Swan song ends in swan dive

'And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain...'  - Frank Sinatra


WARNING: This post may contain generous helpings of self-absorbed introspection...well more than usual anyway!


The Tring Rangers wrapped up our most successful National 3 league season with the brutal 111-7 route of already relegated Havant. It was a merciless way to send down a once great club but also a great way for me to sign off in my last game at Fortress Cow Lane.


The last few weeks of a season are always tough. There is an 'end of term' atmosphere and it is difficult to get any real focus in training sessions. Players are usually held together by tape at this point, desperate to see out the long campaign. One eye is on a summer of DIY and Saturday shopping trips. A few practice cover drives or right arm seam actions can often be seen as well. But John was keen to reign this in and focus on finishing the season with a bang.


The match at Dorking had been extremely disappointing. Bar two errors, we had been supreme in the first half only to be physically dominated in the second. However, we knew Havant would be a different prospect. The Hampshire club had struggled all season and, without meaning to sound too arrogant, we knew it was a case of 'how much' rather than 'if'. But few would have expected the final score.


It took 10 minutes for the floodgates to open. We looked sharp and focused but still bombed a few early chances. However, once Tommy Newton touched down for the first score, our nerves settled and we finished our chances with finesse and aplomb. A Hat Trick for the Mateai Express, and scores from Papa Bear Lamden and Marlen Walker pushed the score well out of reach. A late rally from the visitors lead to a surprise score from Winger Duke but a 43-7 half time score meant the game was safely out of reach.


And then the screw was turned in the second half. Havant's fitness and heart had been broken and we were in no mood for pity. Further scores from Papa, Radders, Tommy, Claps and Scott Browne pushed the score out to 78-7 after just 53 minutes. In truth, I wish I could give more detail on these tries but there were just too many to recall. 


At this point, I was starting to panic. I had still not scored yet and the Naked Mile at the end of season Players' Dinner was looming large in my mind. I was desperately running the best support lines my legs would allow but with little to no tackling, no one was giving up the ball. 


And then, like a prayer answered, Ben Criddle burst through on the right wing. He passed inside to Tommy Newton. As he reached the 22, I screamed almost pleadingly for the ball. He drew the Full-back, popped inside for a glorious trott under the posts and a totally unnecessary, Ashton-esque swan dive!   


But we weren't finished there. More scores from Tommy, Wills, Criddler and JP poaching Cap'n Morgan's certain try meant a final score of 111-7. The highest score in the league that year. They even let me take the final conversion!


So that was it. The end of the most successful season Tring has had and my last appearance at Fortress Cow Lane. Seventh in the league with 13 wins is a fantastic achievement but I think we all recognise a few messy games after Christmas cost us a higher position. 


And what about me? Well, I suffered a lot of abuse on Saturday night from people saying I'm retiring too early! But I feel the time is right. To be honest, it could be more of a sabbatical than a full retirement. In a year's time, or when the Baby is a bit older, I'd like to come back and play at a more social level or maybe do some coaching. But I won't be able to commit to the extra fitness and gym work needed to compete at this level.


I feel I have had my best season for a number of years - possibly ever. My defence has been much improved and I have made more tackles and forced more turnovers than ever. However, I set myself the goal of making the County squad this year which I have failed to do. Ultimately, I did not perform well enough in key matches this year to catch the eye (Bishop Stortford away, Ampthill away, and Bracknell away). Also, one try a season is not an adequate return for a Number 8.

The next generation of Tring Ranger!

That said, it has been a wonderful journey. From my first days in the Centres at Under 12 to now, I have loved every minute. Stand out moments for me have been the win away at Jersey - now a Championship side - the 6-3 thriller in a hurricane at Chingford to secure promotion, and wins home and away against local rivals Bishop Stortford. 


I'll miss the boozy bus trips, the unwavering support both home and away, and, most of all, the unrivalled camaraderie in the changing room. We haven't got the biggest or most talented squad but we are successful because we play for each other.


The most exciting news is that I am expecting a son in September so the next generation of Tring Ranger is already on the way! 


Now...enough of this self-indulgence. Next Sunday sees us compete for the Herts County Cup against Hertford and it would be great to sign off with some silverware.


'...the record shows I took the blows and did it my way!'

Super September rolls on

Forgive me for it has been 5 weeks since my last blog – the pitfalls of a temperamental laptop and no Internet connection! 10 Hail Marys? How about four wins from our opening 5 games instead?

Yes, September has been a bumper month of records for us…and it shows no sign of slowing down. Highest ever score, best ever start to the season, highest league position at this level, best looking team in the league, the records keep tumbling.

There is no doubt the key to this successful start has been our gruelling and merciless preseason schedule. A new focused game plan, punishing fitness sessions with Steve Bumstead, hill sprints on Saturday mornings, Pilates, the Bleep Test – all playing their part in fine-tuning the Ranger machine.

The games against the West Country monsters Exmouth and bitter local rivals Chinnor were enormous physical battles. Both teams have sizable packs and really smashed any Summer lethargy out of us. We may have been bruised and battered but we gained a huge amount of confidence as we approached the season, knowing we could mix it with bigger boys. 

We have traditionally been a slow starting team, waiting until at least late October/November to start notching up some league points. However, this year, we rode our wave of confidence to Havant for our first game – and the poor blighters were like lambs to the slaughter!

We’ve come a long way in a few short years, thanks to the expert coaching set up and strong team bond. But few would have been so bold as to predict a powerful 64-10 away win to kick start the 2011/12 campaign. Even fewer would have dared believe Chris Rose would score a first-half from text book driven lineouts! Tring dominating an opposition pack….no that isn’t a flying pig!

