Friendlies in the Mist
With the cloud starting at ground level, the Minis travelled to Sasenheim for matches against the home team, RC Bassets, and RC DIOK Leiden.
Although we had promised to bring two sides, a shortage in numbers meant that we had one side to play as BSN A and BSN B. This resulted in the Minis playing four matches in a row; home and away against Bassets and DIOK.
The first game was the closest, with half the squad turning up late and stumbling out of their cars and straight onto the pitch. An Atlanta run was stopped, but with William in close support, the ball came back to Henry to drive over for the try. BSN conceded an equaliser before the ball was whipped out to the wing for William to set up Atlanta and put BSN into a 2-1 half time lead. The second half saw BSN add two more tries with some good passing. William set up Henry for his second, before scoring himself with a solo effort.
DIOK were short of a couple of players and although the sides were evened up, they struggled to cope with the BSN runners. Joseph scored a fine forwards try, driving through the middle from close range. From a scrum, Cammy set up Lachlan for the second. William and Atlanta combined for Atlanta’s second try of the day. In one of the moves that involved some passing, the ball was worked out to Atlanta on the left wing before going back via Alexander for Joseph to score through the centre. Lachlan ran through for try number five. Alexander slalomed through, all feints and shimmies, before sending a lob pass out to Louis for the try. DIOK managed a rare sortie and pulled one back, before Lachlan added his third of the match to make it 7-1 at half time. The foot came off the gas in the second half and BSN only added two more, with William dancing through at the restart and Alexander offloading to Daniel J at the end.
The third match was against Bassets and BSN were more ruthless than in the opening match, winning 8-1. The Bassets scored from a fine driving maul. But BSN countered with tries from Alexander (3), Louis (3), William, and Joseph.
The last game against DIOK was more practice game than match, with both sides laughing when Lachlan shouted, “get off me,” when being dragged down by the DIOK pack. To which, one of the DIOK players replied, “we don’t want to get off.” BSN won 6-0 with tries from Alexander (2), Lachlan, and William (2).
Joseph was awarded player of the match / day. Reward for a good forwards performance, with solid scrummaging, three short range tries and setting up Alexander and Cammy after making the hard yards.
Tougher days will come, but thanks to Bassets and DIOK for giving us the games.
Coaches: Daran, Scott, Andy
Captain: Jamie
Player of the match: Joseph
Squad: Alexander, Atlanta, Cammy, Daniel H, Daniel J, David, Duncan, Elizabeth, Henry, Jean, Lachlan, Louis, Ronan, William