Next round.

Next week Glapthorn will play Warmington.

                 Fotheringhay will play Oundle.

Table

	Played	Won	Lost	Total  Points
Oundle	1		1	6
Warmington	1	1		7
Fotheringhay	1		1	6
Glapthorn	1	1		10

Match report.

                        Fotheringhay and Glapthorn on the pitch awaiting result of toss to see who starts the game.
Glapthorn won the toss, so kicked off and started with a good run forward but were unable to get through the defence. Fotheringhay followed up a long kick, and an over enthusiastic charge by Glapthorn gave them a relatively easy penalty.

                               The penalty was a long one, but went over giving Fotheringhay the lead just 2 minutes into the game.
                  After this the game got very tight with both sides making good runs but not managing to finish, then 12 minutes in Glapthorn were awarded a penalty for off-side, which they scored with.

  Apart from some rather dangerous looking scrums, nothing appeared to be happening either way, until with just a minute of the first half left,Glapthorn went over for a try which they promptly converted.

                                      Half time score:   Fotheringhay 3  Glapthorn  10.

                                 The second half was a very cagey affair with neither side making any real headway, there had not been a single line-out in the first half and it was about middle of the second half before a line-out was conceded.

                              This line-out went Fotheringhay's way and from this they were able to clear their line, the resulting run up field saw them awarded another penalty, this time right in front of the posts, which they easily put over.  Despite some very spirited attacks, Fotheringhay were unable to put any more points on the board and similarly Glapthorn were unable to increase their lead. Glapthorn came out the winners with a credible 10 points.

                                   Ecstatic supporter streaks onto the pitch to the amazement of the players!!


                                      Final score:    Fotheringhay 6   Glapthorn  10.

Match report.

     The next round got under way with Oundle playing Warmington.

                                          Warmington having won the toss, about to kick off.
        A very tight game to begin with, both sides being extremely careful not to give anything away with nervous mistakes. Scoring opportunities did not present themselves until out of desperation Oundle attempted a drop goal to put some points on the board.

                                      This attempt was successful, and was the only score in the first half despite some very good runs from both sides. Defence was so tight that neither side could break through for the much needed try.
                                   Half time score:   Oundle 3    Warmington  0.

                         The second half was virtually a carbon copy of the first until this run in from a scrum giving Warmington a try under the posts which was easily converted. Oundle replied with several good attacks, but were unable to penetrate the Warmington defence. A penalty almost on the half way line was missed by Oundle, and similarly a penalty attempt by Warmington went just wide.

                                  Oundle managed a good bout of possession at the end of the match and this drop goal 1 minute into injury time went over, saving some face on the game.

                                         Final score:    Oundle  6    Warmington  7.

Solo play.

   All the games are played by myself administering the rules equally to both sides, there is no bias otherwise Tansor would still be in the competition. I can see no point in favouring any side as the outcome is then controlled, I may as well just write a match report and dispense with the need to set everything up! I think the beauty of table rugby is the fact that solo play is possible more so than any of the other games. In football, it really needs two to play a proper game, as manning goal and shooting is somewhat tricky!!
                  It may be a mind set, but I have never liked cheating, in fact in the real games, with all the technology available today with instant replays etc, I do not see why decisions cannot be overturned, then hand of god incidents would be rightly penalised. In athletic events, if a participant is found to have been using drugs, the decision is overruled, so why not the rest of sport?

Knockout.

   Have decided that it would be fairer to have the remaining four teams all play each other as opposed to a sudden death system. The finalists will be the two teams with the most points, whilst the other two teams will play for the third place!!!

More action shots.

                                                    Scrummer in action before put in.

                                               And after, ball came out the right side for the team with the put in!!

                                         One of the better penalty attempts!!!

                                                    A dangerous line out situation, despite having the "throw"!!

                                        It doesn't always go according to plan, the ball bounced between the two lines,but rolled the wrong way for the side with the "throw"!!!!

Group tables.

