A bumper squad of Crows, injured Crows and bored 2s turned up to take part in the team photo -trouble is no one told Drew, the photographer!
As kick off neared St Francis looked like they meant business, doing press ups and everything in their warm up. They even had tackle pads! Meanwhile the Crows passed the ball around in a circle and whoever dropped it had to run around the circle. That intensity ran the risk of the squad peaking too soon so they went off to do ankles.
Kick off finally arrived and the early battles were all in the St F half. The visitors had a solid scrum, with a quick efficient strike seeing the ball quickly at the feet of their 8.
However the Crows backs put pressure on with Wil “Rocky” Rockall to the fore in attack and defence. After 10minutes Martin Edgar - in possibly his only match of the season - found himself in the right place at the right time scoring in the right corner. A brilliant conversion from James Hart and the Crows were 7-0 up.
From the restart St. F put on some good pressure, getting close to the Crows line but without success. On 18 minutes Lawrence “Fish”Fisher went over for the Crows second try of the day on the left side this time, again converted by James Hart. 14-0.
St. F were not going to be rolled over though, and on 30 minutes, after a good few minutes banging away at the Crows line they spun the ball wide and scored, converted and were back in the game. 14-7.
From the restart it was carnage as St. F came straight back with another try, unconverted to pull the deficit back to 14-12.
The next 5 minutes ebbed and flowed with both teams having opportunities, Hairy Biker 2 charging like a rampaging bull at one point and Fish making some lovely runs to put St. F’s defence under pressure. The ref had words with Mark “Animal” Wilson, understandably assuming he was responsible for the instruction from the touch line to “shoe him”! Animal looked mortified to be accused of such behaviour while Rocky didn’t even attempt to look guilty at the case of mistaken identity.
As half time loomed St. F were awarded a penalty which they kicked to lead 14-15 at half time.
Then it started raining so I went back to the clubhouse as my beer was getting wet.
Final score, 26-22 to the Crows so there must have been some more tries and stuff in the second half.
Update: Griff scored a try in the second half
Note to all players -more chance of getting in the match report if you score in the first half. That is all.