Choughs Close out Season on a HIgh

Choughs v Hampstead 2s

On a warm spring morning a fine selection on Choughs headed way up north for their final league game of the season away to 4th placed Hampstead 2s. The severe altitude and harsh Latitude of our second most northerly game putting most of the squad in a state of confusion when stepping out of the gloom of the underground into sunny Golders Green, luckily Ross Harper early even for the 10.30 meet had already done a Moon-esq recce of the ground and dropped a pin. We were on our way to one of the more interesting venues in the famous Middlesex Merit League Div 1.

Although Hampstead sat two places above us in the league the fact that we had beaten them at home earlier in the season and that they weren’t HAC (10 losses and counting…) made us confident we could get another good result here.

With almost everyone arrived on time and a fair trek to the pitch we took the kit out with us and set up shop on the far side of the furthest pitch.

After what can only be described as a jovial warm-up compared to the well drilled coach led warm-up (with matching kit!!) happening at the Hampstead end of the pitch it was time to do what I do best and win a coin flip…..

Never in doubt #10from12. We’d be kicking off from the half we had warmed up in.

As usual at this point I’ll be honest, I have very little idea of the order of things but I do know who scored the points so I’ll drag some narrative together.

A good kick from Andy Britton and a chase by Rob Lawley saw a bit of a collision and a knock-on judged to off the Cornish player, scrum down within the first minute. The Choughs were sporting one of the heaviest packs seen in this league and the skipper had stated pre-match that we should probably go home if they manage to turn this scrum over. Bring it on we thought…. And they did…. Turns out technique is sometimes useful… The skipper deputising at hooker was turned unceremoniously in half along with the rest of the front row and we were driven back a couple of yards.

Some spells of open play followed with good runs from both sets of backs and solid covering defence on both sides. At some point after about 10 mins Hampstead were awarded a Penalty under our posts and they took the 3 points.

With the exception of the scrum the Choughs forwards were starting to get into the game making yards on the crash ball and forcing mistakes from Hampstead. Hakes, Moore, Monkley, Stock and Calvert all carrying well. Laverick doubling his seasons yards made with some great first phase carries. With a lineout that certainly wasn’t pretty but was working effectively we started to get back into the game with the Choughs trademark driving maul.

After about 20 mins Surrey Lock (rtd) Pete Calvert breaking over the line for our first try wide left. An excellent conversion hit by the famed left boot of Rob Lawley.

The Choughs continued strongly with Ross Harper influencing the game well at 9 using his forward runners and inside backs well. New dad Harry Hurst rolling back the years and marking hard yards in the 12 channel and ‘Brady Ball’ being used effectively in the 13 channel by the Choughs answer to Ben Teo.

Remarkably bearing in mind the hooker, we continued to hit most lineouts and another Choughs driving maul rumbled forwards. Seeing the chance for glory and with 20 yards to dash and only one defender the skipper broke from the maul on the blind and trundled towards the corner, a man running through treacle was fullback Harry Buttery’s description. Without too much further description another try was butchered on the line in similar fashion to the previous week at the Dukes game and to make matters even more embarrassing a boot in the ribs followed by being turned inside out in the next scrum again were to see the skipper subbing himself off on 35 mins to be replaced by Aussie Pete Boele, adding hooker to his collection of positions played.

A great run by the Hampstead 15 saw him hit a strong line and completely gas the Albanian international on the Choughs wing. For a try under the posts.

A penalty hit by Lawley finished the half at 10-10. Some good rugby was being played but the Choughs knew they could up the pace and get the win in the second half. Lang on for Riddolls, Stocks into the back row and a shuffle around seeing Monkley at loosehead and Wedderburn taking a breather.

The Choughs knew they needed to race out the blocks from the restart so they decided to give the ball back to Hampstead best runner who skipped around everyone again and gave the oppo a strong 17-10 lead.

As I wandered back to the pitch with our refilled 4 bottles of water whinging about my ribs the Choughs were pulling themselves back into the game with stand in skipper Harper marshalling the runners into some great phases. Patient build up saw the forwards work a well phased try for the big lock Tom Stock (Matfield and Botha both scoring according to Stocky’s description of the Choughs lock pairing).

Choughs newbie of the season, fullback Harry Buttery followed up his great counter attacking play with a well worked backs try and top try scorer Brady Stewart increased his try count to 7 in 5 games with another strong run.

With the scoreline now up to 29 – 17 the Choughs looked home but it wouldn’t be Choughs rugby without a late scare. Hampstead had come strongly back into the game with some well worked phases of their own and one of their forwards found space to run through a try to the right of our posts. Conversion made and it was a 5 point game with 4 mins on the clock.

With Ross pinged for feeding (still a rule?) the last play would be a reset Hampstead scrum on the halfway line luckily the play fizzled out and the Choughs had won it 29 to 24.

1. Liam Wedderburn
2. Newton (c)
3. Jon Laverick
4. Tom Stock
5. Peter Calvert
6. Ed Monkley
7. Rob Moore
8. Andrew Hakes
9. Ross Harper
10. Andy Britton
11. Rob Lawley
12. Harry Hurst
13. Brady Stewart
14. Tom Riddolls
15. Harry Buttery

SUB Pete Boele
SUB Dan Stocks
SUB Thom Lang

Tries: Calvert, Stock, Buttery, Stewart
Pen: Lawley
Conversions: Lawley x 2

Quote of the Day - Pete Calvert on Hampstead Heath ‘So this is Ed Millibands socialist Utopia?’

M.o.M Peter Calvert

D.o.D Daniel Nicholas Stocks (clearly me really but I didn’t fancy necking a lager)

Emotional Seasons End Footnote

As always it has been a pleasure. It’s great to have a core of regular Choughs players added to with a couple of great additions. The support from 2s and Dukes this year has also been a massive help and 9-0-9 in what is the toughest I have seen this league shouldn’t be sniffed at. The Belsize games home and away and Rosslyn Park away are just three that we could easily have taken the win in and would have put us comfortably in the playoffs!

I’ll be attempting to step down as captain again next year so if anyone fancies taking on this prestigious role, let me / Dickon know!

Season Awards

Top Try Scorer: Brady Stewart

Top Points Scorer: Rob Lawley

Most Appearances: Joby Newton

Greatest Post Game ‘Adventure’: Jon Laverick to York

Admin Award: Ross Harper

Versatility Award: Peter Boele Van Hensbroek

Most Hungover: Alex Coates (4th Year in a row) (Honourable mention to Rob Moore)

Worst Excuse: Joe Forster (Honourable Mention to Tom Stock)

Choughs Rookie of the Year: Harry Buttery

Supporter of the Year – Harry’s Dad

Physio of the Year – Lauren Emily Squires

MVP: Will be awarded at end of season do!