Well some Senior rugby to report on is woz on. The Firsts had their quarter final game against the Cornish winners Perranporth. I had a lot to do but at the last minute I dropped the paint brush and travelled down with Josh to watch. Lovely day so, shorts, flipflops and polo shirt. Got there and remembered their ground is very close to the sea and unfortunately there was a keen wind blowing on shore which was frankly rather cold to put it mildly. Met up in the small bar with the loyal travelling Tonites which was as good as ever given the long trip down on a bank Holiday weekend. All reported no traffic problems at all which was a bit of a surprise. We all had a sharpener before the game and it was a lovely not a cloud in the sky day, problem was it was blinkin freezing cold.

So… the game, the Ton played into the wind in the first half but as proceedings carried on the breeze was upped to a strong wind and kicking into it was very difficult as our kicker will vouch for, he missed a couple of what looked like easy kicks at goal. We eventually crossed the white wash with a try out wide having probably squandered a couple of earlier scoring chances. The home side bounced back with a try out wide and just before half time from a catch and rumble, they scored again to lead 12-5 at the break. Different styles of play and I felt we edged the first half but not on the score board, none the less even stevens and all to play for.
The thing was it was now our turn with the stiff wind. We kick a penalty early on but the Cornish boys pounced on an opportunist kick ahead and a lucky bounce saw one of them score right next to the posts and with the conversion going over it was now 19-8 and it looked a long way back for the Ton. What we did do was not panic and we looked composed. Ben Phillips took a shot at goal from just inside our half and it went over and with us on the attack he then slotted three more in fairly quick succession using the wind advantage and this meant we were now only two points behind and with time running out a yellow card penalty for them was duly accepted and the fifth pen sailed over to give us the narrow lead with full time upon us… disaster! we gave a penalty away straight after the restart and their guy basically had the kick to win the game…with hearts in mouths we all thought it was over but it went just wide and we hung on for the result in what was a hard fought narrow 19-20 win.
Must say a big thanks to the host club as they were a friendly bunch and I think as they were on tour this weekend, they’d have had a dilemma if they’d actually won.

Ok… Sunday an early start at Tonsville was the order of the day as our junior section were hosting a touring side called Clee hill and another team called Somerton. Big hand to the organisers who did a tremendous job to get set up for the pretty early start. There was bouncy castles, food stations a bucking bronco and of course several games of rugby and then there was the music in the bar afterwards it was all a bit of a successful mini festival I’d say. I was grandkids sitting so I went down for a while and all looked good fun and I’ll say a Happy Birthday to our long suffering Junior chair Stuart Perry who seemed to have had a jar or two when I spoke to him, thoroughly deserved I say as this event bought the curtain down on a pretty successful playing season and demonstrates community rugby is alive and kicking.
Oh… one funny or sad note… Stuart was setting up things early and had to remind one of the friendly dog walkers again, that dogs weren’t allowed on the pitches. Stuart is a fairly mild mannered chap so I was somewhat amused that the lady spoken to proceed to get very irate with him and referred to him as the Hitler of Honiton, unfair I say but when I saw him later on I greeted him by his first name of Adolf. Again I don’t get it the rule is no dogs on the pitches how are any of us being unfair, them’s the rules

Next… Sunday this weekend is their presentation day so if you can come on down and watch that would be good and it’s great to see all the boys and girls get their medals etc and it will be sunny and hot, just right for a cider.

Ok Saturday big day again…aahhh I say ,I’ve organised a family friends doo and this cup really is just a pain to plan anything around, you never know when the games are on or if it’s home or away which is a real mare! Anyway… thankfully for once we are home and we are playing the winners of the Gloucester/Somerset final and that was St Mary’s old boys who back in my Bristol rugby days this team were always a formidable foe and a gnarly old outfit to beat (long time ago though). We’ve got a strong team out and they are getting a bus down so it should be a good day win or lose. Kick off is at 2.30pm.
To add to this… Churchy has accepted a touring side game for our twos as well so it’s gonna be another busy double home day as we definitely pull the curtain down on Fortress rugby. We might have a big trip to Bristol for the final next week… the day after the dinner and Dance!!! Aaahh!
If anyone still wants to come to the dinner contact Finn he might be able to squeeze you in. Oh on that note if you have been a supporter all season and would like to vote for your Supporters player of the season can you drop me a text on 07969980963.

That’s it for this week and let’s get in this final!!
#UTT

Lord Jez