Firsts Foil Flood and Foe with Festive Flurry

Some times rugby is more than what happens on the pitch and as the afternoon unfolded those elements were brought into focus. Firstly a valiant effort to get the pitch playable after the morning's rain, deserves mention. The pitch team led by Tony Waterfield, Steve Leebrook, Mark Thornton, Paul Tilley, Rich Lainchbury and second team players please take a bow for forking away the standing water.

With a clubhouse packed for the President's lunch, the catering and liquid refreshment teams went into overdrive; many thanks for looking after the assembled throng. With rugby visitors from Diss, South Leicester, Oadby Wyggs and the Jamaican RFU, this was a festive jamboree, with the annual rugby club outing for the infamous 'Christmas jumpers'.

Fun and friendship has always prevailed in the rugby family, but sometimes taking time remember, reflect and respect those not so fortunate, can bring some solace. The fixture, whilst a league match, was a chance to remember Ellis White, a friend to many, at both Oadby and Harborough.
Tom Dyke brought a Jonny May signed England shirt to raise funds for Brain Research UK; with a contribution from the raffle and auction, nearly £700 went to this good cause. Our thoughts and best wishes go to Tom's father Martin and his family.

The afternoon wind arrived on cue to blow away the morning's rain laden clouds but the pitch still remained deceptively heavy underfoot. Oadby playing with the strengthening breeze, jostled with the home side in the early skirmishes, looking to establish superiority. It was however, Harborough who struck first. With the game ten minutes old, Josh 'Prancer' Purnell, guided his willing pack of 'reindeer forwards' up the pitch, and from a resulting scrum scurried over to open the scoring. 5-0.

Jack Burrows and the dancing feet of Tim Waterfield made indentations into the visitors midfield and tries followed from Jack'Rudolf' Rowlett and Joe 'Dasher' Lafferty. Harborough's Christmas cheer increased as they moved 15-0 ahead.

As half time approached, a Monty Maule 'Santa sidestep', saw him score the bonus point try, he converted for the Black Cats to lead 22-0 at the break.

During the interval, stories of tours to France, Dublin and the south coast were recited, exaggerated and loosely based on actual events. The other stuff and nonsense prevailing was the cost of living 'cheese' crisis and how a beer kitty which once lasted a weekend in Prague, now only bought a matchday round.

The second half had Harborough playing with an increasingly angry wind, but the game was fairly fractured and the scoreboard remained static for 15 minutes. The home side did then manage to score, when ferocious tackling by Tom Herdman, collected spilt ball and scored under the posts. Maule duly converted. 29-0.

Minutes later, Joe Lafferty got his second of the match and with the conversion Harborough were now well in control and home side were in the ascendancy leading 36-0. The impressive Josh Purnell had to retire from the game after a collision and there was a home debut for Harry Bureau, who looked sharp and incisive.

The pitch began to cut up as the half progressed and whilst Oadby battled hard upfront in the forward exchanges, Jack Brown, Henry Moss and William Leebrook were a match for the opposition. Sam 'Blitzen' Blades, Jack 'Donner' Digby pounded away to establish a platform for the elfish Tim Waterfield and Harry 'Dancer' Durham to display twinkling toes!!.

Monty Maule was beginning to unwrap all the presents under the tree and set up a delightful backs move with a series of perfectly executed 2 on 1's which saw full back Tom 'Comet' Claffey score by the posts. With the conversion Harborough led 43-0. George Hallam completed the scoring and the match ended 48-0.

It is a little disingenuous to call our Leicester neighbours 'Foes', but never let it get in the way of a good alliteration headline!!! Oadby were combative upfront throughout the game and Harborough had to unpick the backline and forcefully burst through a resolute defence.

After the match, coach Joe Hill, was delighted with the shape of the team and the continuity of the ball handling skills in difficult conditions.
Tim Waterfield received the Ellis White Cup from Ellis's mum Tracey, and the festive fun and friendship continued into the evening.

Next week sees the 1sts head for an away fixture with Olney and the U24's take on Kettering, at Waverley Road, on Boxing Day with a 11.00am kick off