From the opening chase and acrobatic kick-off collection by Toby to the final seconds when Rob, ‘Chessumesque’, intercepted a last desperate attack by Trinity, to score under the posts, this match had the topsy-turvy feel of that Paris night just over a week ago.

As well as the scoreline, the lead jumping from team to team throughout, there were Reigate players guesting for our visitors, there was the Riddler father/son combination, which later turned to them being opponents, as Barry donned the Croydon side’s shirt; there was a reunion lunch, with many famous Colley Lane players of the past helping to swell the crowd; and the game was not even in the ether at 9.00pm on Friday night - Woking’s inability to raise a side for the league encounter leaving a deflated feeling, which ‘Super Matt’ and Trinity re-inflated with a quickly arranged fixture. As the scoreline suggests, it did the occasion and the beautiful spring afternoon proud.

The game commenced with handling errors by both sides, showing a keenness to keep ball ‘live’, but a need to settle into the fast pace and open play, which duly happened, thus presenting a highly entertaining spectacle. Reigate had early pressure in Mids’ [Trinity - formerly Mid-Whitgiftians] twenty-two, with Toby, like a spinning top, moving close to the goal line. It was Barry, however, who crossed strongly for the opening score.

Trinity responded, and, having hit their stride, scored two well worked tries, through the impressive three quarters [5-14]. Defence by Reigate needed to improve, and both Callum and Josh made big tackles to thwart further attacks.

Once more on the front foot, Callum found a good touch with a penalty, the impeccable throw orchestrating a line out move, which worked splendidly…Mat bouncing the beleaguered defenders to add to our points. Further controlled forward rumbles allowed Dan Baty to smash through the cover and restore the Blues lead.

This lasted less than a minute, as the Trinity backs again broke our guard, enabling their centre to dot down [15-21]. More pressure from the opponents saw Toby chase back to make a great cover tackle but a clever offload allowed another try, this time unconverted.

As 40 minutes approached, Reigate set up camp on the rival line, a strong forward drive held up, but Sami was able to get a pass to Robbie at 10 who broke through to take the half time score to 20-26.

Trinity’s restart was well fielded by Felix, which set momentum to attack; Blessing making ground into the danger area; Robbie, taking the ball and making off on a mazy run, which seemed to be heading towards the A25 and Dorking, to score his second; Sami’s kick restored our lead.

Having been marched back 30 metres for infringements, the south Croydon side used this as a fillip and from a counterattack, followed by further pressure on Reigate’s line, once more took the lead with two further goals [27-40].

On another day, this might have been a mountain too high to climb, but Sami took advantage of some exciting interplay by the backs to give us another unconverted score. The game was still very much alive, and although Mids once again carved a hole to make it 32-47, Reigate were still in fighting mood and further pressure, including an ‘unorthodox’ offload from Wes to Rob, led to a hat trick score for Robbie, with the extras being slotted by Sami.

A further infringement by the visitors, saw us deep in enemy territory again, giving Toby the opportunity to muscle over from close range and take the Blues to within one point of the
opposition [Sami kicking the conversion], but more Trinity probing saw Reigate run out of defensive numbers, extending the Croydon team’s lead to six points. Surely now the game must be lost, but Toby hadn’t read the script, and a lung busting chase from Robbie’s kick through, saw Colley Lane’s excitement mount – another penalty to the home side! From the ensuing play, Wes emerged from over the tryline, ball in hand – Sami, seemingly with no nerves, slotted the conversion to give us a one-point advantage [53-52].

There was still time for Trinity to kick off, and one feared that a similar conclusion to the recent France v England affair would prevail, a last-minute score to lose the game. However, the Rugby Gods were looking down favourably on Reigate – the final play being that timely intervention in midfield to secure victory.

What a superb day at Colley Lane! All players got time on the park, not the easiest thing to manage during a league fixture, so a plus point to take from a friendly fixture [a big thank you to those who donned Trinity shirts]; the reunion of the old guard, who brought back memories and laughter, as well as substantially increasing bar takings; some sublime play from both sides [loved Tiago’s show and go near the end]. Rugby, both on and off the pitch, was very much the winner.

Finally, a thank you to Emily, who catered the lunch, Dec for planning and organising it and Matt for ensuring that there was a game to both watch and enjoy – certainly, one of my most memorable rugby days for a while!