Group A	PLAYED	W	L	Points
Fotheringhay	2	1	1	14
Cotterstock	2	1	1	13
Oundle	2	1	1	21

Group B	PLAYED	W	L	Points
Warmington	2	2		20
Tansor	2		2	18
Glapthorn	2	1	1	19

From the tables  a couple of shock results have turned the whole competition round.

From group A Fotheringhay and Oundle go through to the next round, and from group B Warmington and Glapthorn go through.

      Next week then Warmington will play Oundle and Fotheringhay will play Glapthorn.

    I am not sure whether to do a straight knock out, or to have all teams play one another and decide the final and second place games from there?  Any comments on this greatly appreciated!!

Action replays.

                   Unlucky long penalty attempt by Tansor.

Position after scrum with Glapthorn about to attempt a drop goal.

                Good effort but not enough height!!!

Group B final match.

The final match in group B was between  Tansor and Glapthorn. This match was bought forward a day because of work commitments!!

The two teams out on the pitch prior to the kick off of the final of the group play-offs.
             Glapthorn won the toss and started the game.

Despite a good start by Glapthorn, Tansor were able to come back with a blistering run and go over for a try with only 4 minutes of the game gone.

   The conversion attempt was easily put over, giving Tansor the lead. However ,shortly after this an offside infringement gave Glapthorn a penalty which they easily put over.

               The first scrum of the game went to Tansor, and despite a good run from this position, they were unable to score.

                  First line out was this dangerous looking position, a bad error by Tansor gave Glapthorn another penalty right in front of the posts. The play got very tight from here with little in it for either side, but another off side mistake gave Glapthorn yet another penalty just before half time.
   Half time score was Tansor 7 Glapthorn 9.

   A spirited start by Glapthorn in the second half resulted in this try, which they also converted.
   The resulting counter attack from Tansor was a little over enthusiastically resisted which gave Tansor a penalty that they easily scored from.
     A similar situation occured the other end of the pitch, which gave Glapthorn a penalty for off side, this they easily scored from. With 5 minutes to go, Tansor were awarded a penalty just over the half way line, which they went for goal with but just missed. With the minutes rapidly ticking away, a scrum deep in Tansor's territory resulted in a drop goal attempt by Glapthorn, but this just failed to get the height to go over the bar.

                                     Final score:  Glapthorn 19  Tansor  10.

Group A final match.

Final game of group A between Fotheringhay and Oundle, Fotheringhay having won the toss, the picture shows the position immediately after kick off. The first half was dominated by Fotheringhay, with all the best runs and tactical kicks going their way and eventually a try was scored in the right hand corner but the conversion attempt went wide.

Towards the end of the first half, a bad charge down by Oundle gave Fotheringhay a penalty virtually in front of the posts, which they easily slotted over. Half time therefore saw Fotheringhay in the lead 8 points to 0!! This was definitely a shock result given previous form, but that's rugby!!
   The second half started with a more determined attack by Oundle, although good defending was

 keeping them from scoring until a good worked set piece saw Oundle go over for a try which they also Converted. Play became progressively tighter with neither side giving anything away, but a scrum in the last 5 minutes of the game resulted in a penalty to Fotheringhay which they easily put over.

   The remaining minutes ticked away without any more score, giving a surprise win to Fotheringhay!!

                       Final score: Fotheringhay 11  Oundle 7.

Group Tables.

Group A	PLAYED	W	L	Points
Fotheringhay	1		1	3
Cotterstock	2	1	1	13
Oundle	1	1		14

Group B	PLAYED	W	L	Points
Warmington	2	2		20
Tansor	1		1	8
Glapthorn	1		1	0

Action shot.

                                                Tansor scoring their penalty just before the end of the game!!!

Group B 2nd match.

         Game played 9.30 am Sunday 13th November,   Warmington versus Tansor.

     Tansor having just kicked off resulted in this position, with Warmington gaining possession.
  A lively game ensued with chances on both sides but nothing gained until Tansor scored a try in the 23rd minute. The conversion attempt was an awkward angle, and was unsuccessful. Warmington sprang back into the attack,and a useful clearance kick saw a follow up and neat try right under the posts, this was easily converted signalling the end of the first half.

