Edwardians vs HAC at Twickenham 2011     

experiencing the Twickenham dream! (Continued)

The warm up was sharp and the emotions and magnitude of the occasion started to build when walking back across and seeing coach loads of people who had come down to support. There was just enough time to have a quick chat to the referee (Zimmer asking the question ‘sir what happens if we engage early at the scrum!?) and one last big squeeze before walking out into the tunnel we had all seen so many times on TV, filled with international legends of the game lining up before kickoff. Captain Sinbad led us out onto the field with a mascot in each hand (does anybody have the relative contact information for the authorities!?) the hairs on the back of the neck standing up at the electric atmosphere, applause and overwhelming sense of unity seeing a good thousand plus supporters in the stands in Edwardian colours!

Lining up on the pitch looking up at the crowd was a special moment and it could be seen on the grin of all the players faces, the only disappointing thing was not singing the national anthem (although I’m not sure with all the ‘foreigners’ in the team a decision would have ever been made as to which one was sung!)

A whole season of hard work and dedication came down to 80 minutes of rugby. Seeing as I can’t remember much of the game and have not seen a recording of it since, here is the match report pieced together from the HAC website:

London’s HAC RFC pulled off an emphatic six-try 37-6 win against fellow RFU Junior Vase finalists Edwardian FC at Twickenham Stadium. HAC started much the stronger of the two sides and their dominance in the pack resulted in two early tries, first from hooker Thomas Dyson and the second from No. 8 Ben Woolf. Edwardians got onto the scoreboard with 20 minutes on the clock through the boot of fly half David Gray, but the Birmingham club then had to deal with the sin binning of Captain Mike Bourke. Both clubs then exchanged penalties to give HAC a 13-6 lead at the break. The first score in the second half was always going to prove to be vital and it was HAC once again flying out of the traps, scoring early on in the corner through wing Henry Monsell, who showed a nice turn of pace before finishing smartly. The early set-back sparked Edwardians into life, but they were unable to convert a period of sustained pressure into points and were punished by HAC, who broke free with 20 left on the clock to score a well worked try through wing Guy Stringer. Frenchman Robert Hankey got HAC’s fifth try of the game, touching down a delicate chip through in the corner. Skipper Robert Kerrigan added HAC’s sixth, with 3 minutes left on the clock to round off a superb day for his side.

On reflection I think most Eds players and supporters would agree that we were beaten by a better, well drilled, strong, young and fit side that could be playing rugby at a much higher level. They dominated the majority of areas in the game and did well at slowing down our ball at the breakdown without getting penalised for it. With ferocious defensive hits going in all over the pitch and Eds struggling to get that final pass to hand, it was always going to be a difficult task to come away with a win. The only disappointing element is that if Eds had played to their full potential (Harborne and North Shields) it would have been a much closer game. Credit to HAC they played the game in the right way, were deserved winners and were gentlemen off the field.

There was no time for bitterness or resentment as the huge roar from the Edwardian faithful as the players left the field was all it took to put things in perspective and be reassured that despite the end result, a group of players had achieved something very special that will never be forgotten in their own minds or the history of the club. It was a true squad/club effort and without the players who played this season but didn’t make the match day 22, the work from everybody behind the scenes to help organise and fund not just the weekend but the whole season and to the truly awesome support from friends, family and the Edwardian faithfull (far louder and passionate than HAC!) none of this would have been possible. The feeling going up into the crowd to get a runners up medal was still one of immense pride and satisfaction and a memory I personally will hold onto for a long time. After pictures and hugs with loved ones, it was back to the changing room to get into the showers, which were quite frankly as bad as the Edwardian ones, (sort it out sports!)  no surprises as to who was last out! It was then onto the banquet room where we had a sit down meal of cottage pie, got treated to free jugs of lager and bitter (which kept on flowing throughout the afternoon) and mingled with the honourable artillery company chaps. A few speeches and pleasantries were exchanged, my favourite moment being Bourkeys comment during his speech of ‘well that was the warm up for the big game tomorrow!’ More drink was consumed until everybody was feeling rather merry again and were in good spirits for the coach journey home. In what has of late become standard protocol Luke ‘lady boy’ Mason conducted a lengthy court session in which everybody got sabotaged through means of alcohol for misdemeanours throughout the season (especially the skipper who continually lost the tankard presented to him by HAC which was filled with alcoholic contributions from the players and had a good old fashioned sing song until arriving back at the club. Supporters from the club continued their already gargantuan efforts from the day by cheering the players in through a tunnel back into the club house.

The early kick off, effort on the pitch, free beer and court session had taken its toll on even some of Edwardians’ best drinkers, leaving players disappearing home at various times throughout the evening, to Shirley Kebab House and a even few brave boys who managed to make it to a club in town! Getting home I had a very nostalgic feeling about what I anticipate will be the pinnacle of my sporting achievements and the closest I will ever get to seeing life through the eyes of a professional rugby player. It was an epic weekend and I feel privileged and honoured to have shared it with my Edwardian brothers.

So as we come to the end of a season, the Twickenham dream is over....... until next year!

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