Saturday saw Quintin 2XV run out at home against Ealing Exiles in the first game of the season in what proved to be a tough match.
Conditions were difficult with the sun beating down on us all all and the pitch being rock solid but the new shirts, tight and fitted, were bound to make a difference!
An uncontested scrum meant that Angry man played hooker which as you can imagine went down swimmingly and there was not a moan to be had. We welcomed some new players; all forwards which was great. If only they played front row!!! Andrew Kennedy and Johnno played in the second row and Dylan Syme at number 8. All had a great game and despite the scrums being uncontested, in open play and the breakdown made a huge difference to the overall performance of the side and we welcome then to Quintin and hope to see them more and more.
The game was split into 4 quarters at Ealing's request. The first quarter was pretty even. Lots of tackling and some errors by both sides but the standard of Quintin rugby was high for a first game of the season. We dominated the first quarter having around 80 percent of the possession but just could not capitalise and the final phases of each attack let us down and just did not come together. Some big hits were going in from all players. Sepand as always was hitting the biggest of men and at one time even attempted to garrotte one of the opposition. Lee May, Sam Shutt and the rest of the backs were solid in attack but just could not punch a hole through a strong Ealing back line.
Towards the end of the 1st half, Ealing finally powered their way through to score their first try which was scored through set piece close to the Quintin try line and not unsurprisingly their biggest player who must have weighed in at over 17 stone went over through sheer momentum despite a myriad of Quintin players trying to stop the try. It was converted. At half time we were 7-0 down. Kev Smyth suffered a nasty tackle and so could not play on sadly but had a cracking game nonetheless for the time he was on including a stint at prop because James totally cocked up and started Quintin for the first 5 minutes with only 14 men. Tim was watching on the sidelines concerned at his choice of Captaincy after such a basic error from Munro.
With Kev off inured, The flood gates were about to open with the raging bull on the sidelines ready to come on. The Quintin 2nd XV new it was time now to turn the game around. As Tim walked the touchline eager to get onto the pitch, the all familiar scrum cap was being placed gently on his head. It was time! The Chubby Cosmonaut who we all know as Talented Tim was coming on. The self doubt on each player's face vanished. We now new were were in with a chance. Talentless came straight into the front row and there is no other word for it. He was awesome. The best game I have seen him in this season. Tackling, chasing up, passing was all spot on. Talentless is no longer. This man is Talented Tim!
Mattie Castle came on, sporting a new length of hair and then proceeded to put in a huge try saving tackle down the left wing which eventually put him out of the rest of the game.
Spirits were high though and we were slowly tiring Ealing. Ealing changed tactic, realising they were not going to get through our strong backline of Shutt, May, Holcombe and Akers, they resorted to attempting some back row pick up moves which Daryl and Dylan saw coming and stopped in their tracks and drove backwards. There was no getting through the Quintin defence and Dylan and Daryl between them soon had Ealing going back to the drawing board.
We had them on the ropes and suddenly from a set piece Shutt unleashed with May to allow Ollie to go in on the right corner for a try with a great burst of pace and ferocity shown by all. Lee May just missed the conversion which put us at 7-5 going into the last quarter.
With Ealing's tactics at dis-array they resorted to a lot of kicking in the final quarter and one kick paid off. A lucky bounce saw Ealing go in for another unconverted try.
The final score was 12-5 however it was a very encouraging Quintin performance nonetheless!
Man of the Match - Dylan Syme (for being everywhere on the pitch, great tackling, excellent attacking and defence)
Girl of the Match - Sepand (for passing the ball over Sam's head and over our dead ball line)