Back to Back Wins for Kirks 2nds

Captain Kirk assembled a motley crew for this week's episode sorry match with Preston Grasshoppers 4s the opponents.

A number of players were rewarded for their efforts last week with call ups to the ones, but the side still had a relatively settled, if experienced, look to it.

Bouyed by the club's Token Scouser making bail after a last minute plea bargain and the debut of Jarvis Stanton aka Chabal with a hair brush, moisturiser and beard trimmer, the side had come together nicely.

With super Richard Murray taking up all the Bench slots the team was ready.

What followed was to put it simply a great game of rugby. The mighty maroons took an early lead after solid work from the tight five led to a delightful delayed pass from Garth Spencer (who had a stonking 80) put the returning side burn King Mike Floyd straight through the hoppers back line for the opener.

Hoppers had yet to hit their straps and the twos struck again this time through token who glided round their centres after Martin O'connor ran a very powerful line and took out the hoppers Back row and ten.

A couple of mistakes started to creep into the Clitheroe game and hoppers were able to work their way into some good positions but Lewis Riley and Jarvis Stanton put in plenty of hard graft in the tackle area. Hoppers did eventually score but certainly did not cross the whitewash the hopper wing was clearly bundled into touch in front of the linesman by Token but the referee (who was excellent overall) was unsigbted and asked the Hopper's sub if his team had scored. Sadly the linesman buckled under peer pressure and awarded the try.

Game on, or so hoppers thought. The maroon pack was rumbling, being well Marshalled by Dave Watson, and again pinned hoppers back and were rewarded with the sight of Chabal crashing over the whitewash after a series of surges.

Token kicked the extras.

A quick shift in personnel saw Murray enter the fray whilst Jarvis took five. The maroon backline joined the fun with a lovely move which would have seen either floyddy or Forrest score after love soft hands from token to Garth who flicked it onto Floyddy after a great dummy run from Teflon opened up The hoppers three quarters. Sadly play was halted as Murray picked up a nasty knock in the process of passing the ball to Token to Start the move and the ref halted the move with the maroons having a three on one.

At the half the score was 17-5 (I think). Kirk rallied the troops at half time the message was clear the game was far from over and we had to score first to squash the Hoppers.

The cavaliers took an early three pointer to keep the score board moving and the. Took a further three that was on offer to put themselve well clear. Hoppers scored a coupe of nice tries but more often than not were thwarted by the defensive efforts of super dingle (that's Austin Wensley) Floyd and Forrest who worked well as a unit.

Lewis Riley (pic) who had another exceptional game on the flank crashed over to keep the scoreboard comfortable. Token went over for his second after a trademark Luke Hayton break followed by a lovely off load.

Hopper's picked up a couple of very late tries which made the score board semi respectable for such a well resourced and funded club but the maroons had the win and the bragging rights. Great performances across the board the tight five worked tirelessly across the 80 and it was great to see Pete Farnsworths terrible shirts making a welcome return to the fold.

Next week sees Rochdale the visitors to Littlemore where we hope to make it 3 in a row for Captain Kirk. The voyage continues.

Report by WRJ