Aldridge win first preseason game against Handsworth

In a day where both clubs wore matching Pink socks emblazoned with a pink ribbon as an awareness opportunity and fund raising effort for Breast Cancer Awareness, the result wasn't important. However, try telling that to the players ! !

With both sides naming a large 25 man squad for the day, this was very much a chop and change game of rugby as both coaches looked at options for the season ahead. This however took nothing away from a hugely entertaining game of rugby, which Aldridge on the whole dominated.

The work on the set piece and the scrum in particular was evident, with the Mids 3 Handsworth pack being drove backwards repeatedly; the broken field running of Dan McKenna, Josh Reynolds, Barnie (welcome back) and Ben Drinkwater, coupled with the offload game makes Aldridge a hugely entertaining side to watch.

The returning Brad "Better Brother" Russell marshalled the troops at scrum half, and second row Ed Tonks and fly half Ryan Bowen simply shone in defence. The first try was one which bought many a tear to the watching spectators as skipper Mark Smith got on the end of a 80 yard break away orchestrated by Josh Reynolds, Dan McKenna and Barnie to score in the corner, this was soon followed by Ben Edens debut try in the first XV as Dan McKenna drew the final man and amazingly passed the ball.

Fittingly Dan McKenna then got on the scoresheet himself following some great work by the back row of Adam Butler, Lee Stokes and Josh Reynolds who between them and Ben Drinkwater simply dominated the breakdown area. Harry Baldock, another returning player soon after got on the scoresheet himself against his former club.

Some 'unusual' decisions by the referee had helped keep Handsworth in the game, and in their your young backline have both pace but a natural skill set which kept us on our toes all game.

As the game neared completion, winger Nick Yates stepped in at 9 at a breakdown and played simple rugby to draw the final defender before putting a now very tired Barnie in for a try. However our scoring wasn't complete, and it was one from the training ground which pleased the coaching team hugely as Tight Head prop Neil "Baby Elephant" Smith picked up a pass in the outside channel to gallop like a prancing gazelle to score in the corner.

A final score of 32-29 didn't really show the dominance that Aldridge RFC had for most of the game.

Head Coach Jon Arch
"For a first run out of the season i am hugely pleased, every player should be proud of their efforts. It was an emotional day and we had told the players all week, it was just a game a of rugby but to see Skip score i will admit bought a lump to my throat. Brad Russell had a great game at 9, Danny Mac at 12 is going to be a handful this season, and Full Back Dan Beggan has got pace, great hands and what a tackle he made on their 10 when it was 1on1."

He added...
"We had at least 10 players missing today who will be challenging for the First XV shirt this season which shows the strength in depth the club has now. Today set a benchmark for where we need to be at all season; we have some work on - our line out wasn't good enough and our line speed in defence dropped off, but i would of took that performance before the game!"

Aldridge RFC host their own tournament this weekend, with 2 mixed Aldridge Squads competing with Sutton Coldfield, Walsall, Bloxwich and Handsworth (again).