Trafford started the match with a lofted kick straight into the safe arms of Mathew Bennett, he turned laid off and the forward unit barrelled forward to start the first attack of the day. With both teams fresh at the start, territorial dominance was traded plenty of times with one dangerous raid towards our line by Trafford’s giant prop. Nerves shaken off and ball regained, Collegiate secured the ruck around half way and launched the backs line on a fine attack, james F, to Jamie, to Ed to Aldi, past the defender, around and under the sticks. Josh converted. 7-0. The next four tries were the same with the forwards securing the ball and then the backs passing it out wide to score. Jamie 2 tries and Lewis 1. Josh Abley converting 2
26-0 at half time.

From the kick off Collegiate chased, secured, released the backs, Jamie scores his hatrick
Try No 6-Once again the Collegiate team gained and presented the ball for an excellent cross field try involving all backs and culminating in Lewis scoring his 2nd
Try No7 – straight from the kickoff in our 22 Callum breaks, passed to Jamarl who powers on through for a 60 yard effort , Josh converts
Try No8 – From the kick off Jamie catches, attacks and hits the first line of defence. He then chips the second line of defence and catches his own kick on the half volley to run around and score under the posts, a wonderful piece of individual play.
More substitutions were made and with the reshaping of Collegiate’s team, MV seized their moment to break the line and score a solid try under the sticks 50-7
Try No9 – the entire team chased the restart and pinned MV back on their 5 metre, ball went right then left, backs to backs until utility forward/back Callum carried home for 55-7
Try No10 - excellent powerful run by Reece made 30 yards, out to Vineet and on to Alex Carden 60-7
Try No11 –by now Collegiate had changed all 22 squad members a number of times and combinations were a little mixed, but still the magic was happening, once again the forwards won the ball, and sent it sailing through the backs, wing to wing for Ed to score a very well deserved try – 65-7
Credit to Trafford, they were well beaten, but never gave up and had the last say in the match 65-12 and final whistle.

Tries : Jamie, (4), Lewis, (2), Aldi, Jamarl, Callum, Alex Carden, Ed
Conversion : Josh Abley, (5)

Reading above would lead you to believe that the Collegiate team is only made up of backs. Not true the team scores through the backs because the forwards dominated the rucks, mauls and scrums and sent quick ball the way of the ladies. I’d like to mention the general all round tackling by forwards and backs alike, but would pick out Kuba, Matty B, JP, Max R and Joe Mulhall for some bone jarring stopping action. I’d also like to pay credit to Matty F and James F for their own distinct but effective scrum/fly half dictation of the direction of play. Full marks also to Matty B who probably caught 9 of Traffords 12 restarts.

We started this year with little and have ended up with a fit squad of 30+ players and a winners trophy. Well done boys !!

Match report - Aitch