Tries scorers – Barge 5,Amos,Coxxy

It’s been a long time coming but it was worth the wait. On Saturday the Big Win we have been threatening all season finally came at Dorking in a game that everyone playing will remember for a long time.

Despite the club going through a player availability crisis with a number of 1st team players away or injured we were able to take a strong squad to Dorking. I pleased to welcome back Spud after injury along with Luke Goggin, Huw, Steggs and for the first time this season our shirt sponsor Dowdy. Despite their return on Friday morning I still only had 15 players with 4 forwards filling in for backs! I was therefore delighted to receive a phone call from Coxxy Saturday morning telling me all BA flights to New York had been cancelled due to the well-publicized snow storm and did I still need him – HAPPY DAYS!!! this was soon followed by a call from Mark Willet making himself available and the second team releasing Sam to play which gave us a squad of 18 that would allow me to rotate players on and off. Following Barge outstanding performance against Farnham last week I decided to start him at Fly half which proved to be an inspired decision. We still played the game with two forwards in our backline with both Amos and Barry Scott showing their versatility and unselfishness for the good of the team. (both had Big Games).

My Match Highlights
- Barge- 5 tries each of which was outstanding in its own right. Barge comeback this season after a 13 year absence through injury has been one of the stories of the season. Most of the current generation of players remember him as a promotion winning coach and I’m delighted that they are now getting to see and hear what a special player he was/is before his horrible injury out in Jersey prematurely ended his playing career. Not the most difficult MOM I have ever had to make.
- Our scrum and lineout led by Spud and a dominant Millser was back to its best with one particularly memorable 30m catch and drive.
- Some barn storming runs from Goggin, Nathan and Browny who were in a three way competition for how many Dorking players they could run through rather than round. I lost count of the number of Maori sidesteps and Bullet handoffs but it was great to see and very hard to stop.
- Steggs and Dowdy who despite not playing all season proved once again what naturally gifted rugby players they are. For those of you tempted to dust off you boots or in Guy`s case buy a new pair - They both loved it!!!!
- Following Johnny Bassons heroics last week Coxxy stepped in at Scrum half this week and also had a blinder (although I found myself at 9 quite a bit in the second half) including a great solo try.
- Sam`s great hands and mazy running. He has improved massively as a player and those helping him in training should be proud.
- Finally the Vandals spirit, the passion and the enthusiasm of every players to put his body on the line. THANK YOU BOYS – See the attached photo

There was a great buzz afterwards with all players staying around in their number ones to talk about the game and what lies ahead for the rest of the season.
We have 4 massive fixtures left against strong teams but if we build on yesterday’s performance and everyone commits to play at least 3 of these 4 games then we can finish the season on a massive high;

PLEASE PUT THE FOLLOWING DATES IN YOUR DIARY AND GIVE ME AN EARLY HEADS UP ON YOUR AVAILABILITY.

- Guildford and Godalming AWAY in two weeks’ time Saturday 6th February.
- This is followed by a HOME game vs London Irish under the lights on Friday evening before the England vs Ireland game Feb 26th
- This is followed by Richmond Heavies AWAY on 12th March –We haven’t fulfilled this fixture for a number of seasons and it would be great to take a competitive Owls team there this season and test ourselves against the best Vets competition.
- We finish the league season at home under the lights against the Old Enemy Esher at HOME on Friday 1st April.

Our game against Guilford on Saturday 6th is massive for many reasons not least that they humiliated us last season at our ground and i/we have been waiting for the opportunity to put this right. It won’t be for the faint hearted but I really want to take a strong team and committed over to Guildford capable of reversing last seasons result. Please look at your diaries and let me know your availability asap.

Finally whilst we don’t have a fixture next Saturday the 3s are down to play Cobham away and we are looking for as many Owls as possible to make themselves available to play for the 3 next Saturday and on weekend when they don’t have a game. I am planning to make myself available and I hope a number of you are able to join me.

Cheers
Kev