2nd XV win almighty contest away to Royston

Saturday saw a much changed Vee’s 2nd Team travel to play Royston 2’s at Baldock Road and what followed was an outstanding game of end to end rugby played in an excellent spirit with lashings of skill.

This was a match that enthralled all those who came to watch, young and old, partisan and impartial and even more so, those that pulled on the respective team jerseys and battled for 80 minutes.

The reporter would normally give a chronological account of the game but age prevents any real memory of the order of scores and, on this occasion, it seems far more important to praise all those who pulled on the blue and gold Vee shirt. So what follows is a player-by-player breakdown:

1. Lewis Wosnitzka – This guy can sniff out the line better than Elton John in his heyday. A hat-trick by the bullocking vet, an ever willing ball carrier with an outstanding engine and a smile you just can’t wipe of his face. An outstanding recruit to the Vees this season who, from memory, has scored in all but one of his many appearances for the 2’s this season. Unlucky not to get our Man of the Match, but as captain Darren said, stop scoring tries and push in the scrum more.

2. Tom Golding – In the space of 6 months, Tom has become one of the first names on the 2’s team sheet and totally immersed himself in Vee’s culture. As is often the case, Vees found themselves significantly outweighed in the front row, but Tom gets down and dirty every scrum, and his unseen work in the loose makes him a great man to have on your team. Great improvement since joining and more to come. We won’t mention a couple of not straight line outs that landed in Cambridge.

3. Liam Field – Great to have Liam back in the shirt and giving the 2’s stability on the tight head. A quick appearance on player-cam allowed a real insight in the work that he does around the park, growing in confidence and fitness and looking to get the ball in his hands more. The tries don’t get scored without the work of Liam and his mates in the front 5.

4. Simon McCullough – After a tough couple of years, it’s great to see Si back on the park strutting his stuff. A 10 by trade, he’d play wherever the team asked him, and 2nd Row was where he found himself on Saturday. Two outrageous dummies from consecutive restarts showed there is life in the old man yet, and his positivity and wise words were vital to the success. Vees version of Ian Henderson.

5. Jo Hicks – One of the quiet men of the team, Jo does a lot of the dirty work and carried the ball into and through contact on many occasions. A shrewd rugby brain, Jo is comfortable in 2nd or back row and this flexibility and his willingness to stick his head in where others fear to tread, is why he is such a valuable addition to the club. Took a knock which took him off for a short while, but went back on and steadied the ship.

6. Ciaran Hennessy – Great to see Ciaran back on the park after a lengthy break with a shoulder injury. The guy has a natural fitness and ability that allow him to be in the right place at the right time and doing the right thing. Rounded off a great move to cross for a try, I know he loved being back in the thick of battle and the team always seem to gel better when he’s on the pitch.

7. Josh Harrington – Coming back to rugby, it’s great to have another of the younger generation taking a shirt. After a brief appearance a couple of months ago, Josh started in his old school position at 7 and made a great impact. He’s another quiet man and makes Jo Hicks look like he’s got verbal diarrhoea, but put in a 60 min shift including one cracker of a tackle on one of the oppositions big ball carriers.

8. Darren Westhead (Capt) – Man of Sparta, the skipper filling in for Jimmy, as ever led by example. 80 minutes of abrasive offence and defence. A steadying influence when required but covered every blade of the pitch in search of success and deserves huge congratulations for being the glue that stuck the team together when the game started to go against us.

9. Ed – A young product of coach Monners’ MK youth system, Ed turned up in the hope of a game and played a full 80. Gave the team the seamless link between forwards and backs superbly, kicked intelligently and seemed to really get the Vees mentality. Even asked at half time what he could do better, I could only reply that he needed to dish out some dross to his 10, just so I could laugh at him.

10. Monners – Oh how we turned back the clock on Saturday. Almost begging for a game midweek, he gave the young team exactly what it needed. A steadying influence to those inside and outside, excellent use of the boot to take advantage of the wind and slope in the2nd half. Oh and that glint in his eye, that all of us who had the pleasure of playing with him had seen a 100 times, when he sees the half gap in front of him. The legs may have slowed but the rugby instinct is alive and kicking in the young man. Well deserved Richard of the Day for an appalling sliced penalty kick for touch that lost us 20 metres.

