Mighty fine day in the sun

On a very warm late summer Saturday, with weather more fitting for cricket, swimming or strip rugby tennis the Mighty (in Black and Gold) took to a very hard field against our visitors from north of the border Lakenham Hewett ( in red, white and black). Not as previously advertised Lankenheath Hewett, which I believe is an estate agents just outside the US airbase, or even former world tennis No1 the Aussie Lleyton Hewitt.

With the heat and the multiple changes that come with pre-season friendlies the game was split into 4 20 minute quarters giving time for water breaks and positional changes.

The Mighty squad was a good mix of new faces and old heads with a few hired guns to increase the backs to forwards ratio.
Lakenham were a little short on numbers so where lent a prop or 2 in the shape of Toby and then big sexy Zac.

Once the ref had briefed us on the new scrum call changes ( the RFU do like a law change every once in a while) the game kicked off.
Lakenham with their strong pack tried to keep things tight in the centre of the park but this only allowed the Mighty space to work around the flanks with their extra bit of pace. It wasn’t long before the first Mighty try, a good charge around the side of the of the ruck from hooker Billy to get the ball out wide to the hands of Sam wearing lucky 13 who was unstoppable racing for the tryline.

After the restart it was more of the same from the Mighty, a similar driving run this time from prop Gary releasing Liam at fullback for what seemed an even faster sprint between the post for try number 2. With John getting the conversion it was very quickly 12-0 to the Mighty.
With a fast hard surface and even faster harder backs the Mighty sensed blood and where soon 17-0 up with another lightning run from Sam at 13.

With the new faces taking all the glory it was up to Captian Alex Jacobs at 9 to notch one up for the Mighty hardcore. Still not knowing whether he’s a forward or a back Alex decided to combine the skills of both with some powerful hand offs, side steps and a bit of speed racing between the post for try number 4. Another delightful kick from John playing at 10 made it 24-0 all in the 1st quarter.(we don’t get that many kicks so they are all delightful really)

The second quarter saw the Mighty tidal wave slow slightly with the combination of the heat and a few changes on the pitch and a bit of reorganisation of the Lakenham defence. Only 1 try in the 2nd quarter for the Mighty but what a try.

In only his 2nd full season of senior rugby, Luke had been having some great runs on the wing and with tenacity and velocity he finally broke through the Lakenham defense to charge over in the corner to make it 29-0. (someone has got the thesaurus out).

The halfway mark saw more changes to give everyone a run out, with fresh legs being the plus and chaos in the line out being the minus. Lakenham were down to 14 shortly when a high tackle lead to a yellow card for their fiery redhead which could have easily been a red card for a redhead, which would have lead to a lot of red faces for the team in red.

Lakenham again tried to use the forward to dictate the play but as most of the Mighty subs were fresh props and seconds rows this plan was short lived. Soon it was another try to the Mighty with Jack playing at wing to go over near the posts to give John another kickable conversion to make it 36-0.

The final quarter suddenly decided to go against the script with Lakenham getting their first try. With very little danger, Henry now playing in the backs decided to head butt a perfectly good pass to the Lakenham defence for them to race across the 22 toward the tryline to make it 36-5.

With tired legs and heads the knock ons increased and so did the scrums. With some great hooking from Billy ( I know because I can see his feet from where I'm crouching ) the Mighty scrum got some clean ball out to allow man of the match Joe to get his 1st try in senior rugby.
The strong scrums continued and a Mighty push 15 metres from the tryline release ball to the hands of Ryan to get his 1st try in a very very very long time to make it 46-5.

Some messy hand from the Mighty after the restart gave away a sloppy penalty.

Lakenham with nothing to lose decided to kick to touch to give them a line out 5 metre from the Mighty line to make the most of the changes to lineout personnel. There hefty forwards winning some ugly ball surged for the line. After being held up in there first attempt they manage to squeeze the ball over the line for their 2nd try. The resulting conversion to make it 46-12 was met with such a roar you would have thought Lakenham had won the cup.

Shortly after that the final whistle rang out to make it 2 in 2 for the Mighty's pre-season friendlies.

Special thanks to Robbie and Charlie for there guest appearances and to young Kieran for making Ciaran now ‘old Ciaran’ and of course the Mighty hardcore, you know who you are.

Remember if you want a mention, get a try or an assist or give Frostie a quid.

We march on to the season opener with Thurston at home next week and after 2 hours of typing I’ve got a ‘thirst on’, “Black and Gold please, pint!”

(c) Robert Frost