| I would like to begin this report with an apology to all those
players who turned up but didn’t get to play on Sunday. Sometimes it happens to
the odd player but this weeks game was exceptional so please don’t hold it against
me! In mitigation I didn’t know some of you were coming but I am grateful for your
attendance anyway. |
| I don’t intend to go into the blow by blow breakdown of the game but
there are a few points in my view worth making. |
| I tend to judge a game by effort, passion, commitment and above all how
much pride is displayed; or rather how proud you make me feel. I should care if you
lose but frankly for me it is if you carry your self respect off the field whatever
the score that matters to me. Yes, your scrummaging was lacklustre, you didn’t hit
the rucks as hard as you should but sufficient bodies were put on the line to raise
the hairs on my neck. I was proud of you against Henley and I remain so now!! |
| I’ve seen sides win without pride or win when they should be ashamed but
never wearing green and white. I acknowledge that you have lost a few games recently
but what a dreadful turn of luck. You are where you are with the players you have on
the day you have to play. Not for Reading bussing in players specially for the games
or crying off when you have less than the ‘strongest team’. You are and always will
be in my view ‘Reading Yeoman’ and the better for it! |
| The fact that you played the better technical rugby but where smaller in
height/size in nearly every position indicates how well you did play. Unfortunately
this wasn’t the Battle of the River Plate so it didn’t count a stuff. |
I think a few players are worth a special mention:-
Kieran Oliver our Kiwi scrum half was outstanding, sniping and hustling throughout the game.
Richard Prince (Flanker) grafted all the way through the game and completed the most outrageous dummy
since Lea Hempton’s three years ago to score the Reading try.
He was as ever ably supported by those ‘Hearts of Oak’ Tim Hannah (Prop),
Liam Fairhurst (Flanker), Rob Cunningham (Lock) and Steve King (Prop).
French Ben did a great job on the wing to contain the Chinnor attack whilst
Seb D’Cruz (Wing) still surprises me with his ability to split a defence as well
establishing himself with the best hair style in the team.
It was also heart warming to see Lea Hempton back on form with a
superbly aggressive display. |
| All of the above placed their parents in with a shout at ‘Relative of
the Match’. However as always the award is in my gift (and arbitrary) so on this
occasion I have decided to award ‘Relative of the Match’ to me! This may be Callum’s
penultimate match for Reading Colts and this all round ‘in the Refs face’
performance I think justified the award alone. Add to this the level of aggression,
irritation to the opposition and general body on line stuff then my decision
is confirmed. |
| Matt Healey |