Rugby
Sunday, 04 October 2009 12:10
Written by Urbanatomy

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A depleted Hermits team travelled to play Nantong to play in the latest round of the Shanghai Bei last Saturday. Struggling to field a full team, sterling work by Matt Froman and Norman Green in the bars of Shanghai on Friday night found some new faces to bring the team to 14 people.

A 9.00 AM start from the Big Bamboo was enthusiastically attended by most of the squad. Jensen and Chip were late The latter arrived latest, nonchalantly arriving in a taxi smoking a constitutional cigarette. By 9.40AM , 14 players and handful of spectators left the city to cross the mighty Yangtze.

 

Ben Ivory was quick of the mark and commandeered the back of the bus to sleep on. Fortunately, Harry was wide awake and spotted that the bus driver was not heading for the bridge across the Yangtze. The fact that the bridge, one of the longest in the world, and a fine example of Chinese engineering crossing the mighty Yangtze river has been opened 18 month, it had not yet come to the attention of the bus driver. Navigator Harry and Alex the ref, with their trusty GPS’s in hand, managed to get the Hermits back on track having only lost about 30 minutes. It later transpired that the driver was not actually planning to cross the river at all!

They arrived in good time at the sports field where Nantong were already warming up by doing laps around the pitch shouting slogans that I can only guess the meaning of.

One a strikingly sunny and hot afternoon, they kicked off early with only 14 men. The team had 4 brand new players (Jerome, Kerstan, Tom, & Brendan) and 3 players new this season (Ty, Jensen & Micah (as in Formica)). Despite this, the team started to gel very quickly. Led by Captain Drakeford and ably supported by maestro Cristian “Rock DJ” Rudloff from the back, Jensen started the scoring with a well taken individual try.

Mindful of the fact they only had 14 men, many of whom were not match fit, Drakeford encouraged the team to walk slowly to the set pieces and discouraged Jensen from taking quick penalties much to his frustration.
The Elephant man (Ben Ivory) had an outstanding game at full back and scored two tries. Coach Woodberry must surely be looking at this man to join the first team squad. Steve “Notty” Notman proved he is on fine form with a hat trick, scoring the third try with impeccable style on the wing in the last move of the day. Woodberry will be salivating at the thought of having him in his team. New boy Brendan also got two giving a 37 : 5 victory to the Hermits.

Nantong entertained the boys very well after the game with several tongs of beers, a boat race and much back slapping. Captain Drakeford and Micah were interviewed by Nantong TV, giving much credit to the Nantong teams development and organization.

As Sunday was a working day, unfortunately the team needed to head off early to get the workers tucked up in bed. Next visit to Nantong, they plan on staying the night and expect to be royally entertained by the Nantong team!

Alex the referee had a very well balanced game, keeping the play moving well and ensured that the  boys were washed, fed & watered on our way home. Thanks Alex - “Good Job”!

The bath house was an interesting experience, especially for the one old man who was happily bathing all alone before they arrived! A trip to KFC and beers kindly provided by the Big Bamboo ensured a comfortable trip back home. The driver had remembered that there was now a bridge across the river so good progress was made.

A fining session was held with the 4 new players seeing off a can. The late guys were also fined with Chip opting for the Hermit Cocktail fine rather that the beer as there was a probability of a throw back. Luke “Turkish” Organ and Brendan being the only ethnic minorities on the bus were chosen to complete the fining session in a drink off. Making up the rules as he went along, backs Maestro Cristian took the microphone and started off the flying races. Eventually Brendan and the Elephant Man fought out a hanging battle with the Frenchie coming out on top. Ty led the singing for most of the journey, treating the bus to a solo of the S & M man, which he made very clear was nobody he knew.

Thanks then to everybody on the tour including loyal Hermits spectators. The overall turnout of players was truly disappointing but regardless, the trip turned out to be very successful and it was agreed that the spirit of the Hermits shone out both on and off the pitch.

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