Trinity Guild 21 - 27 Harbury Bees

The Mighty Harbury Bees went into their last game of the season on a real high, having dispatched Coventry Welsh the week before in some style. The Bees had tried to get this game moved in order to watch the 1st XV away at Worcester, but with Trinity unable to move their VPs Day, the Bees travelled over looking to end the season on a high and secure a top 4 spot in the Warwickshire 2a Post Christmas League, aka the Champions League.

The Bees would have to do without one half of their enigmatic, Dick & Dom style leadership duo , with Paul Evans (Dom) otherwise engaged, but otherwise named a strong side with Jay Morgan stepping in at 10, and Connor Keyte returning to parter Josh Buckley and John Wheelhouse in an all power back row.

The Bees got off to a flyer, as after quick hands down the left hand side with Sam Taylor nearly crashing over, the ball was recycled and allowed Matt Holloway to grab a try from close range. Jay Morgan added the extras despite the wind, and stretched Harbury's early lead to 7-0. This game would prove to be a bit of a ding-dong battle, and a solid scrum bolstered by 7s Star James Daniels saw Trinity able to work their own set piece moves. After one such move, a bouncing ball was collected on the fly by the Trinity wing, and he skirted round the outside of Captain Owen (Dick) to score in the corner for 7-5.

At this point, the game went 20 minutes without a score, but after Morgan stuck a penalty deep into Trinity territory, Liam Flynn cannoned the ball into midfield making 15 metres in the process. With the Guild defensive line in disarray, Dan Boag picked and went on the short side, finding Jay Morgan to skirt through for a well-worked Bees score. Jay spooned the conversion for 12-5 at half time.

The score remained as such until the last 20 minutes of the game, when this fixture really burst into life. First, after Boag and Morgan combined to go 50 yards, Trinity thought they had escaped falling further behind thanks to a last ditch tackle and interception. Harbury however had flooded through after the halfback pairing, and Danny Godfrey and Adam Owen flew into the ruck, winning a vital turnover. Connor 'Carl' Keyte spotted the opportunity to go on his own, and picked on the blindside, before throwing a sumptuous out the back pass to John Wheelhouse, and the big 8 left the Guild defence in his wake as he strolled in 'from at least 40 metres' for one of the tries of the season. Must be camera tricks that makes it look like 15 max. Morgan hit the corner flag with the conversion, emulating his hero Jordan Henderson in the process.

Minutes later Harbury won another turnover deep in Trinity territory, this time from a loose lineout, and as Boag found Morgan, the defence parted like the Red Sea for the flyhalf to take the lead in the scoring charts. Adam Owen was visibly distraught at this... must be a big James Gulc fan. With Harbury's self-professed kicking officienado Matt Carter back on the pitch, the Bees could be score of the conversion going over from bang in front... think again... as he got no closer than Morgan had managed previously. This took the Bees into a 22-7 lead with only 15 to go.

Guild however weren't content with letting Harbury run away with the victory on their VPs Day, and hit back with 2 near identical tries from distance. Some poor defence by the Bees in truth, but scores that needed finishing. The Guild kicker showed the Bees lads how it was done as he slotted both, including one from the touchline. Anyone got his number..? At 22-21 this was a much closer affair, and earlier in the season Harbury may well have lost this.

Instead, having maintained possession from their own 22, the Bees battered the Guild defence, and as Josh Buccaneer Buckley found himself in space on the short side, he crashed into the last 2 defenders before offloading superbly for Captain Owen to sprint down the wing like the ADHD Poodle he is, and score in the corner to the delight of the Harbury faithful. Carter missed the conversion again, but 27-22 was enough for Harbury to see out the victory.

It's been a fantastic season for the Bees in our first adventure into the league structure, fulfilling every league game and winning 11 out of 19 games, and finishing at least 4th out of 12 teams in the Warwickshire 2a Structure. The 2s have taken really significant steps this year, and Paul and Adam deserve some real praise for the leadership they've shown (even if Adam is perhaps the worst trainer in the club's history). Special mentions otherwise should go to Joe Hunt and Matt Carter for assisting in management on game days. Perhaps the moment of the season was the scenes at full time after sweeping Daventry aside for the first time in front of a baying crowd.

There are arguably too many players to mention, and I'm probably not the right person to do it but here goes....

The front row sixsome of Dannys Woodward and Godfrey, Chegs, Hollers, Haden and Buckers have torn teams apart both in the scrum and around the park, with a mixture of youthful exuberance (not Hollers) and that much needed level head and experience (Hollers). The Bees have a flourishing set of second rows, with Psycho Cormac Wood ever improving, and Liam Flynn one of the exciting prospects to emerge from this season. Less said about Adam Mullen the better... (I joke but hopefully you stay injury free next year Soft Scoop) and his OL's colleague Gary Hardner looks to be a real find. Paul Evans has naturally led from number 7, both in the number of penalties conceded and in metres run sideways, and his faithful sidekick James Gulc is a real protege and try scoring extraordinaire. Joe Aston and John Wheelhouse have never been seen in the same room, but have shared the 8 shirt throughout the year (although not sure if Wheels fits in it...) with Colt Seb stepping in superbly in his first half season of senior rugby. The Milkman Zinzan and Carl Kite have added extra ballast to the side with Mike Leanne Perrin really showing his stuff in his first season with the Bees in a number of positions. James Daniels is always willing to put his 5 minute stints in and regale us with stories of international 7s events.

Dan Boag has had a good first season of senior rugby, despite all the picking and going!!!! and will look to gain more valuable skills (and weight) at Uni next year before returning for the Bees. The Bees haven't had a settled 10 all year really, but Bevan and his massive boot, and Henry Steele and his 6 legs have shared the role amongst themselves with Jay Morgan occasionally moonlighting. Sam Taylor has had a brilliant first season for the club despite his papier-mâché shoulders, adding 4 tries across the season. The dynamic duo of Danny Coyne and Mattias have shown that rugby has no age limit, with Danny epitomising the body on the line mantra.

George Busstop has had one of his best seasons in recent memory, tearing up for the Bees, with him and Jay leading from the front in the 2s backline. Joe Hunt sacrificed his one working shoulder and leg this season, and his career at HRFC will be fondly remembered, whilst Matt Carter has proved his role vital as a roll-on roll-off kicker, especially against Daventry. Bill McForeskin finally broke his duck for the club scoring an absolute pearler, whilst Austin Dickson featured when his work and Psycho's knee allowed. I can't forget Colt James scoring his first try for the seniors either, in the same game that Big Gaz Dickie made his debut.

The Bees will no doubt look forward to the return of players like Neil Stevens, Ben Swidryk, Dan Bennett and Steve Smith who we haven't seen much of on the pitch this year, although their appearance in the bar is always appreciated! We'll look forward to next season with more big victories like those against Coventry Welsh, as we hunt the coveted Champions League Title.

Up the Bees,
Toby Whelan