It was a spectacular performance but we knew tougher tests would come…such as Ampthill at Cow Lane the following week. Last year’s fixture had proved to be something of a bad-tempered affair, with the Bedfordshire side snatching the victory in the dieing moments. The bitter sting of a bloodied mouth made worse by such a maddening loss.

But this year, Lady Luck favoured the Rangers. With minutes left of the clock and the referee wetting his lips for the final whistle, Tring sneaked a late score to win 22-21…the sweet and satisfying taste of revenge victory.

This year we seem to be more at home in this challenging league. We are no longer ‘plucky underdogs’, but experienced campaigners able to impose our will on a game rather than hanging on for dear life. There is a real belief that we are a top table team, so we were not phased by an away trip to Canterbury.

As we suspected, they were big and strong, but we were still riding on a wave of confidence. Against the odds, we dominated long periods of the game and even took a 10-5 lead into the half time break.

Canterbury came alive in the 2^nd half and took advantage of the conditions more effectively. The final score was a creditable 38-10 – certainly no disgrace and there were plenty of positives to be taken out of the game.

Every week we seem to be growing in stature, confidence and self-belief. The arrival of Flying Samoan William Mateai merely added fuel to the flames. A scrappy but clinical performance against Luton gave us a 41-20 home win. A debut hat-trick for the Super South Sea Islander lifted us to an astonishing 3^rd in the league.

The Mateai Express on his debut against Luton

The final game I need to update you on is last Saturday’s sweltering 37-26 win at Civil Service…or CS Rugby 1863 as they are called now. A lack of Civil Servants in the team perhaps prompting the name change?!

CS had enjoyed a successful start to the season and had recruited new faces over the Summer. However, our momentum was too strong. We took an early lead through some typically sparkling play by the backs. Papa Bear Lambden, Points Machine Chennells, and the Mateai Express gave us a healthy 22-12 lead at half time.

In the bizarrely Mediterranean conditions, CS fought back through the forwards and even briefly took the lead. But late scores from the mercurial Tommy Newton and a second from Chennels secured a well earned win against a strong side.

We hold on to 3^rd place in the league and our confidence train steams on. This weekend’s game will be a real test – Bishop Stortford at Fortress Cow Lane. It will be perhaps the sternest test of our resolve so far this year.

No one expected us to get anything from Canterbury away. But after our stunning and epic win at Stortford last year and our current impressive run, the boys are going into games expecting to win rather than just ‘put up a good fight’.

Stortford will be gunning for revenge, no doubt about it. But can they derail the Ranger Train?!  

Losing with a smile

Just when you start to wonder why the hell you’re spending two nights a week charging around a field instead of basking in a barmy evening beer garden. Just as you wonder if you really want to be sprinting up hills in the pouring rain on a Saturday morning…along comes the first game.

The boys enjoying the Bleep test

As I drove over to our last pre-season fixture against Chinnor, with High Contrast blaring as loud as my ears could take it, that familiar feeling begin to brew within. The heart was pumping, adrenalin surging uncontrollably and my head awash with possibilities. It is these pre-game emotions – a dizzying mix of excitement, apprehension, nerves, fear of failure and determination to succeed – that make competitive sport so appealing.

As we huddled in the changing room, two minutes to kick off, Captain Morgan screaming in our ears, the scent of sweat, mud and aspiration lingering in the air, I couldn’t hold back a wry smile – Rugby’s back!

In truth, we open our season away at Havant this coming Saturday – but last weekend had all the intensity of a full fixture. Local rivals, plenty of history, and bragging rights to be fought for – it had all the makings of a classic.

And it did not disappoint. It was a predictably volatile match, played at a frenetic pace - so proved to be a good test for the fitness. Unfortunately, it was spoilt slightly by a totally inept referee – but someone’s got to do it and he was terrible for both sides!

The game started with a bang – a hanging kick off from Fly-Half Ben Criddle gave Liam Chennels a dream line at the target – Tom ‘The Turncoat’ Mowbray. Chennels nailed the former Tring man and forced a knock-on. You could almost see the cartoon-style stars circling Mowbray’s head – a perfect start for the visitors!

However, we were not able to back up our bright start. Chinnor were sharper at the breakdown and turned us over just as we started to look dangerous and pinned us back on our try line.

Tom Mowbray was able to exact his revenge by 'skillfully' falling on top of a ball as Chinnor drove us back over our line - their larger pack asserting its dominance (and Mowbs taking the credit!).

Chinnor's line out was scratchy at best but the pack was dangerous when set. A well crafted driving maul lead to try number two and and early 10-0 lead.

We had faith in our backs and knew they could outstrip anyone if we gave them the platform. And sure enough, once we anchored our scrum, Tom Newton was able to scythe through the defence and offload to Chennels.  

As it was pre-season, the match was spread over three 30 minute periods. We were extremely happy to still be within three points after the first period, playing up the slope and into a strong wind. The game bubbled with ferocity and had been marred by several flashpoints.

As substitutions were made, the play lost its structure and became more of a broken free for all. Another Tring score from promising new boy Tom Metcalfe kept the pressure on Chinnor but their strength in depth shone through and they eventually  propsered 34-22.

Despite losing, we were very happy with the first period and it has given us plenty of confidence for the league campaign. We know we have a particularly potent backline but this is useless unless we forwards can guarantee them the ball and space to work in.

Needless-to-say, we are all looking forward to claiming our first scalp away at Havant this weekend.

RANGERS...ASSEMBLE!