Team,
Backs :-Dan(wing), Oli (centre), Fintan(scrum half), Jack (centre), Finlay(full back / wing), Rory(full back), Leo(fly half), Frank(wing / full back), Harrison(wing)

Forwards: -Finbar(prop), Ryan(hooker) , Callum(2nd row), Ellis(hooker), Sonny(prop), James(2nd row), Mathew(2nd row)

It was a game of many firsts.
First game of the season, first game with the new kit, first game with 12 men, first game of kicking through the posts, first game of rugby ever for new recruit Matthew and first official outing of the season for John Lynch’s skimpy shorts.
It was a perfect day for rugby the ground was firm but soft, the sun was shining and the large crowd, (some 20 adults, 2 kids and a dog), were eager to see how the boys pre-season training would pay off.
After the pre-match photos and pep talk from John the first 12 set off for the first of three thirds, (not sure the referee could count…… joking Gary).
From the outset Collegiate were the better, more eager and dominant team, despite LSH fielding a player that Fintans head only came up to his navel.

Jack struck first with an excellent try following a jinky run containing two excellent dummies and followed up with our first ever conversion.
A few minutes later speedy Finlay took the ball on the left , ran diagonally across the field and through the LSH defence to score on the far right.
Fintan took and scored the second conversion. (this kicking lark is easy boys).
LSH were on the rails but weren’t out.
After some solid pressure and few dodgy moves by our boys they pulled it back to 14-7 before half……, I mean third time!
First change subs on were Dan, Rory, Mathew and Sonny. Collegiate powered into the second half with Jack stealing a ball at the lineout and passing to Fearsome Finbar who powered into score our third.
The conversion unfortunately hit the post to leave us 19-7.
The rest of this third was good solid rugby unfortunately spoiled by a lot of silly errors that cost us possession, scrums, lineouts and penalties.
The beginning of the third and last instalment didn’t go to plan, with LSH streaking down the right wing to score and convert, 19-14.
The boys then put together one of their best moves, Jack broke ¾ the length of the pitch, passed to Fintan who layed it off to Frank and onto Finlay in a silky passage of play the big boys would be proud of. This ultimately didn’t get to the try line, but next move went back across field and Leo pounced to score and Fintan to convert 26-14.
The game finished with a further try and conversion by LSH due to bad collegiate discipline, but we ended the match victorious 26-21.
For a first outing the “boys done good”, They were by far the quicker, more mobile, more enthusiastic team with some brilliant tackles throughout .
The usual hard tackling players got stuck in with some notable try stopping tackles by Dan, Oli and Harrison.
The forwards were always competitive despite being the smaller scrum and once they get the hang of the lineout, will set the platform for many try scoring moves.
The only negative to the game was the penalty count against us.
We conceded at least 4 times more penalties than LSH that interrupted good phases of play and allowed the opposition back into it.
The parents picked man of the match, (one parent one vote).
Im pleased to say of the 16 lads playing 6 got a vote with Fintan topping the tally.
Well done and well deserved.

Thanks to the mums for providing food for all the players of all age groups and feeding the hungry fathers with leftover chips and bacon sandwiches.

Match correspondent, (and Dan’s dad),Aitch