Rumour of Pigs flying near Gatwick confirmed as true !
The rumour, now confirmed as fact, that a number of pigs, mostly aged and overweight, have actually been seen flying near Gatwick on Saturday last has shaken the civilised rugby-loving world to its foundations. To-day, for instance, the price of gold has set a new world record as worried (much richer) pigs rushed to invest all their life savings in bars of the precious metal. And all because Saint’s seconds scored their second win in a row on Saturday.
Nobody seems able to recall the last time this happened but one knarled old-timer, who wishes to remain anonymous, thinks it must have been about the time the redoubtable Steve Hands started his playing career.
Saints second team continued their recent good form with a convincing victory over East Grinstead IV in a strongly contested local derby at Southgate on 7th November. The game was a fast and open one which reflected not the fitness of either side but simple truth that there were only thirteen players on each side.
Despite being a man down, Saints pressed strongly from the start and were unlucky not to score a try in the first two or three minutes. Jelly came very close and might have scored had he kept going but he unselfishly passed the ball back and it was lost. Simon Knight, Dave Nolan, new recruit Rob Nicoll all made determined efforts to reach the try line but valiant defence by our visitors somehow kept them out.
But all that forward pressure began to tell and allowed captain and scrumhalf Steven Hand to release Neil Niemand to score. He was making his first appearance in the number ten shirt for Saints and gave a workmanlike display. Simon Knight narrowly missed the conversion.
In fact Saints started with only twelve but ten minutes or so into the game, club stalwart Steve Bounds changed on the to touchline to make the numbers equal. (And to join his son Joshua in the Saints lineup) Rumour has it that he had come straight from Peking via Gatwick to the touch line but you will have to ask the man himself about that. Needless to say he made at least five or six of his trademark bursts down the centre, making over twenty yards on several occasions.
Saints pack more than held their own in the scrums and achieved early lineout dominance. Saints half backs usually elected to keep the ball tight and this tactic enabled Jelly, Simon (K.), Dave (N), and Rob (N) to make threatening bursts which were all stopped dangerously close to the East Grinstead try line before Dave Nolan powered over for Saints second try.
Simon Knight converted the second try giving Saints a 12 - 0 lead. East Grinstead pulled one back soon afterwards and converted it making the score at half time 12 - 7.
Early in the second half Steve (H) ran in Saints third try from a quickly taken penalty. Again Simon (K) added the two points taking the score to 19 - 7.
The visitors fought back strongly to make the score 19 - 12. However Saints gradually got the upper hand. However, as the second half progressed Saints trio of Rob Nicoll, Steve Hands and Neil Niemand largely controlled the game and good ball began to reach the backs which produced two tries late on in the match.
Since Bushie’s reincarnation as a wing and/or a full back, he has shown us what an all round player he is. He came close to scoring after making a break at the tail end of a good backs move. He was only just stopped just short of the line and good following up in support by Simon (K) enabled him to pick up and demonstrate his experience with a burst infield followed by a dive forward after which he stretched out a very long arm to touch down for the fourth try. This made him top scorer for Saints with nine points.
Near the end, the visitors who never ceased trying to play rugby scored their third try and came close to getting a fourth before another good backs move saw Terry Pritchard making a diagonal break to score Saints fifth and final try near the corner. This made the final score 29 - 17.
This was an other exciting game of co**se rugby, played with an admirable sporting spirit by all concerned and well-refereed to boot. The referee’s banter with those few players who took it upon themselves to offer him “advice” made the afternoon even more enjoyable for those on the touchline .
Squad : Knight, Eastman, Trevaskis, Mitchell, Harry Eakin, Nolan, Nicoll, Hand, Niemand, Bush, Steve Bounds, Pritchard, Joshua Bounds,