to our side of the equation. Tommy Dinnis coming on at #9 for Harry Marchesi made quite a statement with an excellent solo try. Moving left, then right, outpacing several defenders he scored under the posts. Not to be outdone Rosier, now playing alongside his dad Mark who came on at the break, latched on to a superb long pass out wide and covered the ground like a gazelle on heat for his try. Probably the loudest cheer of the day.

It wasn’t all one way traffic, Gillingham added a couple of tries to take them to 21 points. I for one give them my fullest praise. The way we were playing at times a lesser side could have capitulated. They didn’t. They stuck at it and I’m sure they will be safe in Kent 1 for another season.

Everyone of the 36 who took to the field played their part in what was a cracking game, and an outstanding performance by our boys. Final score 50-21. We stay in 7th just ahead of Beccehamian. Next week the 1st XV host champions elect Old Elthamians. They are currently perfect for the season, 18 games, 18 wins all with the bonus point. Can we pull off a shock and bring them down to earth. If we play like we did yesterday, YES WE CAN.

Our 2s were over at Uckfield losing 39-17. That is still a solid result. Well done them.

Yesterday was rounded off with live music post match. Me and Mrs Bleater, The Bard and his lovely wife, were frozen so we headed to the welcoming arms of our respective homes, and in our case the comfort of a glass of sherry to warm the cockles.

As mentioned above it is the Sussex U9 festival today at Steel Cross. I’ve done my bit so am keeping well clear today.

The proper news is terrifying. What has that idiot Trump done. I know the Iranian regime is odious but Trump’s actions quickly followed by the Israelis has sent the world into a tailspin which unless we are careful we might not recover from. Heaven help us all.