It was just one of those days! The sun shone, the drive to Esher [and back again] with Noel was stress free, the burgers were enjoyable, Neil smiled…oh yes, and we won some silverware [very convincingly] to end the season where we started it, with an albeit different but equally deserved and exciting victory.

Nobody seemed very sure as to what actual trophy the final was being played for but the winners’ medals, the squad photographs, the cup itself and the sheer delight on players’ and spectators’ faces made that detail somewhat immaterial.

Merton kicked off; Neil fielded the ball and set off on a rampage that would soon epitomize Reigate’s afternoon. Despite being penalised, and moved back into our 22, the Blues countered by stealing the line out and then setting powerfully for the first scrum. Robbie took Sami’s pinpoint pass at pace and soon it was Merton’s defence area that was under attack [Rob and Toby both proving a handful to the Mordern side’s resistance]. Forward strength and a scrum against the head, led by Dan H, with Phil and Neil in the boiler room, gave Wes the opportunity [as he has taken on several occasions this term] to work through a pile of bodies and give us the lead; Josh added the conversion without problem.

From the restart, Reigate moved back up the field with some rousing interplay, and after more forward ‘bash’, Ross enhanced south London -Antipodean relations by barging through their ‘welcome party’ to touch down for [as with Wes] one of his trademark scores. Minutes later, pressure on the opposition winger, after a good movement through Reigate hands and a chip over from Josh, led to an opportunist touchdown for Seb – the kick taking the score to 19-0.

Not content with his poacher’s try, Seb next gathered the ball, somewhere near halfway, and sped off for a superb individual score – wanting to make sure his name got on the points tally, Captain Phil temporarily took over conversion duties to give the extras.
Our Boys appeared to have written their own script, so when Rob’s cheeky chip and chase bounced perfectly into his open arms to leave him in the clear to the tryline, it was, perhaps, no surprise.

But, as ever, there are two teams in a match, and the yellow and black shirts of Merton responded with fervour [Sami and Con making important tackles; Rob realising that it is not just when learning to drive that ‘going in reverse’ is a real thing] and our opponents went over the line to put themselves on the scoreboard.

Merton then enjoyed a ‘purple patch’, and the Colley Lane mettle was put to the test, with George, Toby, Dan Y, Wes and Ross amongst others hitting important tackles to keep the enemy at bay. Toby, as ever alert to an attacking opportunity, took a quick tap penalty from within our half and threaded his way through the defence. All was going to plan, until he decided to emulate his back row partner and chip through…the results did not quite match the earlier effort, but did move us back to an attacking area, where an Elliot run and further pack force led to a beautifully worked line out move, composed by Jason and Toby, allowing Rob to saunter over the whitewash with little contest; this then half time, and an impressive 38-5 advantage to the Blues.
The second period opened with Reigate still hungry; a half break by Robbie allowed ball to be moved to Josh, who deftly carved through the defence, being caught inches short of the line – Toby, as good back rows should, was following and picked up ‘the leftovers’ to score under the posts. Josh slotted the additional points.

Moments later, with another attack being built, and good ball run through the hands, Dan Y made for the tryline, only to be illegally brought down. The penalty lineout saw more forward rumble, with Toby swatting the last defender aside to crash over near the corner. A conversion attempt by Neil was very close, but not quite close enough.

Our taste for this rugby in the sunshine appeared to be growing further, forwards and backs running freely and enjoying the opportunity to move ball through the hands. Dan Y [again] made a telling break, chipping over for Tiago to gather and run in, perhaps, the most popular try of the afternoon.

As Merton kicked off and Toby plucked the ball out of the air, one wondered at what might be next in the Colley Lane magic box…Toby made yards and offloaded to Rob, who ‘enjoyed’ a 60-metre run, outstripping the cover to take our total to 60 points.
An opposition scrum, on halfway, saw them move good ball through the hands, despite a text book Noel tackle [incidentally, the only player ever to get two winning medals for two different clubs, in two different cup competitions, on the same day], to score a fine try, which was duly converted to give a deserved consolation to a Merton side, who competed throughout the game.
With more juice still in the tank, Reigate went on the attack yet again, runs by Phil, Elliot, Sami [deft footwork both to trap the ball soccer style and outfox defenders with twinkling toes], as well as a couple of almost moments [Con’s pass was never forward!] led to what would have been the try of the match but for millimetres - a kick over from Robbie had Seb diving at full stretch but not quite able to gather cleanly. However, it was only a matter of minutes before Elliot latched onto loose ball and picked his way to the line, showing both speed and strength to bypass several defenders and take the score to 65-12.

As both the ball and the sun bore down on Wes, from the ensuing kick-off, my favourite smile of the day – the ball spilled forward and, after recovering it, our experienced prop pointed skywards, reminding me of a silent film star…no words needed! Another scrum against the head and Toby was off, still full of energy, ably supported by Tribs to help secure ball after the tackle, which enabled Phil to take play to the yellow and black 22. A stolen line out saw reinvigorated Dan H make more ground, and it was only a matter of who would touchdown, and when, before proceedings were wrapped up – it was Toby, scoring an almost replica of his second, who bustled into the corner. Was it all over [in fairness, none of the crowd were on the pitch]? Of course it wasn’t on a magical day like this. Robbie, not renowned for his kicking prowess, slotted the extras from out wide to take the final score to 72-12.

What a way to conclude the season – we can put it into perspective and appreciate that Merton are a league below, however, you play against who you are faced with and Reigate did, indeed, play. Young guns went for it; those in mid age pretended that they were not as sore as they actually were afterwards; those in vintage, like a fine cheese…a bit mouldy, but still great to have a bottle of red wine with!

It has been a season of fluctuation but one, as a spectator, I have greatly enjoyed – seeing the youth learn, progress and build confidence, alongside marvelling at the durability of those who should know better, and appreciating those magic moments from those in the middle, it has been a great deal of fun.

Of course, it is not just players who make a club – the coaching team of Matt, Steve and Ray spend hours working to move things forward on the pitch, and there are also those behind the scenes who keep things ticking and make the Eric Hodgkins Memorial Ground a welcoming place to be. From President, Chairman and Secretary to others who give up their time to help grass roots rugby survive as it does at Colley Lane, this victory belongs to the whole Club.

AGM, I believe, is 28th May, where Julian apparently will not be laying on ‘amuse bouche’ [little mouth pleasers] and Players Awards Night is on 6th June [where Julian will not be laying on ‘amuse bouche’ either].