AEI have just marked their 80th anniversary with their most successful season in recent history. AEI, the team for employees of GEC Alsthom and Cegelec Projects, are a non-league team based at the GEC Club who have often in the past concentrated mainly on the social side of their game. However, despite the constant chopping and changing of the team due to injury, site commitments and conjugal visits, the recent influx of graduates has bolstered the squad and contributed much to the success of the season.
AEI won 21 of their 31 matches this season, scoring over 1000 points in the process and notching up some notable victories : 101-7 against Coventry Saracens III being the biggest victory and 14-8 against Newbold IV on the last day of the season being the most satisfying. However, this season will be remembered for more than just statistics: the running (if not catching) of Paul Thompson which brought him 32 tries, the incessant tap-penalties of Mark McDonough, Nick “the boot” Elliott playing in only half the games scored 54 conversions, and, not least, the tour to St Ives.
At the recent club dinner, Thompson was voted Player’s Player of the Year, Elliott was awarded the Captain’s Cup with other official awards going to Nathan Yeung, Chris Hague and Stevie Neal.
AEI's most successful season in recent memory was crowned with this hard fought victory over Newbold., a bunch of filthy animals if ever we saw one. Despite constant dirty play, and a complete disregard for any of the laws, they still failed dismally to score more than us, and even if they had been able to get another try, we would still have won. A pathetic attempt at a drop goal by their fly half just went to prove that at this level of the game, you should not be so bumptious and should stick with what you know best, however ineffectual.
Rich "midi-stack" Stephens' ex-girlfriend plays for the Newbold ladies, and she was there on the touchline, no doubt cheering for one of the Hair Bear Bunch of the opposition. I'm sure Midi-Stack was trying to impress her when he performed a coruscating run the whole length of the pitch, followed by a back flip with pike over the crossbar itself. Shit, he was good! She should have agreed to marry him while she had the chance.
As this was the last game of the season, the lads decided to get completely pissed afterwards and go for a curry. On the way to the pub they showe a fine disregard for the laws of the land, never mind the game of rugby, and ...(hedge jumping section removed to avoid prosecution- AGC)...,send the bill to Mad Dog McDoughnut and Nursey Burnard - you know who you are. We know where they live.
When, at last, the Vice-Captain condescended to come home, he finished the day in true rugby style by bashing his girlfriend over the head, before finally lapsing, comatose, into a deep, ear-rattling, slumber.
"NEVER AGAIN".
JAH, 27/4/97
AEI's most successful season in recent memory was crowned with a hard fought and satisfying victory in this local derby. AEI were the first to come to grips with the wet conditions (a rare occurence in this very dry season) and spent the first quarter of the match in the Newbold half. Indeed, although occasionally struggling in the scrums, AEI dominated the lineout where the Mike Burnard/Tim Sargent combination proved especially successful. This early spell of AEI pressure culminated in a well-worked try by centre Paul Thompson following a 5m scrum. As the first half went on the Newbold pack began to assert themselves more but handling mistakes at key moments combined with solid AEI tackling saw no further change in score before half time.
Newbold came out of the blocks quickest after the break and, almost immediately, scored a try in the corner. This was a prelude to a prolonged spell of Newbold pressure but AEI stuck to their task with gusto and Newbold were stopped just short of the line on a number of occasions. Eventually, a mistake by the Newbold backs saw Paul Thompson pick up the loose ball and sprint in between the posts for his 32nd try of the season. Nick Elliott scored his second conversion of the match and 52nd of the season. A successful Newbold penalty set up a nervous last ten minutes and AEI were relieved when the final whistle brought victory.
The final statistics of AEI's remarkable season were: won 21, drawn 1, lost 9, points for 1066, points against 428.
AEI faced stern opposition on Saturday when a pool fixture brought Kettering Thirds to Rugby.
