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