Per Ardorem Victoriam

It has been a difficult week for many people in so many ways. On Monday we mourned the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. And by the weekend we needed to get every player registered on the RFU website. A difficult week indeed.

The rugby match itself always going to be a close contest, our last meeting with Littleborough resulted in a 7-7 draw for the U15 Lancashire Plate. They brought a strong squad of experienced players to Didsbury Toc H, with both teams hoping to improve on the result from that encounter.

Always important to get a fast start, Harry kicked a delightful grubber from the whistle that popped up beautifully for Patrick to run on to as it reached the 10m. It was worked forwards with direct running by the pack, but a phase too far left runners isolated allowing Littleborough to wake up and steal the ball.

Over the next fifteen minutes, possession changed hands often with errors from both teams. It would be fair to say that while neither team was playing very badly, nor was either playing particularly well. Fumbled passes, loose ball behind the rucks, Didsbury had a few boys playing out of position… or were their new jersey’s just a bit itchy?

It would take something special to break the deadlock, and Logan provided it. Didsbury won possession from a set-piece inside the opposition half and used their powerful forwards to draw in the defence. Eventually releasing the backs, Logan bust through the centre of midfield and carved a line towards goal. Still with a lot to do he broke the challenge from Littleborough’s full back and stretched to score beside the posts. Duly converted himself and a 7-0 lead to the home team.

The rest of the first half was characterised by Didsbury dominating set-pieces but indifferent in open play. The scrummaging was immense, the pack moving forwards after every put-in. And we were most likely to win lineouts lifting any of Giacomo, Tom and William.

Conceding a couple of easy penalties, Didsbury concentration lapsed shortly before half time. Littleborough took off quickly from the edge of our 22 and spread the ball wide while the Barbarians were still debating amongst themselves the finer details of the law. Unable to scramble across the field to cover the move, Littleborough ‘were allowed’ to cross in the corner, 7-5. Didsbury replied positively from the restart, winning a kickable penalty to end the half 10-5 in front.

A change of personnel in the second half to share out game time brought Josh, Ben, Malachai, Teddy, Anthony and Dillon into the action. The game became no less feisty and perceptibly no better in quality from either team. It was raw and brutal up front and hard to capitalise on any break in the back line. Even the banter between opposing players was of sufficiently low standard that none should really be proud of.

Referee John Robb was challenged to the limit, keeping control in the middle against the odds. Touchline intervention was needed to separate players twice in the second half. Didsbury provided the only positive second half action worth reporting on. Jamie took the ball in our 22, then pinned his ears back to round the advancing defenders. From the halfway line he kicked ahead to beat the full back but was denied scoring by a cynical push without the ball. Didsbury tapped the penalty and with a move off the training ground Teddy muscled the ball over for the only try of the half.

With tensions remaining high, the final whistle could not have come soon enough. Didsbury Barbarians took their first cup win of the season with a 17- 5 victory.

Onwards Barbarians. Long live the King.