The annual Boxing Day game between these sides turned into something of a rout as St Andrews fielded a very strong team and took the game much too seriously! The only highlight for AEI was a second-half try by Jocky Corbett following his charge down of a kick. AEI's only hope is that the score gets printed as 12-5 in the local papers! Enough said.
An excellent pre Christmas performance by AEI saw them go down to a well drilled Shipston side. AEI's early plans were slightly disrupted when veteran second row Neil Waddoups had to cast aside the number four jersey in favour of the referees shirt. By the time the real referee had arrived 15 minutes into the game, there we already three tries on the board.
True to style, AEI conceded a try in the opening minutes of the game but came back strongly and leveled following some good build up play by the forwards and a darting break by Paul Eaton. Eventually Paul Thompson picked up the loose ball and scored to mark his first game back since his well publicised pelvic injury. Jocky Corbett, another player returning after a long lay-off with injury, scored the conversion. Shipston went on to score two more tries but AEI pulled one back just before half-time, the forwards again sucked in the defence and the ball was spun down the backs for Thompson to crash over again. Corbett again converted.
The second half remained a titanic struggle, the only score going Shipston's way. AEI's forwards performed admirably in defence (and the scrums) as Shipston kept the ball close to their forwards. The AEI spirit was typified by a magnificent try-saving tackle by Rich Pinks and Neil Waddoups (by this time back in the second row) who forced the opposition prop into touch in goal. A mighty feat!
A somewhat disappointing performance by AEI saw them give away what, in the opening 20 minutes, had looked like a certain victory. AEI opened the scoring after ten minutes when, following a chip through by Paul Eaton, Tony Chronnell kicked through and was first to the bouncing ball as it crossed the try-line. A long period of AEI pressure ensued and after a number of penalties close to the Kettering line, Mark McDonough eventually drove over to score. AEI could and should have gone further ahead, the most glaring miss belonging to Nathan Yeung who while, trying to emulate Chronnell's earlier coup-de-grace, managed to boot the ball half way towards Coventry.
The second half started with a try from the kick-off by Kettering whilst AEI were still discussing the quality of the half-time oranges. The half was remarkable only for the constant mistakes of both sides. Indeed, Paul Eaton should have scored but managed to get his feet and hands mixed up when only needing to pick the ball up a metre from the Kettering line. Kettering eventually scored again following a close penalty and, as the mistakes increased with the gathering darkness, neither team seemed to want to risk defeat in the pursuit of victory.
The evening should have been the Christmas party but half the team did not even make it to 7pm and the festivities became even more fragmented once reaching the Queen Victoria. Only two players took part in the traditional roundabout-hopping!
We couldn't get enough players for a team.
I wasn't here so no one wrote a report. The comments I was given were that we lost, it was the muddiest pitch in the world, Nick Elliott wimped out at the last minute and Neil Waddoups played on the wing.
AEI's third local derby in three weeks saw them finally register a victory. An early Andy Sullivan try seemed a good tonic for the home team but St Andrews hit back with two penalties to take the lead. AEI's second try was not far in coming and was the hightlight of the match, as some fine handling between the forwards and the backs seemed to defy the wet conditions. Eventually the ball reached the hands of Steve McKenna who was delighted to score against his former club. Rich Pinks then extended AEI's lead with an interception and 75m run to score between the posts. Neil Waddoups converted to score his first points for many a year.
The second half saw St Andrews come back briefly with a try of their own before AEI sealed their win with two further tries. First, Stevie Neal lumbered over from a 5m penalty, and then Steve McKenna scored his second from the base of the scum following a excellent effort from the front five.
A rather unfamiliar looking AEI team put up a very creditable performance against their near neighbours and rivals. Despite the first half advantage of the slope, AEI contrived to give away the first try, much against the run of play. However, they soon got back into the match with a try in the corner by Richard Pinks after the forwards had won some good second phase possession. AEI then took the lead and a scything run by Paul McLernon saw him score his debut try for the club which Nick Elliott converted. The game remained tight but, following the loss of Terry Bott with a broken ankle, AEI seemed to loose their concentration and Newbold pulled back a try before half-time.
AEI struggled up the hill in the second half and conceded an early second half try following some good Newbold handling. Despite some excellent lineout work by Neil Waddoups and Tim Sargent, the strength of the pack eventually gave out in the face of a determined Newbold onslaught and, unusually, they ended up conceding two pushover tries. Despite the AEI backs managing a few runs late in the game, the penetration was not there and Newbold held out as worthy winners. AEI were left to lick their wounds and look forward to the rematch in February.
A large crowd saw a commendable effort by AEI who maintained admirable composure and spirit in the face of a determined Tailenders onslaught. After a close first fifteen minutes, Tailenders took the lead and then quickly followed up with a well-worked try in the corner. AEI struck back and, after a quickly taken penalty by Terry Bott, the searing pace of No8 Andy Sullivan took him over the line for his seventh try of the season. However, Tailenders hit back with two more tries before the break and AEI seemed set for a tough second half.
When the second half started AEI noticeably upped their game, the pack were notable for their mobility and the backs' defence held strong. A prolonged spell of AEI pressure close to the Tailenders line eventually saw Chris Hague being driven over for a well deserved try. Tailenders hit back with a try of their own but it was AEI who finished on the up and, but for some uncharacteristic handling errors (OK, I dropped the ball over the line and between the posts), might well have finished the game with the scores closer.
In a match notable for its lack of injuries, the worst injury to report was that to a lady walking past with her dogs who, in trying to catch the ball, broke her wrist!
An AEI try in the opening minute set them on their way to victory against a weakened Cosby side. A good break by winger Neil Morgan, following a wayward Cosby kick, set up a maul from which the ball was spun out to Mark McDonough who scored. Morgan himself was next on the scoresheet with his first try since his return to the AEI colours and perhaps the easiest try he'll ever score. AEI strenghthened their grip on the game with further tries from Andy Sullivan and Tony Chronnell but then seemed to relax too much in the last ten minutes of the first half.
In the gathering gloom and fog of the second half, and following a stern
half-time talking too, AEI stepped up their game and began to run the ball with
increasing confidence and success. They eventually extended their lead with
Neil Morgan claiming his second try, before rare tries from replacement Stack
Stephens and stand-in prop Stevie Neal completed the victory. The only negative
aspect of a good AEI performance were the injuries to key players before this
weekends crunch match against the Tailenders.
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