Following on from last week's outstanding performance our boys were keen to keep the momentum and were eager for another stern challenge for our first home game of the season. Oakham were the visitors, and despite a hefty 64 - 30 score line in favour of the green and whites; it wasn't quite what the score line suggests.

Hugely entertaining rugby throughout, but when the match started with Fred on the wing for us, and ended with JP at prop and Josh at centre for Oakham it gives you an idea of how the game progressed.

Oakham were only able to muster 9 players, and this week we were running with 17, so the spirit of rugby ran true, and this would be a four quarter 12 a side match (no back row), with three green and whites swapping sides each quarter.

What 12 a side gives you is a very quick game, with lots of space. It was a game played very much in the style of sevens with hyper quick breakdowns. Looking from a green and white perspective, initially it was a little bit of a sparring match, and we started trying to go through our platforms and keep our structure, but with only five forwards on the pitch, the boys quickly found out it was difficult to control the breakdowns, and really we needed to release the backs sooner, and play this as an offloading game. Once the penny dropped, the tries started flowing.

The game was always running in favour of the green and whites, and it did show some flashes of excellence with direct running lines and vision. Even the torrential downpour did not do much to halt the steady stream of scoring, it just took a little longer with slippery hands.

Tries were registered for Finn, JP, Fred, David, Alex and possibly the most pleasing of all being Jack, who used his burners and footwork to sweetly finish off from just inside his own half; undoubtedly the best performance from him since he joined us with some superb defensive coverage too.

The tackles were still as big as the previous week, with them seeming even bigger when it was a Corsair on the receiving end, despite which colours they were wearing at the time; Finn cutting Josh in half, Noah crunching Finn, Josh dumping David... there was definitely no easing off from our boys regardless what side they were on.

So, lots of tries, lots of space, lots of crunches, but most importantly lots of fun, and lots of smiles from all the lads. Thank you to Oakham for a game played with huge heart and spirit, and thank you to each of the lads who played, particularly the 12 who swapped sides and still gave it their all.

Corsairs MoM
Jack, showing the potential and really stepping up in both attack and defence.
DoD - Shared between Noah and Josh
Noah, because that conversion attempt should never be spoken of again.
Josh, for scoring for Oakham.