Didsbury Toc H 4s 17- Bury 3s 10

It is not many people who get to witness two of the world’s great wonders in one lifetime, let alone one afternoon. However, those of us lucky enough to be involved with TocH 4’s on Saturday 14th January 2017 can now list themselves as some of those lucky few. The two wonders were, of course, the third Toc try and Tango’s purple velour tracksuit complemented by tip-ex white trainers. Beauties both.

Post the rallying call from the club over the festive beak, the turnout for the 4s was good again and the trip to Bury in the rain was on. The game started well with Didsbury taking the lead against an experienced Bury side who can play on their day. Two notable scores from persistent running in the first half were topped by two try saving tackles by the Didsbury full back on the largest of the selection of large forwards Bury had. Bury looked certain to score on both occasions having put the big(est) man through, but good, low hits bring even the biggest of men down too and this certainly kept Didsbury in the lead. Changes at half time took a while to settle down and Bury were able to score two tries without Didsbury seeing too much of the ball, through moving the ball simply through an extra set of hands and touching down through the tackle. All square.

Then came the moment of, what all who were there to witness it from Didsbury concluded after the game, was the greatest try ever scored by TocH. Support play of the highest standard, with the ball passing through the hands of each of the at least three prop forwards we had on the pitch at the time, often on more than one occasion, and the other willing runners, scooping catches off the boot straps and support play of the highest standard saw a score under the posts. The try was not unreminiscent of the Saint Andre score for France in 1991 against England only with more panicky props and fewer kicks, but just as ‘flarey’. Those who were there will remember it. Didsbury’s defence was then actually quite disciplined and the counter-rucking enough to put Bury off their stride as they pushed hard for a come-back try saw the game through to an marvellous win.

Bury were excellent hosts, despite, by their own admission, the changing room being little more than an advanced cupboard with three sinks (obviously), and the game was played in a good spirit. The only dark spot being a dislocated shoulder for Alex who was in the middle of an very effective game but was well looked after by Caradoc. A speedy recovery and well wishes to him.

The day was rounded off with the delightful sight of Tango, a man of fashion vision, he says, carefully tip-toeing his way across the muddy-puddled car park, desperately trying not to ruin the fantastic purple get up that “all the kids will be sporting in a year or so”. A day to remember.