MAY & BAKER R.U.F.C

Dagenham 13 November M&B Opposition Scorers 11 6 T. Parker 1 P. Lumpy 2

On paper this fixture always sends shivers up spines. Sometimes for the wrong reasons. But this game sent them for all the right reasons. Both clubs were both happy with the start they had to the league campaign this year, the visitors 6-0, M&B 4-2. The home team were much the underdogs not having won against their opponents for a few years now.

There was a quite air of confidence from the Home team Coach & Skipper who have moulded a side that can mix the style of rugby to suit.

The first half started with the visitors dominating the first 20 minutes. Camped in the home teams half, this was a Dagenham team who were brimming with confidence and expectation. So when they couldn't break the defense during this period it was the home team who took the initiative and settled into their pattern. M&B were much the bigger pack and they used this to their advantage. Great scrummaging and mauling drove the home team into the away teams half. Guilty of pulling the maul down and conceding a penalty, M&B punished them with the first score from Lumpy. Another penalty followed and the home team started to dominate. The away team did get on the board with a penalty of their own but they still went in at the break down. The second half started at a cracking pace. A break from the base of the scrum from Foran and a finely executed pass to send the veteran of many of these encounter, Martin Parker in for the only try of the game. It was as if the away team didn't come out for the second half. 11-3 up M&B didn't take the foot off the peddle. Dagenham didn't have enough of the ball to threaten the home team. Although as the time started to run out they threw caution to the wind and started to take some risks. They were rewarded with a shot a goal near the end. With only one blind linesman behind the posts Dagenham were awarded the 3 points as the kick sailed so far wide it nearly landed on the cricket green!!! And he was the home team linesman. Looks like GarryO has run his last line!!

The game ended without anymore scores (And GarryO breathed a huge sigh of relief!!). Not sure who got the man of the match but I thought the Twins were excellent, Dave Maudsley played well but I would say Martin Parker is still performing and was outstanding.

This game, as important as it was, was played in the best spirit possible. These were two hugely disciplined teams interested only in playing rugby. The referee also had a fine game allowing the game to flow and take it's natural course.

Till the December 11 for the return!!

Team: Big Al Robbie Twin Steve Twin Keith Friend Dave O'Sullivan Martin Parker Michael Donaghue Dave Scawthorn Dean Foran Liam Power Paul Dane Dave Maudsley Doug Murray Peter Hogwood Alex Udal

Subs: Paul Henkle Adrian Forde Steve Nathan

Romford & Gidea Park 5 March M&B Opposition Scorers 15 10

May & Bakers 2nd XV had a full side for the first time since in a while. Romford started the strongest but were unable to score due to some excellent defending from the home side. The deadlock was broken when Bakers scored first halfway through the first-half from a line-out and good passing too the C stand in Captain Jamie Yates, who with a cross field kick found full-back Chris who scored in the corner for an unconverted try. Bakers applied further pressure eventually paying off when Bakers scored again just before half-time when lee, playing in an unfamiliar role of flanker broke from a ruck and passed to the Skipper who looped around winger James to pass to out-side centre, Steve who out run the Romford winger to score another unconverted try. The second half saw Romford apply further pressure upon the home side. This was converted into points when the away side picked up on a poor kick from the home sides 10 scoring an unconverted try to make the score 10-5. Wizzy made up for his error with a run from his twenty-two with a couple of side steps thrown in for good measure to break Romford’s defence and off loaded to Jamie who raced away to score a try under the posts. Lee who forgot his kicking-tee missed the conversion again. Romford’s inside-centre suffered from an injured shoulder and had to retire from the game. However the away team continued to apply pressure and with a succession of penalties managed to power over for an unconverted try with only a few minutes remaining, Bakers managed to hold on to the victory with good tackling and clearances. The stand in Skipper, Jamie offered up thanks to those who turned up and offered his sympathies to the Romford Centre wishing him a speedy recovery.

Team Terry Herwig Colin Combden Dickey Williams Roy Yates Martin Ryan Lee Dyer Tony Bullet-tooth Little-Big Alan Martin Lee Bob Wisdish (wizzy no feet) Jamie Yates(c) Steve Pollard James Lloyd Matthew Barrett Chris Wots his name

Rayleigh September 11, 2004 M&B Opposition Scorers 42 0 To follow

With no game for the "A" XV this week, all attention was firmly focused on the 1st team league fixture against Rayleigh. M&B were ready and changed a full 40 minutes BEFORE kick off!!

This clearly paid off because they started the game at great pace.

The new half back pairing of Lumpy and Foran soon got an understanding going. Using the wind M&B played much of the first half in their opponents half. This was as much through kicking as high quality quick passing.

Surely this wasn't the team that finished the end of last season so poorly?

Well it wasn't, this team welcomed youth and pace in the backs that gave a usual dominant forward pack confidence to give the ball out. Oh how they used it. Strong running from the back three opened all sorts of holes in the defense and with the usual forwards driving forward it was a surprise to all on the side line that the try count was kept to 4. The 2nd half started much the same. Again the back three knew the long kicks were coming and made some good ball returns, again giving the forwards something to work with. The last of Rayleigh's spirit was quickly extinguished when a good break from the base of the scrum saw Foran score his second of the game.

A further try from Lee meant the game was all but over by the 60th minute.

Last word, however, has to go to Pete Hogwood. I doubt there will be a better try scored at Dagenham East this season.

With the ball safely cleared back to the Home teams 10 meter line, Pete collected the high ball and went on a lateral run across the field. Handing off 2 oncoming defenders and side stepping 2 more Peter then straightening up on the right wing. After out-pacing the opposing winger and full back, Peter went on to touch down under the dot.

All on the side line agreed this was an amazing try.

On the down side he didn't buy the mandatory "try of the year" jug. Shame on you Peter!!!!