2nd XV

So, this season’s OR 2nd XV / Battersea Ironside trilogy concluded with a resounding victory for the visitors. No excuses – we were outplayed, rather like Exeter at Toulouse, by a superior side, who were able to edge up through the gears every time they needed to pull away from us.

As the final scenes of the afternoon’s proceedings were playing out, with Harry Smith and Aran Courtney Walker having combined to score one final try and complete the rout of Cobham, thoughts turned to reflect on THE performance [save the best until last] of the season, and also the journey that has been made by this whole group from the early signs of life against Dorking, in September, to the formed beast that is the Old Reigatian 2nd XV.

With Weybridge Vandals unable to honour the league fixture, a friendly was arranged at Park Lane, and, despite the atrocious weather conditions, ORs managed to secure a comfortable victory against spirited opponents, with some outstanding passages of play, alongside a few lapses in concentration, which kept the game flowing and Cats competing to the final whistle.

As the half time whistle blew, thoughts turned to how the match report could read at all positively – lines such as ‘Some days the pigeon, but today the statue’, or the Latin phrase ‘O me miserum!’ [Woe is me!] sprang to mind.

The season’s corresponding fixture against the Nomads, at Park Lane in November, ended in narrow win for the visitors – this time out it was the same victor, and similarly a great game of rugby to be involved in.