A number of pre-Christmas excuses meant that AEI started the match with only 14 players and things went from bad to worse as both Gary Storer and Nathan Yeung left the field injured in the first 10 minutes. However, the remaining 12 men put up a stern if exhausting fight, and the rucking and mauling skills of the forwards kept their hopes alive.
It was behind the pack where AEI were most outnumbered and they were unable to break though the OG's defence. Indeed, it was only due to OG's reluctance to spin the ball wide, allied to some resolute AEI tackling, that the first half remained scoreless.
Half time gave AEI time to draw breath but it was OGs who restarted with greater enthusiasm and scored almost immediately, following a rolling maul which had consumed most of the AEI defence. Understandably, AEI spent most of the second half defending and it was only thanks to prop Dave Pritchard popping up at fullback to make a try saving tackle that they did not go further behind. However, following some confusion in a reduced AEI lineout, OGs for once used their backs and scored in the corner.
The final ten minutes saw AEI on the attack and a series of penalties brought them close to the OG's line. Eventually, Mark McDonough went over in typical style from five metres out, and he himself converted. The final whistle saw AEI again on the attack but put a end to a gallant AEI performance which was only their third defeat of the season.
On a hard, undulating pitch, AEI combatted the elements and a very vocal crowd, and in the end were glad to hold out for a creditable draw. With a number of players missing through illness, injury and hangovers, AEI were glad to welcome back effervescent fly-half Gary Storer after three months out with injury.
AEI took an early lead when Mark McDonough, against all AEI's running instincts, slotted home a penalty kick - AEIs first penalty goal of the season. However, sanity returned and the Mark McDonough show continued when he took a short penalty, charged over the line to score and then made the conversion himself. Claverdon came back strongly and a try either side of half-time brought them level.
Either side could have clinched a victory in the final 20 minutes : Claverdon missed a penalty in front of the posts and Paul Thompson was close to scoring for AEI. However, in the end, a draw was a fair result.
AEIs continued good form brought another convincing win in their longest running fixture. After the early exchanges, AEI took the lead midway thought the first half when flanker Andy Clarke went over from a rolling maul and Nick Elliott kicked the conversion. AEI then extended their lead just before halftime after some good handling in the backs sent in winger Rich Pinks in the corner.
The second half saw the AEI forwards in control of the rucks, mauls and scrums, while the backs attempted some intricate and sometimes eccentric moves. However, with centre Matt Foley in rampant form, it was the simple passing movements that served AEI best and ulitimately led to two further tries for Rich Pinks. Between times, flanker Mark McDonough scored after a Steve Neal penalty move and scum-half Tim Sly also went over from short range.
A new era in AEI rugby dawned with, for the first time ever, the whole team taking the field wearing club socks. However, it took more than a new pair of socks and a smearing of vaseline before AEI finally ran out winners of a hard fought but enjoyable game.
AEI took the early advantage when, after a line-out take by Neil Waddoups and some slick handling in the backs, full back Rich Pinks popped up on the wing to score in the corner. The game developed into a forward battle with AEI dominant in the rucks and mauls, while Cosby took command of the scrums. When AEI did manage to use their backs again, a trademark pass from scrum half Tim Sly caused confusion in the centres and the ball finally found its way to winger Tom King who scored in the corner. AEI then relaxed and Cosby hit back with a prolonged spell of pressure culminating in a try from a 5m scrum.
Although there was no further score, the second half was not without incident. Winger Paul Thompson showed occasional flashes of brilliance once the ball was in his hands, and Tim Sargent and the rest of the pack enjoyed themselves in the rucks and mauls. The final nervous 10 minutes, with AEI mindful of the previous weeks result, saw Cosby camped on the AEI line and AEI's previously vociferous support reduced nail biting and clock watching. The final whistle was greeted with much relief and AEI went home to wash their new socks a eagerly await the arrival of the club jock-straps.
AEI were left rueing missed chances when a try deep into injury time gave Tailenders victory and sent the home team to only their second defeat of the season.
Despite an early spell of pressure from Tailenders, it was AEI who opened the scoring when centre Paul Thompson crashed though two tackles to score between the posts. Paul Eaton, whose boots at this stage were still functioning, kicked the conversion. Tailenders hit back with two penalty kicks before a typically opportunist try by Mark McDonough. Tailenders conceeded a penalty 10m from their line and McDonough took it quickly and squeezed his way over the line to score.
Early in the second half, Paul Thompson extended AEI's lead further, again slicing through the defence to score in the corner, and McDonough converted the extraordinary conversion. Tailenders hit back with what at that stage seemed a consolation try but this seemed to spur AEI on further as both Mike Burnard and Paul Thompson went close to scoring. However, Tailenders scored with five minutes to go to bring themselves with a point, and then clinched an unlikely victory in the last open play of the match.
All in all, a valuable if frustrating learning experience in the AEI rennaissance.
A long journey did nothing to quench the AEI thirst for victory in a match which, despite the final score, was for a close affair until the final 20 minutes. Indeed, for the first 15 minutes AEI were camped in their own half and with a combination of self belief and resolute defence they kept the home side at bay. Eventually, AEI gained the upper hand with scrum-half Tim Sly scoring from close range, and AEI led 5-0 at half-time.
Two early second half tries gave AEI some breathing space, firstly Tim Sly again skipped through the tackles to score, then Rich Pinks went over in the corner for his customary try. However, it was only when Tim Sly scored his third try and AEI's forth from a quickly taken penalty halfway through the second half, that the Bletchley heads went down. The floodgates now opened for AEI and Mark McDonough (2), Stack Stephens, Andy Clark, Mike Burnard and Tony Chronnell all got their names on the scoresheet.
A typical match against Onley started at great pace and with much running around like head-less chickens. However, as time went on and breath got shorter, AEIs better technique allowed them to control the game and bring it down to to something approaching their own pace.
The match turned into the Thompson and Wood show with Paul Thompson's strong running bringing him five tries (and costing him two jugs of beer) and Graham Wood's persistence round the base of the scrum bringing him three tries.
Others to score were No 8 Andy Sullivan, and late replacement Tom King who, with his blonde locks flowing behind brought images of Klinnsman to mind as he dived over in the corner to score. Captain Mark McDonough kicked five conversions.
A late change of opposition and venue seemed to disorientate AEI who, not for the first time this season, conceded an early try. The game developed as a close forward battle for much of the first half as both sides tried keeping the ball close to the pack to little avail. Half way through the first haf, AEI came back into the match after a chip through by fly-half Tim Sly was touched down in the corner by Rich Pinks. Nick Elliott scored the conversion.
AEI then extended their lead when second row Neil Waddoups popped up at scrum half to release the three-quarters and ultimately winger Rich Pinks for his second try of the match. However, Kettering hit back with a try and a penalty to end the first half ahead.
In the second half AEI remembered that they could run the ball and proved their superiority in the backs. Centre Nick Elliott showed his power and grace, running in two tries as the backs gained more possession. Kettering came back strongly towards the end but AEI survived a few nervous moments to complete a very satisfying win.
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