Although on paper Kettering should have been the stronger side, AEI were first to open their account as good second phase ball and slick handling by the both centres left Terry Bott to race 22 metres and score in the corner. Kettering responded immediately but AEIs rampaging forwards continued to upset the flow of opposition possession and the ever alert Paul Thompson seized on a mistake to put the home team ahead again. The game continued from end to end, neither side able to gain the upper hand. Just before half time a quick penalty and recycled ball gave the elastic Mike Burnard a rare score.
The second half began much as the first, but as the game wore on Kettering settled to reveal their class. The visiting forwards began to control the possession and were able to score from push overs at two scrums. AEIs opportunities were limited to occasional breaks and they were unable to contain the Kettering backs. In the end, the scoreline was decisive, but never-the-less this was a creditable display by the home side.
CPS
AEI lost this tense and often fractious game to two second half penalties. After the early skirmishes had subsided, AEI took the lead with an excellent try from their backs. Winger Tom King made the initial break, passed the ball out to Tony Chronnell who made more ground before popping it inside for Gary Storer to score. This provoked Old Leams into action and they scored two tries, the first from a lineout close to the AEI line and the second after sucking in the AEI defence and creating a massive overlap in the backs.
Nick Elliott pulled a try back for AEI before halftime with a mazy run along the touch line but Old Leams soon restored their lead after the break. Eventually, a long period of pressure by the AEI forwards was rewarded when, after a number of rucks and mauls brought them close to the Old Leams line, the ball was spun out and a mis-move in the backs set up Nick Elliott for a second try which he himself converted. However the good work was undone when AEI conceeded two careless penalties which Old Leams kicked to win the match.
The recent AEI resurgance was demonstrated still further by this memorable victory to take AEI's total to over 1000 points for the season. This was the first game since the start of the season where there was a hint of rain in the air but this did not dampen either teams spirits, and for once the AEI backs made few handling mistakes. Indeed, it was the pace and power of the AEI backs which proved their biggest assest, most notably centre Paul Thompson who scored four tries, and wingers Rich Pinks and Nick Elliott who scored three apiece.
The forwards were not to be outdone, prop Jocky Corbett leading the way scoring a remarkable try involving at least two side-steps. Other players on the long list of AEI scorers were Andy Sullivan, Stevie Neal, Mark McDonough, Gary Storer, Paul Eaton and Tony Chronnell. Jocky Corbett also scored eight conversions.
AEI completed a rare double over the Leicester side in what is AEI's longest running fixture. In a daring move, often to their own disadvantage, AEI took the lead in the first minute of the match when Paul Thompon went over in the corner. However, AEI weathered the subsequent 'Aylestone storm' before scoring a second through scrum half Graham Wood who scored from a short penalty. Much of the play was scrappy to watch with frequent handling errors by both sides, but despite this AEI maintained the upper hand due to the superior rucking and mauling of the forwards plus the strong running of the backs. Eventually the pressure told and Nick Elliott went over for the third try and Mark McDonough added a forth from another short penalty.
Aylestone briefly threatened to make a match of it with tries either side of half time but AEI then stepped up a gear. Nick Elliott scored three more tries with his forth coming from a move involvling all the backs and Paul Thompson grabbed a second. Indeed, Elliott's four tries made up for his relatively appalling kicking performance scoring only two of seven conversion attempts. Second row Jocky Corbett stepped up to show him how it was done and to maintain his recent scoring streak.
Despite spending the first ten minutes of the match camped deep in their own 22, AEI in the end ran out easy winners against a team they hadn't defeated for many years. After the forwards had absorbed the early Harbury pressure AEI went ahead. From a scrum on half-way, Gary Storer released fly half Paul Eaton who broke a number of tackles on his way to the line. Paul Thompson scored a second try after a move involving the whole back line and AEI's third try followed some enterprising running up the left wing by both Matt Foley and Paul Thompson, eventually releasing Tony Chronnell to run in between the posts.
