Sunday 2nd Dec
We started slow today against an unbeaten Stockport team and some of the tries seemed like soft scores. For the first 20 minutes, we struggled to adjust to Stockport’s technical ability in the rucks and how they recycled the ball. We got a bit shocked by it and went 2-0 down. We eventually adjusted well and got ourselves back into the game as George stepped up and was outstanding, showing what a prospect for the future he really is. He controlled our backline and creating the space to test the Stockport defence out wide as they struggled to contain today’s MOM Slim Shady’s sidestep and turn of pace and with great support play George finished a fabulously worked try. Tries for the elusive Slim and Owen followed as well Hollywood despite his post-match fat finger with a well structured try once his eye-mascara was fixed and his hair gel had set. Stockport continued to ruck and tackle strongly, but cleaver, sensible and tactical kicking from WP set into motion a famous WP purple patch which lead to a couple of more tries by Daggers and Hollywood to give some daylight.
While i have at times questioned our effort this season, today everyone gave 100%. and this effort was the difference today. We showed more life to us, more energy to us , more desire and where hunger in defence. By far our best tackling display this season especially our line defence to hold them out and often force errors. His work rate felt at times like we played seven OwenD’s in our defensive line and he put his body into todays game proving he’s not just fast but a rounded player. This attitude is contagious and spread through the team with good fringe defence from Harry (Carrot)who is showing pleasing growth.
Work for our forwards to do in training, when Coach Ro recovers from his Spanish Hangover that was perfectly articulated in Captain Jack’s half time talk “don’t be a decoration”. But They worked for one-an-other all game against a very organised and difficult strong Stockport pack. Testimony that their only resort in the end was to keep it tight.
We were immensely proud of the effort today and while the changing room echoed with chants “they didn’t want it”, i disagree they wanted it, but we just didn’t let them have it. Stockport were still engaged and scored a couple of tight, close-in tries, but their 15 players were beginning to fade and WP took the advantage to seal the game with a 7-4 win. Credit to the sportsmanship of Stockport team who took their first defeat of the season with good grace, but congratulations to WP for seeing out the game and to everyone in the squad who participated in this excellent win.
This is in contrast to the exceptionally poor display by Coach Ro in Spain who reportably went to bed at 6:00 last night after not being fit enough to maintain the fitness or pace of his drinking colleagues who lasted well into the early hours. Like Coach Ro, we need to work on our game plan for next week when we visit Wrexham for the unchartered experience of playing the 15 a side game (with line outs).
Report P Strett
We started slow today against an unbeaten Stockport team and some of the tries seemed like soft scores. For the first 20 minutes, we struggled to adjust to Stockport’s technical ability in the rucks and how they recycled the ball. We got a bit shocked by it and went 2-0 down. We eventually adjusted well and got ourselves back into the game as George stepped up and was outstanding, showing what a prospect for the future he really is. He controlled our backline and creating the space to test the Stockport defence out wide as they struggled to contain today’s MOM Slim Shady’s sidestep and turn of pace and with great support play George finished a fabulously worked try. Tries for the elusive Slim and Owen followed as well Hollywood despite his post-match fat finger with a well structured try once his eye-mascara was fixed and his hair gel had set. Stockport continued to ruck and tackle strongly, but cleaver, sensible and tactical kicking from WP set into motion a famous WP purple patch which lead to a couple of more tries by Daggers and Hollywood to give some daylight.
While i have at times questioned our effort this season, today everyone gave 100%. and this effort was the difference today. We showed more life to us, more energy to us , more desire and where hunger in defence. By far our best tackling display this season especially our line defence to hold them out and often force errors. His work rate felt at times like we played seven OwenD’s in our defensive line and he put his body into todays game proving he’s not just fast but a rounded player. This attitude is contagious and spread through the team with good fringe defence from Harry (Carrot)who is showing pleasing growth.
Work for our forwards to do in training, when Coach Ro recovers from his Spanish Hangover that was perfectly articulated in Captain Jack’s half time talk “don’t be a decoration”. But They worked for one-an-other all game against a very organised and difficult strong Stockport pack. Testimony that their only resort in the end was to keep it tight.
We were immensely proud of the effort today and while the changing room echoed with chants “they didn’t want it”, i disagree they wanted it, but we just didn’t let them have it. Stockport were still engaged and scored a couple of tight, close-in tries, but their 15 players were beginning to fade and WP took the advantage to seal the game with a 7-4 win. Credit to the sportsmanship of Stockport team who took their first defeat of the season with good grace, but congratulations to WP for seeing out the game and to everyone in the squad who participated in this excellent win.
This is in contrast to the exceptionally poor display by Coach Ro in Spain who reportably went to bed at 6:00 last night after not being fit enough to maintain the fitness or pace of his drinking colleagues who lasted well into the early hours. Like Coach Ro, we need to work on our game plan for next week when we visit Wrexham for the unchartered experience of playing the 15 a side game (with line outs).
Report P Strett
