Stoic Performance From Injury Hit Colts

Our injury strewn team travelled to Otley with 12 fit players and by half time we’d lost Charlie G to a twisted knee. To update on our injuries, Swiff’s broken nose needed surgery but he hopes to be back mid Feb. Rohaan’s broken foot has also needed surgery, plate and pins to re-attach the bones. He’s now had the final cast and will be re-assessed in 4 weeks. We last saw Rhys before Xmas, he was walking cagily following his third knee dislocation. The good news is we hope to see Joe Overpants back training this week following his break to recover from concussion. With 5 regular players also unavailable, we were calling the ghosts of seasons past, Callum B and Geckoman answering the call. It was also great to have Callum S re-join the team after 3 seasons away and he celebrated with a fine try … we’ll I think it was fine, he said it was, I was away straightening Charlie’s knee!

We’re also grateful to Otliensians who showed sportsmanship lending us 3 players per quarter on rotation making sure there were even numbers, and their players gave their all for us. Without you we wouldn’t have had much of a game - thank you.

We had a full set of backs but it was always going to be a tough game for the forwards with only 4 regulars, thanks to our usual Centre Charlie, for filling in the Second Row and Winger Loz in the backrow. We did try stoically with Charlie S, Midge, Will and Tom to win ball but probably lived off 30% - 40% possession. When we did get it to our backs we had pace in abundance with Ed getting the first try, crashing through the last man on the right. We had to wait until the second half for our next score, I believe Scottie made a break, handed on to Geckoman who made ground before taking the return pass to touch down. Tom G then got in on the act with 2 speedy wide finishes, the first where he had to make up a lot of ground to support but hit the flat pass beautifully at full pace. We finished the game playing quick tempo rugby with tap and run from every penalty, the wily Callum B eventually taking an arcing run from 30 yards.