From then on tries flowed freely as the AEI backs dominated : Matt Foley (playing in an unfamiliar position on the wing) scored three tries, Paul Thompson added his second and full back Nathan Yeung came into the line to join the list of scorers. Although the day was largly dominated by the backs the forwards were not to be outdone : prop Dave Pritchard popped up for his first two tries of the season, Mark McDonough chipped in with his obligatory try to go with his three conversions, and second row Jocky Corbett also stepped up to claim a conversion.
This late change in fixture proved a tough test for AEI. The wily Wigston pack had the upper hand for much of the match and AEI found themselves unable to release their backs with any regularity. However it was AEI who, possibly unwisely, took an early lead. Scrum half Gary Storer made a break from the base of a scrum and set up fly half Paul Eaton who burst through the line and past the full back on his long run to the try-line. This spurred Wigston on to better things and they dominated for the rest of the first half scoring two tries and a penalty to go in 17-5 up at the break.
The half-time oranges seemed to wake AEI up and the first 20 minutes of the second half was their best period of the match. Indeed, the reckless abandon with which they took tap penalty after tap penalty seemed to confound the opposition. AEI brought the scores closer when full-back Nathan Yeung caught a high ball deep in his own half, put up his own up-and -under and sprinted 50 yards to tackle the Wigston fly-half as he caught the ball. Paul Eaton picked up the resulting loose ball and raced in to score. Jocky Corbett kicked the conversion to bring AEI within touching distance at 17-12. However, in the final 10 minutes the Wigston pack stepped up a gear, and two late tries gave the scoreline an unflattering look.
The first AEI tour for many years produced a surprise victory in the circumstances. A late departure, due to Stack Stephens getting lost in Rugby, meant that the planned pub-break on route did not happen. However, due to the excesses of the night before plus more than adequate supplies on the coach, a number of players took to the field somewhat the worse for wear (Paul Eaton and Jocky Corbett both managing to add some extra nutrients to the pitch). It was ten minutes before AEI could string together more than one pass but after spending the early part of the match in their own half, AEI took the lead when Mark McDonough scored after a typically strong run by Paul Thompson. The resulting call of dead-ants at the kick off caused some confusion in both teams but St Ives continued their pressure and came back strongly with two penalties.
As the first half continued the AEI backs managed to put a few passes together and open a gap between the two sides. Nick Elliott scored the first of his two tries after a break by Tony Chronnell, and swiftly followed it with his second after a ruck near the St Ives line and some swift handling by the backs. Paul Thompson and Mark McDonough (again) claimed further tries to make it 31-6 to AEI at halftime.
The second half saw AEI relax (further) and St Ives came back with two tries. AEI only woke up after an interception try by Paul Thompson, who ran the length of the pitch to score. Thompson should have claimed his hat-trick when, after running 50 yards and breaking a few tackles, he reached the line only to drop the ball - a mistake which cost him dearly in the kangaroo court after the match. Before the end Andy Sullivan and Gary Storer notched tries of their own to complete what was eventually a comfortable if drunken victory.
After the match the tour started in earnest with St Ives proving more than capable hosts. AEI were certain victors in the singing competition but St Ives just shaded the drinking games. Paul Thompson again disgraced himself by failing to finish his yard of ale but Mike Burnard restored the AEI pride with his non-stop yard. Stack Stephens took his punishment well (see picture gallery) before both teams retired to the pubs of St Ives to carry on the festivities. An excellent day was had by all, with the possible exception of Terry Bott who somehow lost an eyebrow on the way home.
Following on from their 86-0 demolition of Jaguar, the AEI points glut
continued. AEI were on top from the start with the pack winning a large
majority of scrums and lineouts but the AEI backs initially found few ways
through a quick set of Onley backs. Little by little the flood gates opened
with the following AEI players getting their names on the score sheet : Mark
McDonough (3), Andy Sullivan (2), Nick Elliott (2) plus 8 conversions, Graham
Wood, Richard Tuckey, Paul Thompson, Rich Pinks and Tom King.
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