First line out of the game, looked threatening but nothing came of it.

Picture here of scrum that Tansor managed to run in their try from.
         Second half got under way with good runs from both teams, Warmington attempted a drop goal from a scrum, but it went under the crossbar. More attacking from both sides with neither gaining advantage until 10 minutes to go, Warmington ran a try in inthe left hand corner, the conversion attempt was wide of the posts.
Despite good runs by Tansor, they failed to get over the line and 2 minutes from full time they were awarded a relatively easy penalty that they slotted neatly over, there was no more score by final whistle.
   
                                  Result :  Warmington 12  Tansor  8.

   Tansor will now play Glapthorn in the last match of group B next week.

Group A 2nd match.

                       Game played at 2 30 pm Saturday 12th November.  Oundle versus Cotterstock.

                       Oundle won the toss, so elected to kick off.
  The game started off really tight with neither team conceding anything.

An early line out looked promising for Cotterstock, but they were unable to break through Oundle's solid defence. The game continued with little give from either side, both sides put in spirited runs but were unable to finish favourably. With a minute to go of the first half, Oundle broke away from a scrum on the 20 metre line to score right under the posts, making a nice easy conversion.
                                             The second half got under way with a strong attack from Cotterstock, but again they were unable to finish and a clumsy knock on in their own half saw Oundle take the advantage and score another try just to the left of the posts, which gave them another easy conversion.
             Cotterstock attacked with vigour several times but were always unable to get through the defensive wall. I the last minutes of the game Cotterstock were awarded a penalty virtually in front of the posts, which they easily slotted over, time unfortunately had beaten them although their attacking in the second half was very promising!

                                 Final score :  Oundle  14     Cotterstock  3.

                                       Oundle will now play Fotheringhay in the last of the games of group A next week.

Group B

                                     Pictured are Tansor Tigers ready for their Sunday fixture against Warmington in the second round of the group B matches.

Group A

                             Pictured is Oundle Academicals, who will be playing Cotterstock in the second round of the group A matches on Saturday.

Group B opening match.

  Group B opening match was between Glapthorn and Warmington. Glapthorn Gladiators are in the yellow strip, and Warmington Greenmen are not surprisingly in the green!

    The match seemed to be a very nervous affair with neither team willing to commit too much, the picture shows the start of the match with Warmington kicking off.
     The game continued to be very tight, both teams were awarded penalties, but only Warmington managed to score. The scond half was a similarly slow affair until a great tactical kick forward by Warmington which was brilliantly  chased and resulted in a try in the far left corner, the conversion attempt just brushed wide of the left hand post.

                      Final score:   Warmington 8  Glapthorn 0.

      Warmington will now play Tansor in the second round.

Group A opening match.

                 The teams will be competing for the Nene valley cup, representatives of the two teams of the opener are pictured here with the cup.

The match got under way with a dynamic start by Cotterstock, who scored a try in the first three minutes, this was also converted.

  Shortly after this a penalty was awarded to Cotterstock, which they neatly slotted over.

Fotheringhay made some very spirited runs with the ball, but were unable to capitalise on them and the half time score was Cotterstock 10 Fotheringhay 0.

                The second half was a far more tight game with each team not giving an inch, eventually Fotheringhay were awarded a penalty, which was successful.

a scrum deep in Cotterstock's territory in the last minutes of the game looked very dangerous, but again Fothringhay's finishing was poor and no further score was made.

                                            Final result:  Cotterstock 10  Fotheringhay  3.

                           Cotterstock will now play Oundle in a weeks time.

Local Knockout.

As the world cup has come and gone I thought I would have a local knockout with the teams that I have!

Group A:  Fotheringhay, Cotterstock and Oundle.

Group B: Glapthorn, Warmington and Tansor.

First match will be Fotheringhay versus Cotterstock.

                                                                Fotheringhay Deacons.

                                                               Cotterstock Crusaders.

Cricket match

Game in progress without any deliberate no balls!!!!

Sight screens and scoreboard in use, much more fun than that electronic jiggery pokery!