Honours even where rugby wasn't the winner

Normally we can wax lyrical about the games highlights but on this occasion...but lets give it a go

In short it was a tough game played by two very even sides, free flowing rugby it was not - i don't think Aston got the ball out passed their 10 and the only time their back three got involved was to return our kicks or to run to the altercations which were far to frequent.

Again our pack disappointed in the first half especially in the set piece, and only the powerful running of number 8 Josh Reynolds and second row Ben Drinkwater gave the watching crowd any entertainment. A solitary catch and drive from the big Aston pack was the only score at half -time whilst Aldridge were down to 14 (Yellow Card Ed O'Neill).

I would like to say following rousing words from the coaching team at half-time that Aldridge came out full of gusto... however it wasn't the case. With the scrum shored up and now in the ascendency, discipline cost good field position time and time again and the backline were starved of ball. Aldridge finally equalised with just 10 minutes to go, with Brad Russell sniping at a scrum to score. Ben Eden stepped up to take his first kick at goal in a game, the ball wobbled on the tee and the chance to go into the lead fell by the wayside.

There was still time for the Aston winger to see red for a no arm tackle that was exceptionally late that sparked another batch of hand-bags; and a further one on the far side of the pitch which resulted in a yellow card for Ben Eden.

Final Score 5 - 5

Man of the Match - Ben Drinkwater

Head Coach Jon Arch...

"We lost our focus - we let the ref and the opposition get to us and i include myself in this... We forgot 'our game', I don't think there was one single offload made as we attacked in 1's. You have to earn a win - it isn't just given to you - today we didn't do the basics, didn't follow our process, we didn't work as a team and ultimately didn't deserve any more than we got.

Our discipline was abysmal - we want desire and passion to manifest itself in the right way - with a big tackle or a big strong carry, we got caught up in the emotion of playing "Aston" that we forgot what bloody great rugby players we can be.

The true measure is how we bounce back at training on Tuesday & Thursday and next saturday with a tough away trip to Barton - Harry and I will do the video analysis but we know what it will tell us "IT SIMPLY WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH" but we are still unbeaten this season and i know we will bounce back."

Aldridge 1's travel to Barton-Under-Needwood next saturday i the league, with the 2nd XV welcoming Handsworth 3rd/Vets to Bourne Vale.