With only 14 players, AEI put up an excellent performance in damp conditions. The AEI pack were dominant in the scrums, despite loosing a few balls against the head, and Southam's constant refusal to use their overlap in the backs was to AEI's advantage. The first half was particularly tight and was scoreless until the half hour when a more alert Southam were first to a ball dropped over AEI's line.
Turning round 7-0 down at halftime and then conceding an early second half penalty, AEI soon found themselves back in the game after a try by Stevie Neal following a typically bullish run. Southam scored again but, straight from the kick off, Southam failed to clear their own lines as Paul Eaton charged down a kick and pounced, cat-like, on the ball to score. The decisive Southam try came 10 minutes from the end, and in the gathering gloom, the play switched from end to end as AEI pushed for victory.
For the second year running AEI ran out victors in this traditionally close fixture. AEI were boosted by the return of a number of players, all anxious to put themselves into the selectors minds for next weeks crunch local derby game. After a tense opening, the game developed into a classic contest of Old Leams stronger pack versus the speed and slick passing of the AEI backs, and AEI were first on the score sheet with a try by centre Rich Pinks. An Old Leams penalty made the halftime score 3-5.
AEI wheeled out the big guns in the second half with the introduction of prop Jocky Corbett as a steadying influence. The AEI backs continued to make best use of spasmodic ball, and winger Terry Bott scored in the corner following a speculative chip through by Rich Pinks. A quickly taken penalty by Bott then sent Paul Eaton in for a 50m sprint to the line (we never doubted he'd make it!) to seal the match, although a late Old Leams try made it a nervous last few minutes for AEI.
With AEI averaging ten years a man older than the visitors, this match was always going to be a game of forward's strength versus back's pace. AEI's generosity did not just stop at the number of years advantage they gave OLs, they also contrived to give away an early penalty and try to give themselves a steeper mountain to climb.
Eventually AEI got their tackling going and started to make a number of forays towards Ols line, winger Rob Goode going the closest. An 8-0 half-time deficit soon became 13-0 as good OLs support play brought them a try just after half time. AEI hit back and after going close a number of times, scrum half Gary Storer scored a pushover try after some fine work by the AEI pack. AEI were denied another pushover try late on as they pushed for victory but OLs held firm.
An under-strength AEI were never really in this match against a well-drilled Birstall side. The pack was again missing a number of regular front row players plus Stevie Neal, who broke his toe changing a light bulb (strange but true). The Birstall pack dominated throughout and the AEI backs had little opportunity to run with the ball. There was no way back after conceding two tries early on due to sloppy tackling and AEI's only consolation was the excellent food served by their hosts.
AEI completed their third victory in the Leicestershire Merit Table after a somewhat stuttering performance. Despite an early try in the corner by Neil Morgan, the home team started stronger and were soon 15-5 ahead due to some sloppy AEI defending. Although AEI scarcely deserved it on their first half performance, Andy Sullivan brought the scores closer just before halftime with a typically bullish run.
After a stern half time talking to, and now with the wind and the slope to their advantage, AEI came out revitalised for the second half. Both forwards and backs now had some fluidity to their play and AEI began to push home their advantage. Second half tries for Richard Pinks, Rob Goode, Mark McDonough and Gary Storer were enough to seal the match before a late Anstey consolation. McDonough won man of the match for his all round selfless play (!) as well as his try and four conversions.
AEI forsook their normal Saturday afternoon engagement to entertain an "Old AEI and guests" team selected by Neil Waddoups as a "testimonial" match. Neil has been forced to retire early due to the failure of his radical ideas on tackle practice. His theory that "The bigger they come the harder they fall" was proven to be almost fatally flawed when he took on a Bulgarian juggernaut single-handedly. Apparently he was heard to mutter "I'll have him next time" as they loaded him into the helicopter ambulance.
Both sides were at full strength although some players found themselves in novel positions. The select side balanced Neil Waddoup's lost spleen by fielding Terry Bott and his pacemaker, plus an assortment of other bandages and supports. Referee Phil McGuire must have had an extraordinary job to ensure that only 30 complete players were on the pitch at any one time, especially when various parts began to fall off as the match progressed.
Receiving the kick off, AEI accidentally went into their dead ant routine and were lucky to retain possession just inside their half. The game settled to an even balance, with the powerful Waddoups XV forwards having the edge, but the more cohesive AEI three-quarters being able to regain lost ground when given clean possession. The first try came from a slick piece of handling and it fell to the elusive Nick Elliott to touch down. The game continued to ebb and flow with driving play by the Guests and committed defence by the home side. AEI managed to score twice more before half time, wingers Rob Goode and Richard Pinks doing the damage.
As the teams turned round there were changes of personnel for both teams. Mike Burnard joined the AEI side and Richard Tuckey came on for the Guests. The older players in the select side continued to perform with complete disregard for their years and it was fitting that Neil Waddoups himself scored a quintessential wingers try, eluding four tacklers on the way. The game continued in a buccaneer spirit, as ambitious handling moves swept from one end of the pitch to the other. The Guests had the wind in their favour however, and the marginal advantage it afforded lead to another Waddoups try, astoundingly equalling his record for his entire career.
In true Corinthian spirit, he changed sides to taste a few minutes on the home team. As he touched down for a remarkable third time, wife Barbera swooned in disbelief. When she came round she remarked that the last time Neil scored three times in eighty minutes was 11th September 1976, the so called "Summer of Love". . The last and deciding score went to the Select side, a forward rumble deservedly finished by hooker Steve Collins.
The occasion was concluded in the clubhouse, where captain Gary Storer presented a ball signed by all the players, as well as a club jersey with the numbers 1:2:15, befitting a player who has appeared in every single position on the field. Neil will be a big loss to the playing staff, although we trust he will still be available to hold up the bar from time to time. Our best wishes go to him and his family.
Colin Stephens, Hon Chairman, 4th October 1999
The previous weeks victory over Cosby proved costly for AEI who were forced to start this game with a largely experimental pack. This was helped little by the loss after 10 minutes of flanker Mark McDonough and meant AEI were reduced to 14 men. With two early tries by Tailenders, the writing appeared to be on the wall, but AEI stuck to their task and scored a the best try of the match which gave the whole team heart. Tim Sly and Paul Eaton combined well in mid-field to take out the opposition and release Andy Makepeace for a try in the corner. Tailenders replied with a third try but AEI hit back before the break with another good try, this time for Paul Eaton, to make the halftime score 10 - 19.
Despite the advantage of the wind in the second half, AEI did not manage another score and we not helped by the depature of Andy Clark from the field, reducing their numbers still further. The remaining 13 men conceeded only another four tries and fought to the end with their pride intact.
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