AEI, complete with three special guest players c/o the Rugby Tailenders, took on Towcester III at the Hillmorten Road ground on Saturday. The game began with scrappy play from both teams. It was obvious from the beginning that this was to be a forwards game with few breaks. Towcester opened up the scoring with a penalty goal due to an infringement AEI. This was to make it 0-3 to the visitors. Soon to follow was a try scored by A.N. Other worked out wide by the Towcester backs. Strength proved vital in Towcesters' second as A.N. Other drove over the line showing great strength.
As the second half dawned there was a visible change in AEI's performance. AEI held well as Towcester began to tire, with the home side scoring two tries of there own. The first came from Man of the Match Tim Udall who emulated Towcesters' second try with a touch of style. AEI anialted the Towcester scrum frequently applying great pressure. This was surely a great performance for the home front five. AEI nudged the scrum over the Towcester try line for a Mark Mcdonagh try.
To be fair, this game could have gone either way due to good scrum and lineout work from AEI and Towcesters' superior speed. The game ended with a 12-15 scoreline to the visitors. AEI will now be looking forward to the end of season game away at Northampton Heathens II.
Gareth Raisbeck
The only thing worth mentioning about Tony Chronnell's retirement game was his naked lap of the pitch after the game!
An 'inebriated' AEI took to the field on a sunny day in Tiel, Holland in an attempt to overcome a much stronger dutch side on their 2002 tour to Nijmegen.
The dutch forwards, using their superior size and strength forced through a number of tries. AEI, no matter how incapable (twas the alcohol Sir!), broke the Tiel barriers using their backs to create an overlap on the right allowing Richard Pinks to score in the corner (!?). Neil 'Jocky' Corbett missed the conversion which had to be taken from the less-than-easy touchline position.
Even with great pressure bearing upon them, the AEI pack moved forward with great help from replacements Nick Goodey and veteran Dave Pritchard. The backs had a number of good runs throughout the game with amazing eye-ball coordination from Tim Sly and Tony Chronnell.
The second half saw both teams defend well, not allowing one try to be scored. The game finished with a 24 - 5 scoreline which did not reflect the all given by AEI. The aftergame activities involved dancing (see Terry Bott), singing (shhh!) and stripping from AEI's very own youth contingent (you know who you are). The locals saw our resilient boys take to the bar games with a vengeance, but many lived to regret it.
Many a dutchman were confused to see two virgin tourists playing rugby in the nude! The captain AND 'man or the match' Mr. Andy Clark along with the committee should be congratulated for organising a truly memorable tour. AEI wish to note the following: "We would just like to apologise...watch out Rugby, because we're back...and we're sober!"
Gareth Raisbeck
AEI started the match as if dazzled by a combination of the bright sun, their new shirts and the pre-match photos! Bugbrooke were first to adapt to the conditions and their willingness to run the ball at any opportunity brought them three tries in the opening 10 minutes. Despite this early blow to morale, AEI managed to raise their game and keep the scoring rate down but it was not until towards half time that they started to match the old "Buggers". Two tries in quick succession before halftime gave AEI heart. Firstly a fine inter-passing move involving forwards and backs set up a Lee Clark try. This was followed by scrum half Gareth Bott charging down a defensive Bugbrooke kick and diving on the ball for his first try for the club.
The second half was a much closer affair with only one try for each team. AEI's points coming from a quick penalty taken by Tim Sargent who set up Tim Udall to dive over the line with his normal speed and grace! AEI did manage to score higher than Bugbrooke on number of players injured, most notably the father and son combination of Terry and Gareth Bott who both had to leave the field. Good to see Gareth keeping up the family tradition!
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