Match report by Clive Cheal

The science fiction [or not fiction, if you believe in it] idea of parallel universe appeared to echo around St Nicholas Road yesterday afternoon. Arriving at the ground, one is met with a sports complex that could well grace a senior rugby club – a leisure hub offering a large gym, a creche, a hair salon, swimming pool [and probably more], alongside rugby and football, felt like we were nowhere near Surrey Counties League 4 but in an alternative reality.

So, having arrived approximately an hour and a half before kick-off, it was somewhat disconcerting to see Paulines already changed, warming up and running moves. On top of this, they also looked fit, well organised and slick with ball in hand…was this really a Surrey 5 side last season, or, had we, as stated, been transported in a Tardis to another world?

From the off, it appeared that we were in alien territory; The Thames Ditton side bore down on the initial kick, which we were able to clear back to halfway. However, it soon became even more apparent that the opposition were not out for a social run around. The first scrum, usually a Blue banker, went awry, with us moving in reverse [this steadied as the game went on, but was a wake-up call in the first couple of minutes], with Paulines running ball like a top of the range outfit; their support [even though it is hard to admit] a spectacle to watch.

Within five minutes they had opened the scoring, despite stubborn tackling by the Blues, and this was to be the story for much of the match. As half time approached their forwards and three-quarters had combined to add three further tries, leaving the mid-point at 24-0 to the hosts. On the rare occasion when we had possession and threatened to make ground, the home side hit their tackles hard, doubling up where needed, to ensure the Reigate runners were brought to the dusty surface.

The second period almost duplicated the first forty, but we did find the resolve to put some pressure on our opponents, effectively employing a strong maul to within inches of their line, only to be thwarted by excellent close quarter defence. They were able to add a further twenty-six unanswered points to complete the scoring.

What can we take from this tough day at Thames Ditton? A Colley Lane squad that did not falter or give up; a squad that competed throughout; a squad that worked for and with each other; individual defence that put bodies on the line and, at times, pressured Paulines into errors; a Captain, who epitomised the spirit by returning to the field despite injury; the crunching tackle that ended the game prematurely [hopefully the Paulines’ player recovers quickly] – all aspects that can be taken away and built on, but also looked at with pride.
It is difficult when having been outgunned like this to pick positives [I have been on the end of bigger defeats than this one, so can empathise], but do give yourselves credit for the aspects that were done well and the guts that were shown to continue competing throughout.

Playing rugby means different things to different people, but I promise you that it is not really the actual games that stay at the forefront of the mind as time marches on; it is the friendships, the bonding and the laughs that you will remember. It was good to see a solid core of the Reigate group still at Paulines, long after many of the home players had left; it was great to see the new boys on the ‘drinking podium’ as debutants [did Luke actually have to down two pints?]; it was Colley Lane togetherness!

I have used the analogy of the pigeon and the statue before, and it rings true again; however, statues endure, where memory fades and, like the statue, we are sculpted by our experiences.