Cotham Park RFC The closest Rugby club to Clifton in Bristol

Cotham Park bounced back form their spirited defeat to BAC last week with a comprehensive hammering of Barton Hill. Featuring no less than 25 players Cotham did all the donkey work in the first half before tearing loose in the second to record a nine try to one drubbing.

Team consisted of:
1. Alan Proudfoot
2. Terry Robinson
3. Tony O'Regan
4. Richard Mandy Morrison
5. Pete Cowell
6. James Sage
7. Silas Marner
8. Olly Squires

9. Dave Edwards
10. Andrew Day
11. Tom Hicks
12. Desmond French
13. Jimmy Cook
14. Mark Newnham
15. Simon Coles

Replacements:
16. Chris Preston
17. Jamie (Alec Vincent's mate)
18. Percy (The Park Keeper)
19. Simon Freeguuuuuard
20. Rob Bown
21. Ian Bond
22. Jonny Saunders
23. Jonny Kiwi
24. Sam Kendrix
25. John Bostock

This was by far the strongest team that we have been able to put out all season. There was real quality on the bench with some of the new players showing real pace, which at this level can be destructive.

The game started with Barton Hill winning the toss and deciding to play with the elements. The strong wind and steep slope meant that most of the initial play was played deep in the Cotham half. Barton quickly took a 6 point lead with two penalties form their fly half. Cotham were stuttering, especially at 12 where Des French, making his first appearance of the season after flying back from Spain, was a shadow of his former self. He repeatedly dropped balls, missed tackles and when he was able to keep hold of the ball would quickly be tackled and would then lose possession. Day, at fly half, realising where the weakness in our backs was decided to start missing him out more and more. Cotham started to take quick taps whenever they could. They inched their way up to the Barton 22 where Day, dummied inside before making the break to the line. After being tackled close to the line he popped the ball up to Des French who managed to cling on to score. Even this try could not raise his game and it was with some relief that he feigned some injury and begged to be replaced after only 20 minutes.

By this stage Percy had come on for Simon Coles and debutant Chris Preston replaced Desmond. These two added pace to the Cotham back line who began to fire on all cylinders now that Desmond was no longer hindering them. Barton tried to kick out of defence, using the wind to their advantage, but this allowed the Cotham back three to run back at them. Another break form Day drew the final line of defence before an inside floated pass gave James Sage his second try in two games. Cotham began to play with real confidence and it wasn't long before Mark Newnham added to the try scoring after a searing break.

Half time came with Cotham flying. Day made a raft of changes which brought Rob Bown on as hooker, a completely different back row combination, Jimmy went to 10 to allow Jamie a first appearance at 13, Simon Freeguuuuuard came on the wing at the expense of Tom Hicks. The game plan was simple, run the socks of Barton at every chance. Mark Newnham revelled in the second half quickly scoring a second and terrorising the poor Barton winger. On the other flank Simon Freeguuuuuard who had been training hard for this game on a diet of jaffa cakes and masturbation (His words, not mine) made a mockery of his rotund physique to score a brace of very well taken tries. Jamie also managed to get on the score sheet as did Jonny Kiwi who scored probably the try of the match. Starting with a scrum in their own half the ball went through the backs to Newnham who made great ground before feeding it back inside to Jamie who drew the last man brilliantly to feed Jonny Kiwi who had covered vast acres of land from the initial scrum. Brilliant supporting play.

John Bostock and another debutant, Ian Bond, came on in the final quarter to rub salt in to the Barton wounds. Barton did score a late consolation try but they knew that they had come across a much better team. All 25 shone with Mandy my pick of the forwards and Mark Newnham and the two new centres the pick of the backs.

An excellent performance was enhanced after the game with 20 of the players making themselves available for next week's match at Avonmouth. If Cotham play half as well as they did today it promises to be another rout!

Man of the match: - All 25 (With the possible exception of D. French)

Dick of the match: - The Barton outside half who asked if Barton could play the second half again with the advantage of the elements to try and make the game more fair! (I kid you not!!!) and then complained to me afterwards for my unsporting stance when I told him to go and xxxx himself!

Andrew Day