Sustained AEI pressure finally paid off with inside centre Nick Elliott taking a crash ball on the halfway line, breaking the defence and slipping the ball to outside centre Rich Pinks to run it in. Saracens hit back with a try and conversion after a good period of pressure but AEI sneaked a try close to half-time with winger Neil Morgan running the length of the pitch to score.
The second half was a different story. The possession was all Saracens with their forwards in control but stout AEI defence kept them out. On one of the few AEI sorties into the opposition half, Mark McDonough scored from a quickly taken penalty, and into injury time a last fling from AEI resulted in a maul ten metres from the line. Tim Sly, now standing in as scrum half, flipped the ball out to Elliott who threw a delightful dummy (not out of his pram for a change - AGC) and drove over the line for the final score.
(Match report by the Elliott/Sly twins as if you couldn't have guessed.)
Team photo and Andy Sullivan action shot (!) from Rugby Observer to follow.
AEI's run of good results continued, despite both teams fielding less than the traditional fifteen players. The wet,muddy conditions and quagmire like pitch meant that handling was a challenge and the game was littered with mistakes. Amongst numerous scrums and lineouts, AEI were first onto the scoresheet when centre Neil Morgan kicked through and collected the ball to score. Bedford then hit back with a try before Mark McDonough restored AEI's lead on the stroke of halftime.
The second half started with Bedford seemingly the stronger and they brought the scores level with a try which found the outnumbered AEI defence wanting. As the half wore on, the gathering gloom did nothing to help conditions but the AEI pack suddenly found their second wind and began to dominate the scrums. Bedford finally conceeded a penalty close to their own line which McDonough took quickly to score. Eventually, the result was sealed with a fine try from 'Man of the Match' Rich Pinks, skipping and sliding his way past five or six oppostion players to score between the posts. 'Muddiest Man of the Match', Mark McDonough, then converted.
A good victory for a much improved AEI in this traditionally tough fixture. Stevie Neal was first on the scoresheet for AEI before Old Leams hit back with a converted try of their own. AEI then opened the gap with trys before half-time by Rob Goode and Chris Milner (his first for the club).
The second half started in much the same vein with Mark McDonough scoring from a short penalty. Old Leams briefly threatened with a penalty but then tries by Mark McDonough and Rich Pinks settled the game.
A very late change in fixture and drive down the road from Old Warwickians to Warwick did little to upset AEI's usual exhaustive pre match routine. The game marked Paul Thompson's farewell appearance for the club before his departure to pastures new across the Atlantic but, unusually, he didn't find himself on the scoresheet. Indeed, on a day when the backs were somewhat disjointed it was the AEI back row who stole the show with No 8 Andy Sullivan and replacement flanker Steve Hudson particularly excelling.
AEI were first on the scoresheet with flanker Chris Hague claiming a pushover try after excellent work by the front five. However, some missed AEI tackles saw Warwick then score between the posts and the conversion put them ahead. Warwick retained their lead for much of the first half but then a penalty close to the Warwick line and some unselfish work by Steve Oxberry gave Andy Sullivan his first try.
The second half was all AEI and although the backs were improving they could still not find the fluency to break through. It was left to Steve Hudson (making a rare and welcome guest reappearance) to show the way with a strong run and a try between the posts which Jocky Corbett converted. The pack continued to show their dominance with a second pushover try, this time to Sullivan, and then Sullivan scored again with a flamboyant if unnecessary dive to complete his hat-trick.
In the bar afterwards, there was much celebration at the departure of Paul Thompson with some recounting their fond memories of his running and try scoring antics while others were glad to see the back of his catching and passing skills!
A typically hard fought local derby ended in victory for the home team. Despite the slope advantage in the first half, AEI needed an early Newbold try to wake them up and start them playing. The remainder of the first half remainded tight with Newbold playing to their strengths in the pack and AEI struggling to get any good possession.
Eventually, the AEI defence was breached with a Newbold try either side of half time and as AEI found it hard going up the slope, Newbold scored again midway through the second half. AEI gained some consolation with the best try of the game, all their backs being involved in a fine move which ended with Tony Chronnell scoring in the corner. A late Newbold try completed the scoring.
A little documented side-effect of the increased number of international games on the TV is their impact on 'junior' club rugby. Once upon a time there were four international weekends in January/February. Soon the Five Nations will be increased to Six, plus we have a spate of matches now played in November and December. Anyway, the number of teams who fail to turn up for games as they'd prefer to watch a game on TV than play in one is on the increase! I blame the parents.
An interesting match which started with 27 players on the pitch and, despite an ambulance removing one Claverdon player with a broken ankle, ended with 30 players. Generous as always, AEI leant Claverdon three players and it was one of these, Terry Bott, who scored the only try of the first half for the opposition following a quickly taken penalty.
After a somewhat chaotic first half, AEI pulled themselves together for the second half and were soon back on level terms when Nathan Yeung scored between the posts. Further AEI tries followed from Rob Goode and Neil Morgan plus a dubious try by Rich Pinks that was the subject of much debate in the bar after the game. However, AEI saved the best til last when full back Tony Farrow picked up the ball deep in his own half and kicked down field. Both teams stood watching and waiting for the ball to go out of play, but Farrow knew better as he sprinted down the wing, collected the ball and scored a fine try.
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