11. Matt Ellis – There always has to be someone who turns up worse for wear, and it was Tarzan’s week. He apparently had an 80-minute headache during the match, but you wouldn’t have known. Great to see Matt with the ball in space, weave passed his opposite number, carry at pace half the length of the pitch and then provide the no look pass for his support runner to coast over. We’ve seen that pass every week at training and it was a gem.

12. Gabe Mattei – Man of the Match in only his second game for the club. His Gallic roots allow him to play with flair and skill, with defence splitting lines of running and, in addition a relentless tackling approach that saw him down anything in a Royston shirt. Thankfully avoided the embarrassing post try celebration from UCS game when he crossed the whitewash, but a real talent who promises to play a bit more if we don’t pick him at 9. It’s a deal!!!!

13. James Manley – James is another Vet college student who has regularly made himself available for the club and, as such, is one of the first on the sheet. Starting at 13, he used his awareness of Gabe’s strengths to pick some solid support lines and trouble his opposite number. Crossed for a fine score in the second half himself and followed up with three conversions. More of the same please James.

14. Matt Keohane – Although he didn’t get much ball in his hands, Matt really stood up in defence. After an early score by his opposite number, he made it his mission to knock him down every time he had the ball and Matt did that with great regularity. Another great guy to have in the squad and the bringer of music to the changing room. Thank you DJ K.

15. Matt Feeney – With more matts in the back 3 than Carpet Right, Matt F had his best game for the club. A rock at the back, he was asked to boss the midfield defence in front of himand he did so superbly. Solid when Royston used the boot to find space, he countered strongly and was desperately unlucky to be stopped inches short after and chip and chase from his own half. A great performance.

16. Kyran Moore – Another of Monners MK Mates, Kyran is from the other end of the age scale but was a willing volunteer to fill in the second row to give OAP Si Mac a break. Came on, matched the physicality of the opposition pack, and kept coming back for me. Another with a huge smile on his face when he came off. A testament to our great club that we can make those helping us out feel so welcome.

17. Rory Shenton – Coming back from a nasty knee injury, Rory was limited to a 40-minute second half stint, but what an impression he made. Slight in appearance but the guy has pace to burn and his tackling was fearless, technically perfect and drew huge praise from the side-lines. One searing break took him clear of the first line of defence, he chipped the fullback and although just thwarted at the try line, the ever present goal hanger Waz, was there to touch down. Fingers crossed he can stay fit and will thrive on the hard Spring pitches.

18. Another - Halfway through a rousing half time speech, a guy in chinos and brogues joined us to ask if we needed any subs. Asked to come along by Royston in case we were short, he asked for a game and we delivered with a last 20 mins for him on the wing (he did get changed beforehand). I tried 3 times to get his name, but my hearing and his accent let me down. Another great example of what Vees offer as a community club.

19. Simon French – Unused sub. The nearby St Johns Ambulance were glad the defib would not be needed. Barracked the ref in true Vees style but prowled the touch like a proud parent as the game wore on.

It has to be said that it takes two teams to make a great game, and Royston were a formidable adversary. A strong scrummage, a back line led by a wily 10 and a number of their successful colts side adding to their wide game and enthusiasm. Scored some good tries themselves and were excellent hosts.

Final score 36 – 31.

In a week when three big events took place, this was a game to grab all 3 by the scruff of the neck and shake some sense into them.

1. A physical, no holds barred, end to end game where no quarter was given, sore bodies but big smiles and not one high tackle seen or penalised. Community rugby doesn’t need these farcical law change.

2. A meeting took place at Welwyn RFC around the future and difficulties in sides maintaining 2nd teams and getting fixtures. Well this game was the perfect advertisement for what 2nd Team rugby has to offer and demonstrates why we as a club must do everything to give all those not able, not keen or just not quite ready to break into the 1’s and opportunity to play competitive, rewarding rugby every week.

3. As we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Sir Gareth Edwards ‘the Greatest Try’, Baldock Road witnessed a length of the pitch Vees try to match anything seen at the Arms Park. The ball handled by many and finished in style. I hear the 1’s scored a cracker, but I’d put a fair wager we nailed it.

Written by Simon French