Cannock Vets 19 Congleton Vets 24

CANNY CODGERS CURTAIL CANNOCK COMEBACK

This was a stonkin’ performance from Ye Olde Boys of Congleton Town. Make no mistake, this was a good Cannock outfit used to regularly playing and winning. For the visitors, this was not only the first real Vets fixture, but there was also significant numbers of eligible players unavailable.
Somers’ fine line break from Congleton’s own 22 early on set the tone as Cannock were focused on him from there on in thus providing space for those around him. Somers in full flight is still a wonder to behold and with the lithe twinkle-toed Dr Jones outside, the plan was to keep the ball away from the sizeable Cannock pack.
Congleton's scrum proved to be incredibly mobile. It moved backwards and sideways at every opportunity but being Congleton they stuck to their guns and managed to provide the backs with enough ball for them to create havoc down the middle and out wide. After 10 minutes the ageing Davenport was dragged down like a wounded antelope just short of the line following a brilliant 40m break. From the resulting ruck the call came to go wide from Musonza the Destroyer and the ball was duly whipped away from the ruck from 9 Winship through Burkard’s swift hands flat to the charging Destroyer to score. Basic execution.
The euphoria was short-lived. Following a penalty on the Cannock line, the backs called a set move from their playbook. When the gap opened following fly half Burkard’s awesome dummy switch, he really should have scooted through the cavernous hole but instead he chose to ship it to Somers to take the glory hole only to see it picked off by a defender who ran the length to score. A few minutes later Cannock struck again after Davenport, having done all the hard work tracking back to cover a kick though, decided to dab the ball down over the 5m line instead of the try line. Der. Congleton went into break 12-5 down.
Re-energised for the second half, the visitors reinforced their plan to play open flowing rugby to remove the size and power advantage held by Cannock. Watching large overweight forwards scrambling for breath is hugely entertaining for backs. Luckily the Cannock pack had plenty that fit the bill so every time Congleton ran wide, they smiled in the knowledge that there were chunky pink-cheeked behemoths slathering and snorting their way across the field.
Most players who get a groin injury and move out to the wing are generally trying to keep safe but not Dr Jones. Having swapped his centre position with Musonza the Destroyer, he found himself even more involved out on the flank. Burkard, Somers, Musonza combined regularly with Chivelinho who hit intelligent lines from fullback and so, when the forwards grafted to give the backs some ball, they were simply too hot for the opposition to handle. The second half was hardcore robust rugby.
The Congleton try 10 minutes into the half was exceptional. Following a wonderful tackle on halfway by Hunter (in his first outing in 5 years) the ball came to Burkard playing at 10. Front rower Somerfield called for and took the switch before floating his pass over the top of the defenders for Somers to feed Musonza the Destroyer who smashed into three defenders. Burkard stepped in at 9, popped the back blind to Winship who put Dr Jones away down the touchline. Despite his groin injury, Jones went 40m and pulled the defence across, took the tackle and, in staying on his feet, gave Burkard time to support on the inside to score a fabulous team try under the posts. Forwards and backs in harmony = Boom!
At 12 apiece Cannock responded strongly, applying pressure in Congleton’s 22. When the chance came to kick for goal and to take the lead they decided not to (having been goaded by the opposition players with shouts of “you can’t kick it as it’s not in the spirit of a vets game”) and Congleton’s excellent scrambling defence held strong.
Codgers may not be quick physically but all that experience to be in the right place at the right time combined with good communicate always pays off. With 15 minutes to go, Hunter kicked a loose ball through for Somers to accelerate onto and he would have scored were it not for the meddling defender who cheekily thrust him away from the ball illegally. He screamed like a girl. From the resulting scrum Jacob found himself with ball in hand on the right and he was unlucky not to cross the line for a fine try. The ensuing ruck 5m out had Musonza the Destroyer making another clear call for the ball as he loitered in the first receiver position. One pass and he smashed through the geriatric defenders to score.
Congleton were now enjoying themselves immensely as they never expected to come to the lion’s den and find themselves in front with 10 minutes to go. But it got better! From the kick off and a few phases to drag the stout defenders across, Davenport scooped the ball up to race diagonally from half way to take the score to a commanding 24-12. Two scores up so what could possibly go wrong…….?
Cannock hit back with a try to make it 24-19 with three minutes to go. To ramp up the pressure, Coombes, who’d been outstanding, had attempted clothesline tackle on the scoring player which resulted in Cannock receiving a penalty from the restart. A kick to touch and Congleton’s tiring defenders were really up against it. But let’s not forget that this is a Congleton team full of guts and determination so, as tackles went in hard, they forced Cannock to spill the ball and Congleton pounced, secured possession and kicked it out for a bullish and classy victory.
Let's not beat about the bush - this was a stunning victory. Congleton’s team were thrown together but produced creative and balanced rugby when it mattered. They were calm, positive and supportive with each other even when there were bad errors. Their forwards were outmuscled in the scrum but their passion, determination and persistence to fight tooth and nail allowed the backs to create scoring opportunities. A spokesperson for Cannock said after the game “We really didn’t expect you to be as good as you were - you guys really brought you’re A game and deserved the victory, fancy a pint?”

Roll on the next Codger’s match.