Promise shown from the 2’s?

Saturday 12th of September marked the day that Didsbury Toc H 2’s welcomed Whitchurch 2’s to Ford Lane. After the embarrassment of an 80-0 defeat to Bowdon 2’s the previous week, TOC H 2s had a lot to prove to not only the club but to the players present on that gloomy Saturday afternoon.

Captain (from the sidelines), Amar Singh opted for a mix of power and pace in the pack. The starting front 3 saw new arrival Alec Dewell take up loose head while Andy Reynolds marked his 2nd team debut at hooker accompanied by John Shepard at tight head. The engine room was occupied with a mixture of experience and mass in the guise of Luke Collins and Rob Weedon, while the back 3 mixed youth, height and strawberry blonde with James Brookes at 6, Fenton Martinez at 7 and the slippery fingered Dan Greenwood at 8.

The back line saw some changes from the previous outing with Dr Will Luffman co-ordinating proceedings from 9 partnered by Benjamin Eaves at 10. James McLaren once again secured the 12 shirt (and a ridiculous pair of surfing shorts) while Peter Davies donned the 13 spot. Jamie Bawden, despite problems with a calf injury, turned out at 11 while Chris Keating switched from 15 to 14 on his last appearance for the club. Ash Langridge made his TOC H debut marshalling at 15. Danny Grogan and Ben O’Dale provided backs and forwards cover respectively.

With Grogan leading a superb warm up TOC 2’s the game started in the best possible way with a try in the first 5 minutes. With a well-co-ordinated link up between both backs and forwards Didsbury forced an error in the Whitchurch defence that Martinez was able to gather the ball and go over for his first try for TOC H 2’s. The try converted by Eaves to claim a 7-0 lead. Whitchurch quickly responded with some good build up play of their own to fashion a try close to the posts to equal the score. The game remained tight with both sides organising there defences well. A lapse in concentration and missed tackles resulted in Whitchurch running in a converted try. 14-7.

Didsbury stuck to their guns and pressed hard with some great phase play. Shepard, Collins, Weedon, Greenwood and Martinez punched holes in Whitchurch’s defence while Brookes, Dewell and Reynolds used their initiative and took positions as 2nd receivers. All was looking good until TOC H lost Eaves to a nasty stinger injury from a stray knee after reclaiming a loose ball. Whitchurch took full advantage of the rearranged TOC H XV and mounted an attack resulting in 3 unanswered tries. 26-7.
Unlike the previous week, TOC H 2s countered with some fantastic forward play, ill-discipline from Whitchurch allowed Luffman to show off his left boot and gain yards into the Whitchurch 22. The TOC H pack took full advantage and mauled their way to the Whitchurch try line. Weedon finishing the move with a well worked try. Unconverted, 26-12.
Whitchurch managed to take advantage of the broken play late in the 2nd half and broke a splintered TOC H defence twice more with 2 unconverted tries around the 70 minute mark. 36-12. TOC H saw out the rest of the game as they started with resolute defence and organised play between backs and forwards. A final score of 36-12 shows that the 2s are heading in the right direction but are still looking for the first win of the season. Special mention to O’Dale, Martinez, Davies and Greenwood for some strong running and defence. Whitchurch played a tough physical game and TOC H look forward to the away fixture.

Ben Eaves