Friday 14th April 2006

Steve Prince took a veterans squad to Haslemere on Good Friday to play in an international quadrangular tournament, featuring the Finnish National Rugby squad.

Not only did the Vets beat a full strength Finnish team, but they won their other two matches against Farnham and the host club, to emerge as worthy, if knackered, winners of the tournament and the proud recipients of a silver (well, stainless steel) trophy. Their scores over the afternoon were:

vs Finland: 13-0

vs Haslemere: 26-7

vs Farnham: 17-7

It was planned to install the trophy in the Clubhouse at Tuesday’s training session (18/4).

In what was a truly great squad performance, it would be invidious to single out any individuals for mention. Indeed, Prinney’s deft manipulation of his squad left opponents and spectators confused as to who was or was not on the pitch, but ensured that the team tactics of lulling opponents into a false sense of security in the early stages, only to pile in the points in the second half, were unfailingly applied.

They even survived their first experience of being refereed by a woman! She said she always enjoyed Veterans because they were slower!

The captain’s line out calls were something of a disappointment. Whilst they caused simultaneous confusion to all 4 packs of forwards on the 2 pitches, they were totally eclipsed by the Farnham hooker, whose call: "Bonanza – 45 – 37 – ELB – 12. No scrub that!" actually caused 2 cars to collide 1½ miles away on the A3!

Maids proved worthy winners of the tournament by staying on afterwards to entertain their hosts and the Finnish visitors (Farnham left early. Wouldn’t you after losing to a load of old men?) to some traditional singing. Their vocal efforts were variously described as: "Incredible!", "A novel interpretation!" and, most tellingly, "Sanat olivat tutut – savelet ei niinkaan."