"A damn close-run thing."

Mr Tim Walters is on holiday so don’t expect anything amusing

On Wednesday getting a Vets team out looked impossible, despite there being no 3s game, but the Club really showed what it can do when it needs too.

Andy Cooke and Paul Baker were nicked from the 5s and added to the squad of 4. After that Master Macdonald stepped up to help supply the balance of the squad along with stalwarts were Messers Goldsmith, Cooper, Partridge, Hall and Nelson.

Fortunately, earlier in the week, the opposition had been advised that we would be struggling to make up the squad.
When the Vets took to the field the Maidstone captain was clearly vocal that we had put together a team of “ringers”. This was not the case and besides he need not have worried as he had an excellent squad of experienced players and very talented youngsters so perhaps the suspicions should've been reversed? As a result, the match was pretty tense all the way through.

After 10 minutes, where the Vets seemed comfortably in control, the opposition broke away and scored. Then it seemed the tide had turned with continuous pressure at pace from Maidstone. Fortunately the incredible Mr Hall was their equal and equalised just before half time.

Master Cleall, who was receiving the brunt of the pressure, made it clear at half time just how good Maidstone were and that we would be lucky to hold onto a draw unless the Vets gave everything.

The second half started with Maidstone taking the lead, followed by a classy finish by Master Nelson to equalise yet again. These were torrid times with the Vets kept alive by the defence and our Belgium hero Heer Victor Lanckriet in goal.

Against the flow the Vets pulled ahead, again with a goal from Master Nelson. Shortly after that Mr Cleall “did his hamstring” and limped off. Inevitably with all their pressure Maidstone scored again and the game ended 3-3. We certainly got a sense of understanding how Wellington felt at Waterloo!

There could have been several MOMs but Master Goldsmith got the final vote.
Thanks goes to the whole squad for making a brilliant effort. Thank you Seneka for sacrificing more beer and watching the rugby to Umpire another game and for putting up with the usual debate over the odd decision, including with the opposition’s umpire.

Scorers - Charlie Nelson 2, Chris Hall 1
MOM - James Goldsmith